Mastering Oven Temperature

How to convert oven temperature

When cooking a delicious meal in your oven, precise temperature control is crucial for achieving fantastic results. However, navigating temperature scales – especially when following recipes – can be confusing.

In this guide, we break down temperature scales commonly encountered in cooking and provide conversion tips. We also explore the influence of fans on temperature settings and offer recommendations for temperatures to keep food warm in the oven.

What are the different oven temperature scales?  

Ovens use one of three temperature scales to measure heat. These are:

  • Celsius (e.g. 170°C)
  • Fahrenheit (e.g. 350°F)
  • Gas mark (e.g. gas mark 5)

Conversion charts  

Need to convert temperatures quickly? Our handy oven temperature conversion chart covers fan, Celsius, Fahrenheit, and gas ovens. Use it as your guide:

Fan

Celsius (°C)

Fahrenheit (°F)

Gas mark

120°C

140°C

275°F

1

130°C

150°C

300°F

2

140°C

160°C

325°F

3

160°C

180°C

350°F

4

170°C

190°C

375°F

5

180°C

200°C

400°F

6

200°C

220°C

425°F

7

210°C

230°C

450°F

8

210°C

240°C

475°F

9

Conversion formulas  

  • Converting temperature from Celsius to Fahrenheit

    Reading a recipe which uses the Fahrenheit scale and need to convert it to Celsius? If you don’t have access to our conversion table, you can use the following formula:

    • (°F − 32) × 5/9 = °C

    For example, say you want to convert 300°F into Celsius. Firstly, subtract 32 from 300 (300 – 32 = 268). Then, multiply 268 by 5/9, which equals 148.88°C. Most temperature conversion charts round these numbers, so in this case, 300°F is approximately equal to 150°C.

  • Converting temperature from Fahrenheit to Celsius

    There’s also a formula if you’re following a recipe which is measured in Celsius, and you need to convert it to Fahrenheit:

    • (°C x 9/5) + 32 = °F

    Let’s say you want to convert 170°C into Fahrenheit. Multiply 170 by 9/5 before adding 32, which equals 338°F. As with Celsius to Fahrenheit, most charts round these numbers, so 170°C is approximately equal to 340°F.

Apps and calculators  

As mentioned, conversion charts show Celsius numbers rounded up, rather than the exact numbers based on the conversion formula. If precision matters to you and you want more accurate readings, consider using an online temperature calculator. This tool allows you to input specific values and get precise conversions between Celsius and Fahrenheit.

Tips for converting oven temperature

Sometimes ovens have inaccurate temperatures, which can cause cooking issues. Underheating may result in improperly cooked food, while overheating can lead to overcooked or burnt dishes. To address this, consider using an oven thermometer. It provides an accurate reading and allows you to check different areas of your oven.

If you don’t have a thermometer, try this manual method: Place an ovenproof dish with sugar inside a preheated oven at 190°C (375°F or gas mark 5) for 15 minutes. If the sugar doesn’t melt, your oven is likely underheating.

What temperature to keep food warm in the oven?

Some modern ovens include a ‘keep warm’ function, which is there to maintain food temperature but not cook it further. However, if your oven doesn’t have this setting, you might be wondering what temperature to set your oven at to keep food warm. Here are the recommended temperatures:

  • Fan oven: Set it between 60°C and 75°C
  • Celsius: Keep it between 80°C and 95°C
  • Fahrenheit: Aim for between 170°F and 200°F

It’s difficult to do in a gas oven, as the lowest setting (gas mark 1) is a much higher temperature than needed to keep food warm.

Finding the right oven for you

At AEG, we have a variety of gas and electric ovens to suit your needs. Electric ovens in our 6000 series come with features like SteamBake, while the 7000 series offers SteamCrisp and the 8000 series includes SteamBoost. Gas ovens provide faster preheating and maintain a moist heat, preventing your food from drying out. It’s all down to personal preference.

We’ve also got ovens to fit all kitchen sizes. Discover a range of built-in ovens, designed to fit seamlessly within your kitchen cabinets. Alternatively, if you have a smaller kitchen space, check out our compact ovens.

For all the information you need to purchase your next oven, check out our comprehensive oven buying guide.