HOW TO USE AN OVEN
Learn the ins and outs of how to use and maintain an oven so you get consistent performance, meal after meal.
CHECK YOUR OVEN TYPE
Before you start cooking, know what you’re using — conventional or convection. This will determine time, temperature and rack position.
CONVECTION OVENS
A fan, and in some cases a third heating element, distribute heated air throughout the oven.
Reposition Racks based on your meal
Reposition Racks based on your meal
Check how many rack positions your oven has. It can vary from three to seven.
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1
Roasting meat and poultry
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2
All purpose baking rack or when using two racks
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3
All purpose baking rack and broiling larger cuts or bone-in meat
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4
Baking larger cuts or bone-in meat
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5
Thinner cuts of meat or vegetables
Start Cooking
Preheat to the right temperature.
Wait until it’s fully preheated to put in your food.
Allow 2" of space around cookware and bakeware so air can circulate.
Set the time you want to cook for.
Avoid opening the door unless needed, so the temperature doesn’t drop.
MAYTAG TIP: CONVERTING RECIPES FOR CONVECTION
Convection ovens can help you cook faster1 thanks to their even heating. To adjust your recipe when baking, reduce the temperature by 25°F and when roasting, reduce the overall cook time by 20%. Or check your oven for a setting that does it for you, like Auto Convect Conversion by Maytag.
KEEP YOUR OVEN CLEAN
Many ovens have a self-cleaning cycle that uses either high or low heat. If yours doesn't, see your owner's manual for instructions on how to clean by hand.
RUN A HIGH HEAT SELF-CLEANING CYCLE
Remove all racks and accessories from the oven cavity. Wipe away loose soils and keep the kitchen ventilated. Select the cycle and adjust time, if possible, according to soil level: the dirtier the oven, the longer the cycle. Once the oven has cooled, remove ash with a damp cloth.
RUN A LOW HEAT SELF-CLEANING CYCLE
Remove all racks and accessories from the oven cavity. Wipe away loose soils and make sure the oven is room temperature. Add water to the bottom and select your oven's steam clean or other low temperature cycle, like AquaLift® self-cleaning technology by Maytag. Remove loosened soils with a sponge as soon as the cycle's over.
MAYTAG TIP: CLEANING THE RACKS
Use a non-abrasive scrubbing sponge or a steel-wool pad for stubborn soils. For racks that are harder to slide out, use a little vegetable oil on the rack guides.
MORE INFO TO HELP KEEP YOU COOKING
Learn about the benefits of cooking with either convection or conventional.
WAS THIS ARTICLE HELPFUL? PASS IT ON
1. Compared to traditional thermal-bake ovens.
