Why Your Oven Burns One Side of the Food (and How to Stop It)

When your oven burns one side of your food while leaving the other side undercooked, the problem is usually uneven oven heating. A heating element that is malfunctioning, blocked airflow, misaligned racks, or a malfunctioning convection fan are all potential causes. These problems can lead to uneven heat distribution, which makes it more difficult to cook food evenly.The good news is, if your food burns in the oven on one side, this is a problem that can be fixed. In this article, we’re going to show you the practical steps you can take to troubleshoot the issue, what steps you can take to resolve the problem, and when it would be best to contact a professional. Whether you are cooking a chicken or baking cookies, we will ensure that you achieve the even heat you need.

Check Your Oven Rack Placement

Bad oven rack placement is a surprisingly common reason for uneven baking in the oven. If the rack is placed too high or too low, or if it is tilted, one side of the dish will be exposed to the heat source more than the other. As a result, one side may overbrown or burn while the other side takes longer to cook.

For optimum results, try to position your trays in the middle of your oven. Circulation of heat around food is more likely to be even. In addition, make sure that your oven racks are not warped and are sitting flat. A flat surface is important because a tilted surface could result in a pan being tilted and some food getting overcooked, while other food remains undercooked.

While cooking, following some basic oven rack tips can have a significant impact on the final results. As simple as changing the height of the rack or replacing a bent rack can give more uniform results, be it cookies, vegetables, or a family meal.

Test for Oven Hot Spots with Bread

Uneven heating often causes specific areas of your dish to cook faster than others, which can be frustrating if you want even results. A simple bread test can show you where the problem areas are.

To conduct a simple bread test for hot spots, place slices of white bread in a single layer, evenly spaced over an oven rack. Set your oven to 350°F and bake the bread for 5-10 minutes. When you pull the slices out, you will notice some are darker than others. The darker slices show hotter areas, while cooler spots are represented with lighter slices.

Now that you know the hotter and cooler areas of the oven, you can change how you cook. You can avoid putting food in the hottest areas, or you can rotate trays after a certain amount of time, like halfway through baking. Learning how to test oven temperature this way is quick, easy, and effective.

Calibrate or Test Your Oven Temperature

If you notice your meals often have burnt edges and undercooked centers, your oven might not be accurate. Performing an oven thermometer test will let you know if your oven’s temperature matches what you’ve set. Even a small difference can have a big impact on baking and roasting.

To check accuracy, place an oven thermometer in the middle and set the oven to the desired temperature. After 10-15 minutes, check the thermometer reading against the set temperature. If your oven is running hot or too cool by more than 25°F of the set temperature, it is a clear indicator that adjustment is needed.

Some modern ovens let you do an oven temperature calibration via the control panel. For older or more complicated models, it’s best to have a technician do it. An oven that has been appropriately calibrated helps achieve consistent cooking results, preventing unnecessary frustration and wasted ingredients.

Inspect Heating Elements (Electric Ovens)

One of the more common problems with electric ovens is uneven cooking due to a faulty heating element. Your oven has both a top and a bottom heating element. If one of the elements is broken or not functioning as designed, heating will be uneven and will either burn the food on the top while leaving the bottom undercooked, or entirely the opposite.

To troubleshoot, turn the oven on and monitor the elements. A functioning element will be glowing a bright red all the way along its length. Dark spots, breaks, warping, or if the oven heating coil is not working at all, is a clear sign of damage and so is not functioning properly.

Even heating can often be restored simply by replacing the faulty element. Some homeowners may feel comfortable doing it themselves, but electrical work can be dangerous, and it is best to leave the replacement to professionals to ensure the work is done safely.

Check the Convection Fan (If You Have One)

In a convection oven, the circulating fan is key to the even distribution of hot air to properly cook food. When the convection oven fan is not working, heat is likely to be trapped in certain spots, leading to overcooking on one side and undercooking on the other for many dishes. This is one of the most common reasons for oven air circulation problems.

A faulty fan can be detected by strange loud sounds, complete silence when air should be blown into the oven, and persistent one-sided scorching of food regardless of the proper shelving position. It is also possible that the oven is slow, and the food is taking longer to bake.

To check, you can listen for the humming sound of the fan during cooking or look for movement after the oven has cooled down. If the fan is faulty, repairs typically involve the unit being opened, something only a qualified technician should handle for safety and proper installation.

Consider Your Cookware Choices

The type of cookware you have will influence the evenness of the baking of your food. Certain trays and pans are likely to cause uneven heat buildup, and this will often lead to burnt and undercooked food.

Dark Pans Bake Faster

When using dark pans, food is likely to brown and burn faster as dark pans bake faster. While this can be beneficial for foods that are meant to be extra browned, dark pans can be troublesome when baking delicate items like cookies and cakes. As light-colored or ceramic bakeware is often good for reflecting heat, this could provide more and more predictable results.

Warped Trays Affect Airflow

Cookware is causing uneven baking when warped or bent trays are used. One side of your food could be sitting closer to the heating element, resulting in the food being undercooked on one side and overcooked on the other side. It is best to check your bakeware often and replace the trays that are bent or damaged.

Avoid Overcrowding

Oven airflow is just as important as the cooking equipment used. If the trays are overcrowded, the flow of hot air and even circulation is blocked, leading to higher chances of uneven cooking. To prevent this, always make space between the trays and rotate them halfway through if several trays are being cooked at once.

Baking problems can arise due to the oven and the cookware, and many of these problems can be fixed by making the right adjustments. These adjustments include choosing appropriate cookware, maintaining it, and giving the oven the space it needs to evenly disperse the heat.

When to Call a Professional Oven Technician

When DIY solutions no longer work, it’s time to look into oven repairs from a professional. Your oven may require a deeper check if it continues to burn food on one side, despite your efforts to change the rack position, check for hot spots, and rotate cookware.

A damaged or non-working heating element, repeated calibration issues, faulty control boards, and non-functional convection fans are all signs of issues that are best looked at by an expert. These issues can be quite stubborn and often require specialized tools and knowledge to be repaired safely.

An expert can run full diagnostics, find and replace the worn parts responsible for the uneven heating, and restore the oven to its peak performance. Repairing the appliance not only prevents further damage but also brings back the consistency needed for cooking.

From Pasadena to Santa Monica, Universal Appliance Repair provides reliable oven repair throughout Los Angeles. Our certified technicians work with all major brands and models, so your oven will be repaired in no time. If your meals are being ruined because of uneven cooking, it is best to get it repaired before it worsens.

Schedule Oven Repair with Confidence

If uneven heating is making your dinners a guessing game, it is time to seek professional assistance. With Universal Appliance Repair, scheduling oven repair in Los Angeles is efficient and easy. We are ready to assist you, regardless of whether you are in Pasadena, Santa Monica, or Beverly Hills.

After scheduling an oven technician, you will get a certified professional from our team who can quickly assess the issue, provide an overview of your repair options, and bring back your oven’s performance. We are known for fast response times and same-day service, as well as being oven experts for all major brands.

Don’t waste your time battling with undercooked and overcooked food. Book your repair today and get back to enjoying the delicious dishes you love. With one simple phone call or online booking, you can have your oven working like brand new.

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