The Fresh Loaf

A Community of Amateur Bakers and Artisan Bread Enthusiasts.

Measuring oven temperature

Ilya Flyamer's picture
Ilya Flyamer

Measuring oven temperature

Any ideas how to measure oven temperature to check how it matches the set values without an infrared thermometer, having only a regular food thermometer with a plastic body? Just curious if there are any options.

phaz's picture
phaz

Throw in a cup of water let it heat, measure. Won't help with upper and lower set points (usually+/- 20 or so) but should give a pretty good idea. Enjoy!

Ilya Flyamer's picture
Ilya Flyamer

Thanks - that won't work above 100°C though since water can't be hotter than that...

Ilya Flyamer's picture
Ilya Flyamer

But actually using oil instead should work for much hotter settings! Just need to be very careful with hot oil.

alcophile's picture
alcophile

Other options in place of oil are salt, sand, or glass beads. Salt or sand baths are used in chemistry labs for high temperature heating. We also had oven thermometers that contained vermiculite and later, glass beads, as a thermal sink.

Ilya Flyamer's picture
Ilya Flyamer

Ah great ideas, thank you!

phaz's picture
phaz

Lol my oops! For some reason fridge was on my mind. Enjoy! 

GaryBishop's picture
GaryBishop
albacore's picture
albacore

Get a cheap thermocouple thermometer like this one. Sandwich the probe between two smallish flat pieces of metal or ovenware to stop it moving and give a bit of thermal mass for reading stability. Pass the probe wire through the door seal and observe.

Lance

Ilya Flyamer's picture
Ilya Flyamer

That is ridiculously cheap. Thanks!