Generic Ovens & Ranges Oven Temperature Way Off — How to Recalibrate: How to Fix It Yourself
If your food is burning or coming out undercooked, your oven temperature is probably off. This is extremely common — even new ovens can be 25-50 degrees off from what the display says. Most ovens have a built-in calibration setting that lets you adjust the temperature without any parts or tools. An inexpensive oven thermometer is all you need to diagnose and fix this.
Tools Needed
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- Use oven mitts when placing or reading the thermometer in a hot oven.
- The oven thermometer will be very hot — don't touch it with bare hands after testing.
Before You Start
Parts You May Need
Step-by-Step Repair
- Step 1 of 51
Test your oven temperature
Place an oven thermometer in the center of the middle rack. Set the oven to 350F. Wait 20 minutes after it signals preheating is done. Read the thermometer. Note the difference between the set temperature and the actual temperature.
Photo: Test your oven temperature - Step 2 of 52
Test at multiple temperatures
Repeat the test at 250F and 450F. This helps you understand if the offset is consistent. If it's always 25 degrees low, calibration will fix it. If it's wildly inconsistent (50 low at 250 but 30 high at 450), the temperature sensor may be failing.
Photo: Test at multiple temperatures - Step 3 of 53
Access the calibration setting
Every oven brand does this differently. Common methods: (1) Hold the Bake button for 5 seconds. (2) Press and hold the Up and Down arrows together. (3) Go to Settings > Temperature Calibration in the menu. Check your owner's manual or search your model number + 'oven calibration' online.
Photo: Access the calibration setting - Step 4 of 54
Adjust the calibration
Once in calibration mode, use the arrow buttons to increase or decrease the temperature offset. If your oven reads 25 degrees too low, increase the calibration by 25 degrees. Most ovens allow adjustments of up to 35 degrees in either direction.
Photo: Adjust the calibration - Step 5 of 55
Retest and fine-tune
After setting the calibration, run the 350F test again with your oven thermometer. If it's still off, adjust the calibration again. Once the thermometer reads close to 350F (within 5-10 degrees is normal), you're set. Keep the oven thermometer in the oven permanently as an easy reference.
Photo: Retest and fine-tune
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If That Didn't Work
- A failing oven temperature sensor gives inaccurate readings to the control board, causing wild temperature swings.
- A worn heating element may heat unevenly, making some spots hotter than others.
- A damaged door gasket lets heat escape, making the oven temperature lower than it should be.
When to Call a Professional
If the oven temperature swings wildly (not just consistently off), the temperature sensor likely needs replacing. It's a $15–$30 part and usually an easy DIY job. If the calibration offset is more than 50 degrees, something else is wrong and a tech should diagnose it ($100–$150).
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