Proper Operation
Learn how your appliance is supposed to operate so you can determine if it is malfunctioning.


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Electric Range Broiling

Oven cavity showing bake and broil elements

Broiling in an electric range is achieved primarily by use of the upper oven broil element. That element is not temperature controlled and usually stays on 100% of the time at full power (240 volts). Because of this broiling must be done with the door open to allow excess heat to escape or damage to the range can occur.

Oven door open to broil stop position

Vari-broil

Some older dial-type oven thermostats and some newer electronic controls have a vari-broil feature that allows broiling at reduced temperatures. On control systems so equipped, the broil element can be selected to cycle on an off to provide greater flexibility in broiling. Generally, to broil meat well done a lower heat but longer cook time is used. For rare, a higher heat and shorter cooking duration is used.

Simplified oven circuit