Gas ovens are similar in many ways to electric ovens in how you will go about using them. Structure-wise, both have an internal chamber where you cook and have a heater. But, the way they warm up is actually quite different. Where an electrical oven uses electricity to generate heat amongst heating coils, a gas oven operates with a flame.
A gas oven should be preheated before you use it. Preheating a gas oven will help to guarantee your food receives an even bake all the way through without burning on the outside. Preheating in a gas oven is also quicker than it is in an electrical oven because of the use of a flame. This flame usually ignites as soon as you select to turn your oven on, and immediately gets to work. On average you can expect to wait about 5-8 minutes for your oven to finish preheating.
However, there are many factors that can influence this. We will get to the root of this later in the article.
There are some things you may be asking about how to properly preheat your gas oven? After all, a properly preheated oven makes a big difference in the quality of your food. Continue reading to learn more about how to properly preheat your gas oven.
How Do You Preheat a Gas Oven?
Gas ovens preheat similarly to electric ovens, except that they preheat much quicker. Gas ovens differ from electrical ovens in how they generate heat. In a gas oven, there is a gas release valve that is opened when the oven is turned on and is then ignited by a spark. For electrical ovens, this is done by generating electricity through the electric coils.
This difference is important because it is what sets the gas oven apart from electric ovens. To preheat a gas oven you must first turn it on to release the gas into the chamber. In certain models, you may need to press a button that is known as the igniter.
The igniter creates a spark in the chamber that activates the gas and sets it alight. Not every model requires you to press the ignition button while lighting your oven. There are a couple of versions of this type of oven and they each ignite differently.
The Three Types of Gas Ovens
There are three popular types of igniters available on a gas oven. They include a pilot light system, a hot surface or glow bar warming system, and a spark ignition system. Each of these differs slightly in how they warm up and how to preheat them.
A pilot light system has a consistent flame always lit in the chamber of the oven. This flame ignites the fuel when it is released into the oven. This is one of the oldest varieties of gas-powered stoves.
A hot surface or glow bar model is the newer variety. It operates by heating fuel lines through the oven. This is sort of a hybrid model in that the gas heats the oven using electrical lines that heat up.
A spark ignitor system uses electricity to create a spark that ignites the gas in the chamber. The gas is released through a valve when you press the button on the front or back panel of the oven.
How Long Does It Take For a Gas Oven To Warm Up?
The time it takes to preheat your oven depends on the temperature you are hoping to heat it to. The standard temperatures of 350 to 400 degrees Fahrenheit take between 8-12 minutes to preheat completely. On average, a gas oven preheats about 4-6 minutes faster than its electric counterparts. These times are only an estimate and several factors can impact this.
Here are several of the most common causes:
Your House Is Cold!
Believe it or not, the temperature of your home can impact the preheat time. This will likely be an insignificant amount of time. But, if you notice your oven taking 5 minutes longer than normal, it could mean your house is just a little cold as well. Since ovens are usually made from heavy metals, they store both heat and cold. So, if an oven is trying to heat up, it must also warm up its components.
Issues With The Internal Thermometer
Ovens have a thermometer that allows them to know what temperature they are. If this thermometer is broken, your oven may be struggling to perform the preheat cycle properly. If the oven does not know its internal temperature it may shut off and on at random intervals which will mean longer wait times for you and your food.
Your Igniter Is Broken
This one is especially true for gas ovens that do not use a pilot light. Pilot lights remain on at all times and turn the oven on when the gas is released into the chamber. But, most standard gas ovens, use the spark igniter discussed above. If the igniter is broken, your oven may be struggling to even turn on. The best way to tell is to see if the flame is ignited or not, or if you just smell gas when you try turning on your oven.
Your Oven Door Is Broken
This may seem obvious, but don’t leave your oven door open while preheating. But, a lot of people don’t realize that their oven door has a seal that keeps it tightly shut. This seal is usually similar to a rubber gasket you may have on your fridge door. They serve very much the same function, except they keep the heat in rather than the cold. If your gasket is torn or is falling off, your oven door might be cracked without you realizing it. But, you will notice when your oven takes forever to warm up!
Take Out Extra Racks
Much like what we spoke about with your home temperature, racks can impact heating time. Or, if you happen to store cleaned oven pans or trays in your oven, they can impact heating time. This is because each of these items is a surface that must be warmed in order to get the internal temperature in the oven right. If you have 3 or more metal racks in your oven, try removing them before preheating. You might be surprised that it cuts down your warming times!
If you’re looking for some more helpful hints on heating up your oven, check out our other post on common causes for long wait times!
How Do You Know When a Gas Oven Is Preheated?
Gas ovens use similar systems as their electric siblings for letting you know their cycle is finished. These include things like beeping and light displays on the back display of the stovetop. Others utilize both of these systems, especially in newer models. But, old models may only rely on a thermometer which you must check to see if the temperature has been reached or not.
In old models, there is usually a thermometer within the chamber of the oven itself. This thermometer may be digital or very old-fashioned. But, either way, the meter should be displaying the accurate temperature within the oven chamber. If you see the right temperature reached, you can rest assured your oven is ready for baking.
Newer models require a little less work!
If you have one of the newer models that has an LCD screen in the back of your stovetop you can use this! In fact, this is why it’s there. The LCD screen has a digital display screen where the internal temperature is available for you to see. This screen may have a preheating option where the screen will read “preheat” or possibly “PrE” simply.
When the preheat session is completed, this screen will either display the temperature or turn off the “Preheat” notification. It will switch the “Preheat” display to show the internal temperature in the oven. Most of these ovens will also have an alarm that will go off when the preheating is finished.
If you do not have an alarm setting on your oven and worry you might get distracted, you can get a kitchen timer. Your best bet will be to set it to the estimated wait time for whatever temperature you’ve selected. You can also use your phone timer!