Problem at the Range this morning.

[DeathGrip]

Cease Frie!!!

I had some bacon in the stove this AM and went out for about 30 seconds to see what the dogs were up to. When I came back in the burner was red and getting redder. It was on 3.5 (10 being highest) and had been that way for a while, maybe 15 minutes. I always preheat my pan.

What would cause an electric burner to want to go up like that?

BTW and Don't worry. I saved my bacon. I caught it just in time.

 

[KUBA-Chokwe]

Certainly not an expert, however if the resistance of the burner changed, (decrease) the burner would get hotter. (Voltage staying constant so with a decrease in resistance the current increase meaning a hotter burner.) My guess is that it is time to replace the element.

 

[Strato]

Had me worried. I don't think I could handle the thought of bacon going to waste

 

[markmodel10]

The control knob on electric ranges is what they call an infinite switch. It's like a rheostat that opens and closes based on amperage draw of the element. It sounds like yours has gone bad.

 

[Salty RI]

Had me worried. I don't think I could handle the thought of bacon going to waste

Especially now with the bacon shortage.

 

[Hamster65]

How old is your stove top? The burner element itself or the rheostat may be the problem. Neither one is horribly expensive and while the burner element is super easy to replace, the rheostat will require a few small tools and at least some electrical knowledge.

 

[DeathGrip]

Ha Ha.

Half of you guy are gonna fix my stove and the other half worries about some bacon.

The house could have burnt down!!!



It was born in 2002 and well cared for but it wasn't from the best stock.

I'm gonna replace the element.

 

[rags]

Ha Ha.

Half of you guy are gonna fix my stove and the other half worries about some bacon.

The house could have burnt down!!!



It was born in 2002 and well cared for but it wasn't from the best stock.

I'm gonna replace the element.

^^^ w/ matching rheostat (thermostat, knob thingy...)! I'd be new all over again.

 

[Backlighting]

I never met a bacon I didn't like.

 

[Hamster65]

Ha Ha.

Half of you guy are gonna fix my stove and the other half worries about some bacon.

The house could have burnt down!!!



It was born in 2002 and well cared for but it wasn't from the best stock.

I'm gonna replace the element.

If you had mentioned fire or the possibility thereof, I would have been more concerned. As it was, I was merely suggesting a solution to the problem.

Try cooking with propane (we don't have access to natural gas where I live and I have no idea why we didn't just go with an electric stove). It burns much hotter than natural gas so anything that has to be "simmered over low heat" is out of the question.
We did however, recently find a range top/oven that is specifically designed for propane and has one dedicated "low heat" burner.

 

[labworm]

You weren't sipping the suds again this morning?

Check the element and make sure it is plugged all the way in, also make sure the end is clean.

Bacon, fold it in half and cook it that way, crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside. Thank me at a later date.

PS Glad there wasn't a fire, but don't do that again.

 

[Strato]

Ha Ha.

Half of you guy are gonna fix my stove and the other half worries about some bacon.

The house could have burnt down!!!



It was born in 2002 and well cared for but it wasn't from the best stock.

I'm gonna replace the element.

Gee I'm sorry. I'm glad the house is ok. Got any more bacon? The rheostat is more likely the culprit since it's what controls the current going to the element but since the element is inexpensive and takes less than a minute to replace it's not a bad idea to eliminate it first.

 

[islamoradamark]

what happened to the bacon shortage now im worrierd

 

[Brian41]

I used to fix appliances for a living and believe me it's the burner switch as the element would never give you that problem. One of the burners on my range in the garage has the same problem but never fixed it as it's a spare and I just use that burner now on high setting.
Do make sure you replace the wires like to like terminals though meaning L1 to Li, L2 to L2 etc. The location might change for terminals on new switch too. Doing it wrong could blow all your other burner switches and you don't want that either.

 

[gm272gs]

what happened to the bacon shortage now im worrierd

It's partly because the Government has been buying it up and hoarders are grabbing the rest. My local Wal-Mart limits you to one brick of bacon, and most LGS (local grocery stores) only have Canadian bacon, nowadays. I haven't seen ribs or loin since the re-election.

 

[DeadAye]

I used to fix appliances for a living and believe me it's the burner switch as the element would never give you that problem. One of the burners on my range in the garage has the same problem but never fixed it as it's a spare and I just use that burner now on high setting.
Do make sure you replace the wires like to like terminals though meaning L1 to Li, L2 to L2 etc. The location might change for terminals on new switch too. Doing it wrong could blow all your other burner switches and you don't want that either.

YEP

Be sure to UNPLUG the stove BEFORE you work on it

Doesn't hurt to replace an overheated element, but the switch is the problem.
OR - You have extremely high voltage (NOT likely)

 

[BaaBaa]

Try cooking with propane (we don't have access to natural gas where I live and I have no idea why we didn't just go with an electric stove). It burns much hotter than natural gas so anything that has to be "simmered over low heat" is out of the question.

I love propane exactly because it's hot and either on or off. Absolutely refuse to have an electric stove ever. I've tried and think they are awful for cooking, never get hot enough when on and when you turn them off they are still hot often overcooking stuff if you don't remove the pan right then. I think they are just horrible. I've never lived where there is natural gas other than still in the ground where it belongs so no experience with that but I'll take a propane stove any day. Have you ever seen a top quality restaurant or a cooking show where the host used an electric oven? I think there is a really good reason for that.

 

[tompehret]

In order to prevent catastrophic bacon loss in the future, here's a suggestion:
Bake your bacon!
Preheat oven to 400 deg. Line cookie sheet with foil. Lay bacon flat on foil. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes. No need to turn or flip. This is for thick sliced bacon (is there any other kind?); thin sliced takes less time so keep an eye on it.
Problem solved.

 

[smokindog]

Going to guess you meant electric cooktop and that would be true. Gas ovens have "heat zone" problems. Electric ovens are actually preferable for consistency. I made the mistake of buying a gas only 48" Thermador ONCE. I learned to use the ovens but dual fuel is the only way to go.

Have you ever seen a top quality restaurant or a cooking show where the host used an electric oven? I think there is a really good reason for that.

 

[DeathGrip]

i'd love to have a gas range but don't plan on buying new appliances for this house. I want to move.