The trick of the oven symbols to save energy

Today, ovens often have numerous functions that are identified by different symbols: convection, grill, hot air, top and/or bottom heat, pyrolysis, and much more. If you only bake from time to time, it is easy that you do not know the symbols or what they imply in terms of energy expenditure.

Choosing the right program is not only important for the results of the recipes, but can also save energy. Up to 10% of electricity consumption is produced by cooking and baking. We show you what the symbols on each oven mean and how you can save energy.

Meaning of oven symbols

There are numerous symbols on ovens and not all appliances have all functions. You can find these symbols on your oven:

Fan: air, but no heatFan in a circle: hot airA straight line up: top heatA straight line below: bottom heatStraight lines up and down: top and bottom heatIndented line above: Grill (from above, much stronger than top heat)Straight line below and circle fan: pizza modeFan and toothed line above: forced air and grillJagged line above, fan, straight line below: convection grill with bottom heat.Several small circles: pyrolysis (self-cleaning)Three waves like clouds: steam cookingLamp: light in the oven (no bake function)

The single fan function combines top and bottom heat with one fan that distributes heat throughout the oven. On the other hand, the fan with a circle means that the air is heated first and then it is drawn into the oven. This modality allows more uniform cooking, in a shorter time and with less energy consumption. You can also use several trays at the same time because the heat is distributed evenly in the oven. This also saves time and electricity.

Recommendations to save energy in the oven

In general, it is recommended to bake with hot air or circulating air, if possible. With both programs, especially when the air is pre-heated, the heat is distributed evenly. Normally there is no need to preheat and electricity is saved.You can set your oven 20-30 degrees lower than top/bottom heat. Hot air and circulating air are particularly suitable for pizzas, biscuits and other thin doughs.With the pizza function available in some ovens (hot air + bottom heat), for example, pizza or tarte flambé bases become crispier.The top/bottom heat is not the most energy efficient. However, the function is suitable for puff pastry and cheesecakes that need to remain moist (air would dry them out).Top heat or grill are effective when you want to gratin something or add more color to a finished cake. If you have a pyrolytic oven, you can turn to self-cleaning. In this mode the oven is heated to a very high temperature and the remains of dirt are burned until they literally become dust, which can be easily removed. Each time it is used it can suppose a consumption close to two euros and represents a waste of energy. Steaming is considered healthy because the food is gently cooked. However, it is much more energy efficient to cook food in a traditional steamer pan.

7 ways to save electricity with the oven

The oven consumes a lot of electricity, but You can reduce energy consumption with these tips:

Preheat the oven only when necessary. A thin puff pastry or a little bread needs a lot of heat from the beginning; otherwise, preheating the oven is usually not necessary and thus up to 20% energy can be saved.Take advantage of residual heat from the oven turning it off beforehand.Avoid opening the oven before the food is ready. Because every time heat escapes and you have to reheat the oven.Consider whether you really need to use your oven. You can use a toaster, for example, to bake individual rolls that are not deep-frozen or just need a touch of crispiness, using less energy.You can bake almost anything with the air and hot air modes. This saves electricity compared to the other oven functions. You can also use it to bake multiple trays at the same time. Usually, you don’t need to preheat it, so you can save electricity.Modern ovens have an energy saving program. This program really saves electricity, but it can have a negative effect on the baking result, because the temperature does not remain stable, which can ruin a soufflé, for example.“Fast heat” is another added feature in some modern ovens. In this function the oven heats up faster, but this hardly saves electricity.