what is an acceptable range temperature fluctuation

[christfr]

here is a question i have a ge elec range thats 26-27 years old and its been a gem till just a few weeks ago. two years ago i put in a new bake element and that was fine then a few weeks ago i noticed things were not baking like they used to the would take much longer. so i got one of those little thermometers that you put in the oven and the temp will start at lets say 350 then bounc back and fourth from 350 to 325 the whole time the oven is on. i put in a new factory thermostat that didnt do it, and have read the control board can be an issue but those are not avail only one used one and i already have a used one. so my question is what is an acceptable range temperature fluctuation for an electric oven? i had thought maybe 10 degrees

 

[petek]

per GE

Range & Wall Oven - Oven Temperature Fluctuation / Cycling On and Off

 

[fisherpaykel]

Oven temperature deviation from set temperature

I would say 25 degrees variation is acceptable, as to why foods are now taking longer to cook I wonder if your oven is not sparkling clean just now would that reduce the amount of heat reflected to the food from the oven walls Ceiling and floor? When I last checked my electric oven temperature I believe the range was about 25 degrees.

 

[ea56]

I would also agree that a 25 degree range is normal operating for a GE electric oven. When mine is set at 350 F it won’t go below 325 before cycling the element on and it gets back to 350 F quickly and doesn’t cycle off and on frequently either.

Eddie

 

[combo52]

Oven Temperatures

Hi Chris, if it is baking slowly and temperatures goes from 350-325 when set for 350 you need to turn up the temperature about 20 degrees.

 

The high and low temperatures should average the temperature you want.

 

John L.

 

[christfr]

thanks for the info. the oven is and has been very clean for as long as i have had the stove. its 26-27 years old. if i set the control to 370 it will now keep the oven at 350 as per the thermometer . only thing i did now notice is the bake element that is about 4 years old is rusty. so since those are cheap ill put one in and try again. maybe its just how its gonna be from now on &#92.

 

[daveamkrayoguy]

I read here it's best for a set temperature to stabilize, that's what I do,when preheating my oven...

-- Dave

 

[mattl]

I've set my oven so it averages 350.  That means when the  elements are on it can go to 360-370 range and drop to 340-330 range. My oven cycles all 3 elements, I always use convection, and it indicate which element is active.   The broil unit is on far less than the bake and convection elements.

 

[DADoES]

 
I checked the oven temp on my 2004 GE Profile range (has a hidden bake element, and convection) several months ago, for the first time, when baking a batch of brownies in conventional mode.  I always let it preheat for 10 to 15 mins longer than the "ready" signal to insure the temp is stable.  An analog dial thermometer was spot-on at 350°F.

 

[mattl]

Using an electronic temp probe with my digital VOM i can watch the actual temp swings, kind of interesting.

 

[kb0nes]

Matt, be conscious of infrared energy skewing the readings of a thermocouple in the oven cavity. There isn't much thermal inertia in a bead type thermocouple and when the elements radiate it can have quite an effect.

I have a data logging meter that I tested my oven with and the recorded temperature swings that were were in excess of 50 deg F in my electric KitchenAid oven. I made a tubular sleeve from aluminum foil about the size of a TP roll tube. Locating the thermocouple bead in the center of the tube greatly reduced the swings as the sensor was no longer hit by direct radiation.