What are the parts of a stove?

A broiler is a heating element typically located at the top of the oven cavity that emits intense, direct heat. The broil element generates high temperatures to cook the top of your food.

Broilers can be used to sear fish, meat and vegetables or to create a golden crust on a cheesy baked pasta dish. The broil setting on your stove’s control panel cooks food at temperatures up to 550ºF on many models.

Warming drawers, also known as baking or proofing drawers, are typically found on the bottom of some ranges and can be used for a few purposes. This stove component can help yeasted dough rise before baking and can keep cooked meals warm before you serve them. Note that some oven drawers may just be storage drawers. Consult your owner’s manual if you’re unsure.

You can use a warming drawer to proof homemade sandwich bread before it goes into the oven to bake or keep appetizers like cheesy crab dip warm and bubbly until party guests arrive. Some baking drawers can even be used as a slow cooker.

Oven racks hold baking trays and pans pie plates and Dutch ovens in the proper position for baking, roasting and broiling. These racks are adjustable, allowing you to position them as close to or far from the oven heating element as your recipe requires. 

The lower position is ideal for setting pie crusts and roasting meats, while the highest position is great for browning and crisping. In convection ovens, rack placement may matter less thanks to the fan that circulates air throughout the oven cavity.

On your stove, you will typically find 2-5 gas burners covered by metal grates or electric heating elements that are used to heat pots, pans and cooktop accessories like griddles or grill pans. Your stove’s burners can help you create delicious omelets, fluffy pancakes, juicy hamburgers and much more. Use this guide to learn how to remove your stove’s burners or coils to clean or for replacement.

Your stove’s temperature knobs are typically located on either the outer edge of the appliance, on the front, or on the back of the stove next to the control panel. These knobs help you quickly adjust the heat levels of your gas burners or electric heating elements so you can go from boiling to simmering with a simple flick of the wrist.

To protect your cooktop from burnt-on spills and splatters, drip pans are found on some models around the stove’s burners or coils. These bowls are designed to catch the messes that come with creating a new recipe to help make cleaning easier.

Located on either the back or front of your appliance, the range control panel allows you to select cook temperatures, timers and bake settings like broiling. Most control panels also feature an oven light function that allows you to peek in on your creations during the baking process without having to open the oven door.

A stove thermostat helps to regulate the heat inside your oven’s cavity to help keep temperatures consistent throughout the baking process. The thermostat works together with the control panel to let you know when your oven has finished preheating and is ready to cook your meal.

Most oven doors have a window so you can see inside the oven without opening it and monitor your food. The door gives you easy access to your food, whether you’re  baking, roasting or broiling.

If your oven features convection cooking, you’ll likely find a fan at the back of the oven cavity that moves hot air throughout, helping maintain even temperatures across multiple racks.

• Let the cooktop surface cool completely before wiping away spills or splatters.

• Once cleaned, use a damp cloth to remove any remaining soap or cleaner residue.

• Finish by polishing with a microfiber cloth to help reduce streaks and restore shine.

• Remove grates and burner caps and soak them in hot, soapy water for at least 20 minutes.

• Use a soft-bristled brush to clean hard-to-reach spots.

• For stubborn stains, make a baking soda paste (3 parts baking soda to 1 part water), apply to the parts, let sit, then scrub and rinse.