On 8/10/2010 9:24 PM, notbob wrote:
> On 2010-08-11, > wrote:
>
>> I also don't recall any one on a cooking show leaving a built-in oven
>> open while broiling.
>>
>> Can my wife possibly be right--again?
>
> It comes from the past, when most early kitchen ranges were gas. Gas
> heats up fast and if you wanted to broil something in the
> under-the-oven broiler, you set it to "broil" and left the broiler
> door ajar. There was even that six inch detent to stop the door at
> "jes a crack" open. By leaving the door ajar, the broiler never
> really reached its hottest temperature and so the gas burner remained
> lit, thereby generating a continuous heat source. If you closed the
> door, the high temp inside was eventually acheived and the burner shut
> off. Not what you want when broiling.
>
> I'm not sure about today's new fangled computer controlled
> self-cleaning ovens/broilers. Perhaps leaving the door cracked is no
> longer necessary. Does it have that detent point to hold the door
> open jes a bit? Read the manual.
>
> As for your wife, aren't they always!?
>
> nb

I've never heard of such a thing! I don't know about electric
ovens as I've always had gas ovens. But my aunt has an electric
oven and she doesn't leave the door open when broiling. And
neither do I on my gas oven.

And above you say first something about leaving the "broiler
door ajar" and later mention the oven door and a 6" detent.
Which one do you mean then - the broiler door or the oven door?

I vaguely recall older ovens that did stop partway open but
my current oven does not do that - it's all or nothing.
Same with the broiler door. And I don't think you could
leave the broiler door ajar and still push the broiler
drawer all the way in.

I don't really see the point of leaving anything ajar. I've never
had the flame shut off while I've been broiling. Wouldn't it
be set to remain on as broiling means a constant flame? Unlike
the oven which is set to cycle on and off to maintain a constant
temp?

Kate

--
Kate Connally
“If I were as old as I feel, I’d be dead already.”
Goldfish: “The wholesome snack that smiles back,
Until you bite their heads off.”
What if the hokey pokey really *is* what it's all about?