The humble gas oven has been with us since the 19th century, and while electric ovens are rather more common nowadays, gas ovens are still used in countless kitchens all over the world. While they can only be installed by a Gas Safe-registered engineer here in Britain, they are generally a lot cheaper to run than their electrical counterparts, which is a big plus if you're looking to ensure that your kitchen is as cost-effective as possible.
But how does a gas oven actually work? Today, we'd like to take you 'under the hood' of your gas appliance to explain what each individual part does and how they all come together every night to cook your dinner.
Gas oven parts
First of all, we're going to introduce you to the key components of a gas oven. These include:
- Oven Burner - This is the part that actually cooks your food. When you switch on a gas oven, what you are actually doing is lighting the burner.
- Spark/Ignition Generator - Found in gas ovens that rely on electric ignition (more common in modern appliances). When you turn on the oven, this part generates a spark that lights the natural gas used to fuel your oven.
- Flame Failure Device/Thermocouple - Some gas ovens (especially older models) have a constantly-burning pilot flame instead of an electric ignition generator. While these ovens are turned on, natural gas is allowed to flow through to the appliance, where it is ignited by the pilot flame; if the pilot flame goes out during cooking, it's the job of the flame failure device to cut off the gas supply so as to prevent the build-up of flammable gas.
- Thermostat - A thermostat measures the temperature inside your oven when the burner is lit. This part is responsible for ensuring that your food is being cooked at the temperature you set using the oven controls.
How gas ovens work
Gas ovens cook food via a gas-fuelled burner. These appliances require a steady supply of natural gas to function - the gas is ignited by either an spark generator or a small pilot flame depending on the model.
When you turn on your gas oven, what you are actually doing is opening the gas supply and allowing gas to flow from the mains to your appliance. You may have to press an ignition button to activate the spark generator inside your oven - this will create a spark that ignites the gas and lights the burner. Alternatively, if your oven uses a constantly-lit pilot flame, this will ignite the gas for you.
During cooking, the thermostat inside your oven measures and regulates the heat to ensure that the oven cooks at a consistent temperature without getting too hot. Once the temperature reaches the required level, the burner will be extinguished and the gas supply cut off. When things begin to cool, the oven will switch itself back on until it is back to the right temperature.
Need a new part for your gas oven? Go to the Cooker Spare Parts homepage and enter your make and model number to find compatible spares!
