I think my oven is not maintaining the correct temperature anymore
because the pumpkin custards I bake frequently are taking much
longer to cook than they previously did.

I have a mercury-type oven thermometer and a DMM with a temperature
probe. What is the best place for me to position the thermometer?
What is the best place for me to position the probe from the DMM?
Should I keep the probe from touching the wire racks?

How long should I wait after the oven indicates that is up to
temperature before I look at the thermometer? Is there some other
way I can check the thermostat? The oven is a Frigidaire model
FEB24S5ASB. It was made in September 2003. It has a digital
control panel.

Thank you in advance for all replies.
--
When I am in the kitchen, I often kick one of my cat's balls.
After I kick it, he will sometimes play with it for a few
seconds to several minutes. His favorite are the ones that
rattle. He'll play with any ball that makes noise.

Daniel Prince wrote:

I think my oven is not maintaining the correct temperature anymore
because the pumpkin custards I bake frequently are taking much
longer to cook than they previously did.

I have a mercury-type oven thermometer and a DMM with a temperature
probe. What is the best place for me to position the thermometer?

where your food will be-- and see how much variation there is as you
move it around.

What is the best place for me to position the probe from the DMM?

What's the difference? Hopefully your mercury thermometer and dmm
thermometer will give you the same numbers. If they don't- then fix
or toss the one that doesn't pass the 'boil water' test. The DMM
is the only way you'll be able to watch the temp in all the corners of
the oven without opening the door.

Should I keep the probe from touching the wire racks?

Yes-- and watch how much the temp varies as the oven turns off and on.
About 30degrees is acceptable- though it seems like that is a lot.


How long should I wait after the oven indicates that is up to
temperature before I look at the thermometer?

If you have to open the door find another way to check the
temperature.

Is there some other
way I can check the thermostat?

Treat yourself to a remote thermometer. About $40 & it will let you
stay in another room and keep track of that roast in the oven.

$31- on Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Maverick-Indus...dp/B0000DIU49/

I bought one for smoking meat, but have used it as much in the house
and have learned a lot about how my oven works. Buy extra probes.


Jim

Dan,

Not sure what you want to do with the DMM. Put the oven thermometer
where you normally place the custards. Turn on the oven at the proper
temperature (350 deg, maybe). Wait about 20 min. till the oven is clearly up
to temp and cycling. Look at the thermometer. It should be +/- 5 deg.
If it's not right you can go here for the calibration procedure. This
cal. is pretty easy.
http://manuals.frigidaire.com/prodin.../318200191.pdf
"Daniel Prince" wrote in message
...
I think my oven is not maintaining the correct temperature anymore
because the pumpkin custards I bake frequently are taking much
longer to cook than they previously did.

I have a mercury-type oven thermometer and a DMM with a temperature
probe. What is the best place for me to position the thermometer?
What is the best place for me to position the probe from the DMM?
Should I keep the probe from touching the wire racks?

How long should I wait after the oven indicates that is up to
temperature before I look at the thermometer? Is there some other
way I can check the thermostat? The oven is a Frigidaire model
FEB24S5ASB. It was made in September 2003. It has a digital
control panel.

Thank you in advance for all replies.
--
When I am in the kitchen, I often kick one of my cat's balls.
After I kick it, he will sometimes play with it for a few
seconds to several minutes. His favorite are the ones that
rattle. He'll play with any ball that makes noise.

Dan,

Not sure what you want to do with the DMM. Put the oven thermometer
where you normally place the custards. Turn on the oven at the proper
temperature (350 deg, maybe). Wait about 20 min. till the oven is clearly up
to temp and cycling. Look at the thermometer. It should be +/- 5 deg.
If it's not right you can go here for the calibration procedure. This
cal. is pretty easy.
http://manuals.frigidaire.com/prodin.../318200191.pdf

Dave M.

Dan,

Not sure what you want to do with the DMM. Put the oven thermometer
where you normally place the custards. Turn on the oven at the proper
temperature (350 deg, maybe). Wait about 20 min. till the oven is clearly up
to temp and cycling. Look at the thermometer. It should be +/- 5 deg.
If it's not right you can go here for the calibration procedure. This
cal. is pretty easy.
http://manuals.frigidaire.com/prodin.../318200191.pdf

Dave M.

DIYers have to perform the procedure 3 times, as Dave says, before
they get it right. LOL

Sonny

Sorry about the repeats

Dave M.

Daniel Prince wrote:
I think my oven is not maintaining the correct temperature anymore
because the pumpkin custards I bake frequently are taking much
longer to cook than they previously did.

I have a mercury-type oven thermometer and a DMM with a temperature
probe. What is the best place for me to position the thermometer?
What is the best place for me to position the probe from the DMM?
Should I keep the probe from touching the wire racks?

How long should I wait after the oven indicates that is up to
temperature before I look at the thermometer? Is there some other
way I can check the thermostat? The oven is a Frigidaire model
FEB24S5ASB. It was made in September 2003. It has a digital
control panel.

Thank you in advance for all replies.

You need to place the probe where the oven probe is.

Greg

On Wed, 28 Mar 2012 00:23:09 +0000 (UTC), gregz
wrote:

Daniel Prince wrote:
I think my oven is not maintaining the correct temperature anymore
because the pumpkin custards I bake frequently are taking much
longer to cook than they previously did.

I have a mercury-type oven thermometer and a DMM with a temperature
probe. What is the best place for me to position the thermometer?
What is the best place for me to position the probe from the DMM?
Should I keep the probe from touching the wire racks?

How long should I wait after the oven indicates that is up to
temperature before I look at the thermometer? Is there some other
way I can check the thermostat? The oven is a Frigidaire model
FEB24S5ASB. It was made in September 2003. It has a digital
control panel.

Thank you in advance for all replies.

You need to place the probe where the oven probe is.

That would tell him if the oven probe was accurate. It wouldn't tell
him that there is no longer any insulation in the back of the oven--
or that the door seal is leaking like a sieve.

I still say- put the remote probe in several different spots in the
oven- anywhere the food you're cooking is likely to be.

Jim

On Wed, 28 Mar 2012 07:43:33 -0400, Jim Elbrecht
wrote:




That would tell him if the oven probe was accurate. It wouldn't tell
him that there is no longer any insulation in the back of the oven--
or that the door seal is leaking like a sieve.

I still say- put the remote probe in several different spots in the
oven- anywhere the food you're cooking is likely to be.

Jim

Agree. To make it simple to handle and not touch the racks, put the
probe through a small potato. It should to all the way through and
stick out the other side. Only the tip is doing the reading.

Jim Elbrecht wrote:

-snip-
I still say- put the remote probe in several different spots in the
oven- anywhere the food you're cooking is likely to be.

BTW- Be sure to check the bottom rack position and the top one.
'common sense' tells us that heat rises, so the top one is hotter.
Reality is, that the heat is coming form the bottom so the bottom rack
is hotter.

Jim

Jim Elbrecht wrote:
On Wed, 28 Mar 2012 00:23:09 +0000 (UTC), gregz
wrote:

Daniel Prince wrote:
I think my oven is not maintaining the correct temperature anymore
because the pumpkin custards I bake frequently are taking much
longer to cook than they previously did.

I have a mercury-type oven thermometer and a DMM with a temperature
probe. What is the best place for me to position the thermometer?
What is the best place for me to position the probe from the DMM?
Should I keep the probe from touching the wire racks?

How long should I wait after the oven indicates that is up to
temperature before I look at the thermometer? Is there some other
way I can check the thermostat? The oven is a Frigidaire model
FEB24S5ASB. It was made in September 2003. It has a digital
control panel.

Thank you in advance for all replies.

You need to place the probe where the oven probe is.

That would tell him if the oven probe was accurate. It wouldn't tell
him that there is no longer any insulation in the back of the oven--
or that the door seal is leaking like a sieve.

I still say- put the remote probe in several different spots in the
oven- anywhere the food you're cooking is likely to be.

Jim

It would tell if the oven thermostat is working properly.

Then, you can go about investigating other areas.

Greg

Jim Elbrecht wrote:
Jim Elbrecht wrote:

-snip-
I still say- put the remote probe in several different spots in the
oven- anywhere the food you're cooking is likely to be.

BTW- Be sure to check the bottom rack position and the top one.
'common sense' tells us that heat rises, so the top one is hotter.
Reality is, that the heat is coming form the bottom so the bottom rack
is hotter.

Jim

It's hotter for a while, while burner or element is on. Then it cools down,
and the top is hotter.

Greg