Oven
Oven Bakes Unevenly? 5 Causes Before You Buy a New Stove
Burnt cookies on one side, raw on the other? Here are the five things a tech checks first — most are inexpensive fixes.
1. Temperature sensor drift
The thin metal probe on the back wall fails slowly — the oven reports 350°F but is actually 310°F. An oven thermometer ($8) confirms it in one bake. $170–$250 repair.
2. Weak bake element
Look at the bottom element while preheating. It should glow bright orange end-to-end within 90 seconds. Dark spots or partial glow = replace.
3. Broken broil element
Many ovens use both elements for bake mode. A failed broil element causes pale tops and uneven browning even when baking.
4. Convection fan stuck (convection ovens)
If the convection fan motor seized, the oven runs in conventional mode with hotspots. You'll often hear no fan noise during preheat.
5. Door gasket leaking heat
A torn gasket lets 50°F+ leak out near the door, browning the back of cookies first. Visual inspection — replace if cracked or compressed flat.