Combination microwave question

[Syke]

I have a Sharp's R-959 combination microwave. When I set the convection only mode at say 190C, to use as a conventional oven, When it pings to say it has reached its temperature, an oven thermometer only shows about

120C. There is a section in the manual which I think may be referring to to this where it says,

"Temperature measurements taken whilst the oven is in convection mode will differ from the displayed level. This will not affect the cooking results as long as the operation manual and cookbook section are followed correctly".

Which is likely to be correct?

Regards and thanks in advance

Syke

[Graham.]

What are you using to measure it? I would not trust a bi-metal coil dial thermometer to be accurate I would trust an electronic probe type though.

Anyway, the manual appears to be surprisingly honest in admitting the oven display over-estimates the cavity temperature, so go with that.

[meow2222]

temps do vary some, but not by 70 deg

NT

[Syke]

Yes, I am using a dial-type oven thermometer. I do have what I suppose is a probe-type, as part of a meat thermometer. I'll try that.

Regards Syke

[Tim Watts]

I would not expect a 70 degree error though!

[Chris French]

In message , Syke writes

Correct in what sense? They both seem to be correct in that the measured temp is not the displayed temp? Or do you mean the bit about it not affecting results? Presumably Sharp know what they are talking about here and that is what is best to follow

Have you got an issue with the cooking? We have the same oven. I've never bothered to measure the temp as convection cooking results have always been along with my expectations. It cooks good cakes, which is a good judge of ovens IME (Though I don't remember reading that extract in the manual, though it is there)

Presumably, it's something to do with the relatively small volume of the oven and they way the convection cooking mode operates.

[Syke]

"Correct" wasn't really the right word here. What I meant was that if I was using a recipe which wasn't in the manual, should I still go along with what the appliance says and trust it won't be undercooked? The oven is fine in every other way, although in the early days I phoned Sharp's helpline to clarify whether, again when following recipes not in the manual, I should regard it as a fan oven for timing purposes. I was left none the wiser as the reply was, "Well, it's got a fan hasn't it?"

Regards

Syke

[meow2222]

Hence its a fan oven. Cooking times are only rough guides, they need tweaking to suit the individual cooker. If things cook ok then the cooker's right, thermometer's wrong. If things sit there uncooked, the thermometer's right. How hard is that?

NT

[Murmansk]

Seems to me that fan ovens might be a bit like wind chill factor but in reverse!!

If you go out when it's cold but also windy you get colder because of the wind - so if you put an item in a hot oven and blow hot air at it perhaps the effect is the same ie the heating effect is magnified?

[Tim Watts]

That's why most cooking instructions say to reduce the set temperature by about 20C when using a fan oven.