By Amy McNabb
Test Data Analyst | Kaitātari Raraunga Whakamātautau
Warming
A stack of three lines means the warming elements will be on. This function will gently warm plates or other dishes to prevent food cooling too quickly when served.
Defrost
Some ovens have a defrost function, represented by a snowflake or fan symbol and a water droplet. This means the fan will run with no (or very low) heat. The air circulating defrosts food quicker than leaving it on the bench to thaw.
Bottom element only
A single horizontal line at the bottom means only the bottom element will be on. The fan won’t be activated to circulate the heat. This setting is good for gentle cooking, including stews and casseroles. It's also a good option for crisping the base of a pizza or pastry.
Classic bake – top and bottom elements
A horizontal line top and bottom means both the top and bottom elements will be on, but the fan won’t be activated. This is a good option for baking large cakes, preventing the outside burning before the inside is cooked. It also works well for roasting meat.
Fan bake
A fan symbol on its own, or with a horizontal line at top and bottom, means the fan, as well as both top and bottom elements will be on. Fan bake is good for most cooking, particularly when using more than one rack. It allows food to cook faster and at a lower temperature.
Fan assisted
A fan symbol with a single horizontal line at the bottom means both the fan and bottom element will be on. This is great for keeping the top of a dish moist while the bottom cooks. It's a good option for pies, quiches and pizzas.
Fan forced
A fan symbol with a circle around it means the fan will be on with its own heating element. The top and bottom elements won’t be activated. This function will distribute heat evenly in good ovens and allow food to cook faster and at a lower temperature.
Steam assisted
A symbol that’s a puff of air or a cloud with a fan means steam will be used to assist cooking. This function is ideal for baking bread as it helps create a fluffy loaf with a crispy crust. It can also be used to reheat and roast.
What size oven and what cooking functions do you need?
Find out how to choose the best built-in or wall oven, then see the top performers in our test of single models.
Fan grill
A zigzag at the top with a fan symbol below means the grill and fan will both be on. The fan takes some of the intensity out of the grill, distributing the heat around the oven. It's good for cooking through thicker pieces of meat or fish without burning the top. Fan grilling is designed to work with the door closed and with the food placed on a grilling tray a level or two lower than for regular grilling.
Part grill
A single zigzag at the top means only one part of the grill element will be on. You’ll need to make sure your food is placed under the section that’s on. This setting is great when you only want to cook a couple of sausages or make a single cheese toastie. Some grills are designed to be used with the door closed, while others need the door open – check the user manual.
Full grill
A double zigzag at the top means the entire grill element will be on. It’s great for larger batches of cheese on toast, sausages, bacon and crackling. It’s also good for browning off meat or the top of lasagne.
Grill and lower element
A zigzag at the top with a horizontal line at the bottom means the grill and the bottom element will both be on. It’s great for pies and pizzas where you want a crispy base and browned top.
Slow cook
Some ovens have a slow cook function, which can be represented by dashed lines along the top and bottom or an image of a casserole dish. This function cooks at a low temperature and is designed to be used for an extended time. It’s ideal for cooking meat so it’s tender and developing flavours in stews and casseroles.
Pyrolytic cleaning
Oven symbols for pyrolytic cleaning aren't consistent, but some have a capital P or a series of dots, arrows or diamond shapes that increase in size. The pyrolytic cleaning function locks the oven and heats it to around 500°C . This converts food residue to ash, which you then wipe out.
Steam cleaning
Steam cleaning functions are often given a proprietary name, such as SteamShine, EasyClean or Vapour Clean, depending on the manufacturer. But they all do the same thing – heat water (sometimes with a little vinegar or dishwashing liquid), which converts to steam, softening food residue so it’s easier to wipe off.
Light
Some ovens have a light that can be turned on even when the oven isn't going – that’s handy for cleaning.
Lock
As with cooktop hobs, an oven’s control panel can be locked – most modern ovens have this feature. It’s handy if you’ve got curious children and to prevent accidental bumps causing functions to be switched on or off, or changes being made to settings. Typically, you’ll press and hold a touch control for a few seconds to activate or deactivate the control lock.
Alarm
The alarm can be set to remind you to check on cooking progress or for any other kitchen task. It won’t turn off the oven.
Timer
The timer (sometimes called a “minute minder”) allows you to set the cooking time. When the time is up, the oven will beep or buzz and automatically turn off.
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