Ovens are still the cooking kings of the kitchen, but getting to grips with everything they can do for you can be all too overwhelming. While we’ve given you handy everyday tips - like oven temperature conversions - we feel it’s time to take a look at the big dial (or touchscreen) on the front of your oven and break down what the different symbols mean.
Whether built-in ovens, built-in double ovens or mini ovens, the good news is that most of the common symbols will be the same. But do you know the difference between conventional oven heating and fan-assisted? Did you know that your oven might have a defrost function and would you even know where to find it? We’ll guide you through loads of common oven symbols and even throw in some cooking tips too. Delicious!
Fan oven symbol
When using your oven, the symbol is usually represented by a fan icon inside a circle. This oven function uses a fan to circulate hot air inside the oven cavity. As a result, it distributes the heat evenly and efficiently, which makes it great for baking cakes, bread, and pastries.
Benefits for baking
Here’s a few reasons why you should always find the fan oven symbol when baking:
Even heat distribution: The fan inside the oven distributes heat evenly, ensuring that the food is cooked or baked uniformly.
Faster cooking: The hot air circulating inside the oven cavity cooks the food faster than a conventional oven, saving you time and energy.
Better browning: The fan oven function creates a dry and hot environment inside the oven, which is perfect for creating crispy crusts on baked goods.
Cooking tips
If you're using the fan oven symbol for the first time, here are some useful tips to get the best results:
Reduce the temperature: Since the fan oven creates a hot and dry environment, it may cook the food faster than expected. If you’re following a recipe created for a conventional oven, it's advisable to reduce the temperature by 20-25 degrees Celsius (or Fahrenheit equivalent)..
Adjust the cooking time: The fan oven may also require less cooking time than a conventional oven. So you may need to adjust the cooking time, reducing it by 10-15 minutes for every hour of cooking time specified in the recipe.
Use shallow tins: When baking or roasting in a fan oven, it's best to use shallow tins or trays. This is because the fan oven's hot and dry environment may dry out the food quickly, so using deeper dishes may slow down the cooking time and result in unevenly cooked food.
Conventional oven symbol
Conventional oven mode is represented by two lines, one at the top and one at the bottom of a square. These lines signify the two heating elements used in the oven, where heat is diffused by natural convection. This mode is ideal for roasting meat and vegetables.
Best uses for conventional heating
Conventional oven mode is a commonly used heat setting in ovens that heats up from the bottom of the oven cavity, making it ideal for baking and roasting.
Baking
Conventional mode is perfect for baking general cakes and brownies, bread, rolls, and other baked goods because moisture is retained in the oven
It's also perfect for casseroles and gratins because the heat from the bottom ensures that all of the ingredients cook evenly, while heat from the top helps crisp the topping.
Roasting
Conventional mode is also great for roasting meats, poultry, vegetables, and baked pasta dishes.
If you have a lot of dishes to cook at once, it’s perfect. Fan mode need space for the air to circulate, but this isn’t the case for conventional mode.
Tips for using conventional oven mode
Preheat the oven for at least 15 minutes before baking.
Place dishes in the center of the oven for the most even heat distribution.
If you need something to cook fast, use the top shelf. If slower, place it on the bottom.
Use a baking sheet or aluminum foil to catch any food drips or spills to avoid hard-to-clean messes.
Bottom element heating
The symbol on the oven represents the lower heating element, which is used when you want to achieve a crispy base on dishes such as pizza and casseroles.
Bottom element heat is best for…
Baking bread and pizzas: The heat from the bottom heating element ensures a crispy crust in bread and pizza crusts.
Roasting meats and vegetables: The radiant heat from the bottom element can help caramelise the outside of meat and vegetables.
Cooking casseroles and gratins: Bottom heating element mode is great for dishes that require a crispy top layer.
Cooking tips:
Place the food in the bottom third of the oven cavity for best results.
Keep an eye on the food during cooking, as it may cook faster than using a conventional mode.
Make sure food is on a baking tray (or that there’s some protection) so that nothing drips onto the bottom element.
Grill function symbol
The symbol is simply a zigzag line at the top of a square. There may also be a half-grill setting, which means only the centre of the grill element gets hot. You’ll need to place food dead centre to get even cooking.
Oven grills can either be full, or half if you’re grilling something small. They’re great for everything from meat to omlettes to cheese on toast. If you're looking to add a crispy top to lasagnes and casseroles, an oven grill is a handy function.
Oven grilling tips
Preheat your oven grill for at least 10 minutes before cooking to ensure that it's hot enough to sear your food.
Use thinner cuts of meat so they cook quickly and don't dry out in the oven.
Baste your food with oil or marinade before cooking to keep it moist and add extra flavor.
Place a drip pan on the rack below your food to catch any excess oil or marinade that may drip off during cooking.
Keep a close eye on your food while it's cooking since oven grilling can lead to fast, intense cooking.
Special oven functions
There are loads of other symbols, and each oven will have its own version. But here are some commonly used oven symbols…
FAQs
What is the normal oven setting symbol?
The normal oven setting symbol is a rectangle with several horizontal lines at the top. This symbol represents a conventional oven setting with top and bottom heating elements.
Which oven setting is fastest?
The fastest oven setting is the grill setting. Grilling uses only the top heating element to cook food quickly and gives it a crispy, browned exterior.
How do I know if my oven is electric or fan?
If your oven has a fan symbol on the control panel, it means it has a fan-assisted setting and is an electric oven. If there is no fan symbol and your oven has a gas supply, it is most likely a gas oven.
Want to get the best out of oven cooking?
Here are two great places top start: our Cooker buying guide and our Cooking and baking buying guide.
