Oven Calibration

If you find that your cookies bake faster or much slower than they should, it might be time to look at calibrating your oven. As most ovens run through heating cycles, they can range +/- 15 degrees in temperature compared to the set temperature, but this will usually not affect your baking. 

To calibrate your oven at home you will need: 

1. Oven thermometer – These can be found in the kitchen equipment section of most grocery stores.  
2. Your oven’s manual – If you no longer have your oven’s manual, search your oven’s make and model online. Many manufacturers have them available for download and print. Look in the manual either for “oven calibration” or “temperature offset control”. Some manufacturers discourage calibrating your own oven due to the built-in computer system. If you attempt to calibrate these ovens you may void your warranty.  

Determine how much your oven is off temperature: 

• Place an oven thermometer in the middle of your oven, facing the window so you can check the temperature without opening the door.  
• Set oven to 350°F and allow to come to temperature. Wait an additional 10-15 minutes once oven indicates it is at temperature before reading the thermometer.  
• Don’t open the oven door to read the temperature. Opening the door can drop the oven temperature by as much as 25 degrees. 
  
• Repeat this process for the temperatures you use most often.  
  
• For ovens that are out of temperature by more than +/- 40 degrees or are out by different amounts at different temperatures, call in a professional technician. This could be a malfunction with the computer in your oven.