Why does my oven keep burning the bottom of everything?

[belindarose]

Old crappy gas oven, needs replacing but won't happen for a while. Everything on baking trays gets blackened on the bottom. Why and what can I do?

Does it need cleaning?

Possibly will need replacing sooner than you'd like - otherwise you'll have to cook things differently - cooler and for longer perhaps?

I'll give it a good clean at the weekend maybe and then look at replacing if that doesn't help. I can't bake!

I've had that problem, the oven was brand new too, but a crappy make. I found that if I 'shielded the food' by placing another tray on the rung below this would work every time. It just means you always have the bottom shelf being used as a shield - not great if you are trying to do a roast with a number of baking trays.

have you always used gas, or did you recently change from an electric? was your previous oven a fan one?

UK gas ovens usually have the burners at the back, and electric ones usually at the sides. Continental ovens often have the heating elements under the bottom. I don't know why. I got a Zanussi dual-fuel cooker with Electric fan oven, my old mum liked it so much she bought the identical cooker except she chose the variant with the gas oven, and complained that it burned the bottoms of cakes.

DH thought cleaning it was a pointless idea (probably because I'm pregnant so would be asking him to do it). Have always used gas. Is is the oven from when we moved in a couple of years ago. It really does need replacing, as does the whole kitchen, but finances won't allow it at the moment. I'll try the tip above of an extra tray underneath and see what happens. Thanks.