Oven "Broiler" Why is it a broiler with the same flame?

[BobsYourUncle]

OK, here I am staying up later than I should and making a snack food I don't need....

Which brings me to the use of the oven broiler.

Now being an overly analytical person, I know from observation that it doesn't matter where you set that dial, all the heat comes from the same flame, on the bottom. There is no top flame or element as in our conventional electric oven.

So why is it that when you turn the knob all the way over that it suddenly becomes a broiler? I mean think about it - a broiler has the heat applied from the top down, not from the bottom up.

Being an analytical sort, I have pondered this point for years and finally decided to ask you guys!

Excuse me now, I have some "broiled" nacho chips and cheese to eat.

And they turned out well under the "broiler"......

[doxiemom11]

My gas oven had a broiler drawer under the oven. It was the bottom oven burner that was on, but it was above the food in the broiler drawer. The electric oven had a heating coil at the top that only heated if set on broil. Again, the heat from the top. I don't have an oven or broiler now, just a microwave and convection oven --- I do my chips & cheese in the microwave.

[rhagfo]

stickdog wrote:
I never thought much of electric broilers though I do have years of experience with them, we use our RV oven and broiler several times a week. Practice, with any cooking method is the secret. Try a wood stove for some interesting cookery.

X2!
DW has loved RV gas oven since we had our 1st Caveman Camper. She loves to bake, gas useage is not bad at all.

[charming]

Thanks for the question and answers. I've not been happy with our oven, but it is better than no oven. I might buy a small toaster oven to take with us.

Next is to get the oven door to close properly, that will probably help remove some of my dissatisfaction with the oven.

[boatescape]

Broil on RV oven. I know this is an old post. This s the first motor home we have owned with oven. Too windy to BBQ outside & wanted to broil a couple of pork chops. Looked online and could not find much definitive info. We too were a little leery of the correct way to broil. Finally found the Atwood manual and it says "center the broiler pan under the broiler flame". Sweet! Worked great!

[Super_Dave]

If I tried to fit a good loaf of sour dough under my broiler flame it would be like sticking a bagel in a regular bread toaster.

[stickdog]

I never thought much of electric broilers though I do have years of experience with them, we use our RV oven and broiler several times a week. Practice, with any cooking method is the secret. Try a wood stove for some interesting cookery.

[doxiemom11]

Convection Oven can do all of that. I'll never have a regular propane oven since using a convection oven.

[past-MIdirector]

One thing to remember when using the Broiler setting is to leave the door partially opened to release the excess heat because in Broiler position the valve is wide open just like the old standing pilot ovens grand mom had. With a pan and rack you can make great steaks and chops under the broiler when the weather is bad! It's also great for garlic bread or Texas toast!!

[SWMO]

We don't use are oven for the most part. We have a good quality toaster oven, it will do the all important biscuits, and really between it and our Dutch ovens we just don't need it.

[Super_Dave]

B-Y-U, I agree with you, the RV oven doesn't have a useable broiler. They don't come with a broiler pan either.

[Sprink-Fitter]

outdoorlovers wrote:
I've never used the RV oven. Just traded in our TT on a new FW. Salesperson asked the condition of the oven. I said, "I don't know. I've never turned it on." Have never been anxious to put anything in a propane oven.

So why are you not to anxious to put anything in a propane oven?

We had propane in our house until about 10 years, now we have natural gas, the food taste the same, am I missing something here?

[Golden_HVAC]

outdoorlovers wrote:
I've never used the RV oven. Just traded in our TT on a new FW. Salesperson asked the condition of the oven. I said, "I don't know. I've never turned it on." Have never been anxious to put anything in a propane oven.

I like cornbread to much to give up the oven. Fresh out of the oven.

And I also bake things for dinner too. When I make spaghetti, I need to have that with broiled toast.

To each their own.

Fred.

[outdoorlovers]

I've never used the RV oven. Just traded in our TT on a new FW. Salesperson asked the condition of the oven. I said, "I don't know. I've never turned it on." Have never been anxious to put anything in a propane oven.

[Golden_HVAC]

Troll? Just kidding, and only because I just finished reading your other post of the night.

The reason a electric range has a "Broil" setting is to shut off the lower heating element and turn on the upper heating element. There is no heat cut-off for the broiler setting to my knowledge, but it might have a safety cut-off around 400 - 500F.

In a gas range - including my RV, the oven can be set to 400F and even higher up the dial is "Broil" - I am guessing that means the burner will not shut off until the oven is scorching hot, so if you happen to like your steak really well broiled, the flame will stay on for a really long time without cutting out once the oven is warm.

The only thing I have ever broiled in my RV oven is sourdough toast, already buttered, it comes out great. However in the home range, I have cooked a steak once. Most of the time I prefer the BBQ.

I don't think I would own a RV without a oven.

Fred.