Ranges without electronics

11 years ago

I have a BlueStar RNB on order, and one thing that is very different about this range compared to what I am used to, is the lack of displays/electronics.

Other ranges from CC or AR are similar in their sparse use of electronics.

I appreciate this; as there is simply less to fail and deal with down the road. But it does leave me wondering what devices/gadgets people use to fill in some of the gaps functionality wise.

Such as:

How do you know the oven has finished preheating?

What do you use for setting timers?

Do you keep a clock in your kitchen? My oven currently serves this role and we do not have a microwave that would serve the same purpose?

Featured Answer

jwvideo

11 years ago

last modified: 11 years ago

>>>"How do you know the oven has finished preheating?"<<<

Well, if you believe in little signals or lights, there is the little blue light to the side of the oven dial on the Blue Star ranges. (just saw john williams' post as I was uploading this.) But, bear in mind that virtually all oven preheat indicators are mostly measuring air temperature without telling you if the oven walls are fully preheated. It is the oven walls that are important for preheating, mostly. (I just give my oven 20 minutes or so to get preheated -- 30 minutes when a specific pre-heat temp is important for the recipe.) There have been numerous threads discussing this subject here if you want to do a search. Or, you could check out this link for a technical explanation:

http://spectrum.ieee.org/consumer-electronics/gadgets/nathan-myhrvolds-recipe-for-a-better-oven

>>>"What do you use for setting timers?"<<<

I use a couple of Taylor 1470N units which have both timers and thermo-probes. There are better and more full featured ones (count up and count down timers, etc.) but these were what my local hardware store carried. These units also get used with my bbq grill and my smoker. Thermoworks makes some nice units.

FWIW, I also have a Thermapen and find it very useful. Reacts much faster than the wired remote probe units.

>>>"Do you keep a clock in your kitchen? "<<<

Not since a guest accidentally knocked it down (Small kitchen, a mop handle, etc.) I do have a MW near the stove, though, and I wear a watch. I like timers over watches and clocks, though, because timers do not get disracted the way I sometimes do.

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Comments (7)

John
11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
How do you know the oven has finished preheating?

Bluestar "Use & Care Manual" (page 24):

"Push in and turn the oven control knob counter clockwise to any temperature setting between 150º and 500°F. The
blue oven indicator light will illuminate indicating the oven is on and preheating.
Although the oven is on, it may take up to three minutes for the oven burner to ignite. This is normal. In about 10 minutes, the blue oven indicator light will turn off, indicating the oven sensor has reached the desired
temperature. However, it will take up to 30 minutes for the oven cavity to be fully preheated at that temperature. The blue indicator light will turn on and off as the oven cycles to maintain the set temperature.
For best results, do not place your food into the oven until it is fully saturated at the desired temperature."

What do you use for setting timers?

I use these timers:

http://www.thermoworks.com/products/timers/rt101a.html (for short times)

http://www.thermoworks.com/products/timers/timestick.html (for longer times)

Do you keep a clock in your kitchen?

I have a big clock on the wall.

You didn't ask this but...

My all time favorite and best cooking tool:

http://www.thermoworks.com/products/thermapen/
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willtv
11 years ago
Like " jwvideo", I just wait about 20 minutes for the oven to pre-heat. I have a wall clock and a MW to tell the time. As for a timer, I use an app on my phone.
mkeys5000
Original Author
11 years ago
Thanks, good advice about just giving the oven 20-30 minutes to heat. I have read before about the importance of letting the oven walls heat up properly, but with my current oven that beep to tell me it is ready has me trained to put my food in. Maybe this new oven will be a good way to kick that habit.

I have a Polder original timer/thermometer that I sometimes use for large roasts in the oven, maybe I will use that for a while as my kitchen timer and see how I feel about it.
rwiegand
11 years ago
I wait until the heat in the oven has cycled 2-3 times, or wait 20-30 min, or put the food in as soon as it feels warm enough, depending on circumstances. For most things I find it doesn't matter if the oven starts at a particular temp. For a timer I have 3-4 old lab timers around, but now mostly use my phone. The kitchen clock is a weight-driven Seth Thomas #2 regulator, the railroad station model. One of the best clocks ever.
M
11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
As others have said, most of the electronic gimmicks in mainstream ranges are really things you won't miss. I've had our BS range for more than five years now, and it never even occurred to me that I'd need an indicator for when the oven has finished preheating. It's so ingrained in my normal workflow. I just turn it on when I start prepping or about 15-25min before I expect to use it.

I do have a mechanical oven thermometer though, and if precise oven temperature is really important than I do occasionally check the thermometer. It's $5 well spent.

I bake a lot of bread which needs regular attention with periodic rest times. I find that my cell phone is the best tool here. I found an app that allows me to very easily program multiple timers at the same time. I find that's much more useful than any appliance I ever had.

And yes, a good instant-read thermometer is also really helpful. But again, even the good ones aren't all that expensive.
huruta
11 years ago
We have a Lacanche.

How do you know the oven has finished preheating? I initially measured it with an oven thermometer. Now I just know based on how high I'm setting it for.

What do you use for setting timers? A separate timer I've had 20 years, sticks to the fridge. Despite dropping it frequently, it keeps on tickin'.

Do you keep a clock in your kitchen? Yes - a retro red clock in our vintage kitchen.

My oven currently serves this
role and we do not have a microwave that would serve the same purpose? I don't use our microwave much (<1x per week). I use the oven multiple times per week to cook food.