If you do not know which program to use to cook your food or if you have misplaced the instructions for your oven, here are explanations of the function of all the symbols that you observe on your appliance.
In this page, the oven used is of the Fagor brand. It should be noted that this device has two cooking modes and does not have rotating heat. Here are the different functions that you may encounter when using your cooking equipment:
- The programmer
- The Thermostat
- Cooking methods:
- Position 0
- The static cooking function
- Floor heating
- grill heating
- The pyrolysis cleaning function
The ability to understand your oven’s cooking symbols is an essential part of mastering your culinary endeavors. However, these symbols can often seem like hieroglyphics to the uninitiated. This article aims to demystify these symbols, equipping you with the knowledge to take full advantage of your oven’s capabilities.
1. Conventional Heating (or Static Heating)
Symbol: Two horizontal lines, one at the top and one at the bottom.
This symbol indicates that the oven heats from both the top and bottom elements. This function is ideal for roasting and baking simultaneously, as the heat from both elements will cook food evenly.
2. Grill
Symbol: A zigzag line at the top.
This represents the grill function. This mode is perfect for browning the top of your food or creating a delicious gratin.
3. Fan Grill
Symbol: A zigzag line at the top with a fan symbol underneath.
This combines the grill function with the fan, which helps to spread the heat evenly around the oven. This is great for cooking large cuts of meat as the fan ensures every part gets evenly cooked.
4. Fan-assisted Oven
Symbol: A fan surrounded by a circle.
In this mode, the fan circulates hot air around the oven, ensuring an even distribution of heat. It’s excellent for multi-layer cooking as it keeps the oven’s temperature consistent.
5. Defrost
Symbol: A snowflake above a drop of water.
This function is for defrosting food. The fan circulates air around the oven, but no heat is applied. This results in a natural and more gentle thawing process.
6. Bottom Heat Only
Symbol: A single horizontal line at the bottom.
This setting only uses the heating element at the bottom of the oven. It’s perfect for dishes that need slow cooking from the bottom, like custards or pies.
7. Top Heat Only
Symbol: A single horizontal line at the top.
This setting uses the top heating element only. It’s perfect for browning the tops of casseroles, gratins, or pies.
8. Oven Light
Symbol: A bulb.
This symbol usually indicates the oven light, which can be switched on independently of the oven to let you check on your cooking without opening the door.
9. Pyrolytic Cleaning Function
Symbol: A square with four small diamonds inside.
This is the symbol for the self-cleaning function in some ovens. It heats the oven to a high temperature to burn off food residues, leaving a small amount of ash that can be easily wiped away.
These are some of the most common oven symbols, but remember, symbols can vary between manufacturers. It’s always a good idea to consult your oven’s user manual for a comprehensive understanding of your specific model’s functions.
In conclusion, understanding your oven’s cooking symbols is a key step in optimizing your baking and cooking results. Once you decipher these symbols, you’ll unlock a new world of culinary potential, giving you the power to experiment with different recipes and cooking techniques. So take the time to study these symbols, and before long, you’ll be navigating your oven like a pro.
