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My friend recently told me that when I broil food I am supposed to leave the door open to the oven.

Is this true??!

I've never heard this before, but she thought I was crazy that I didn't know this. She made it seem like food will catch on fire IF you close the door. I've never had anything catch on fire when I've broilied food. But yes, I understand that you need to watch it closely so the food doesn't burn because it gets so hot.

She did actually show me a cookbook (by the Biggest Looser) that mentioned when broiling pork chops to "make sure you leave the oven door proped open."

If this is true, why do you need to leave the door open?

flag	asked Feb 12 at 22:33 Sabrina♦ 1,423●1●11

Ikkle Becca · Accepted Answer · 2010-03-08 17:27:32Z UTC

I have to admit that I've always broiled with the door ajar but didn't really know why. My family always have, so I do too. I assumed it was to make it easier to check on the progress of whatever I was grilling, to keep turning it round or over, and to keep me from forgetting that I'm grilling so I don't burn the food!

I've heard alleged stories of people who've had their oven doors blown open when they were using the grill because they didn't leave the oven door open. A quick Google search suggests that the real reason you leave the door open is to let out the the heat so the oven's thermostat doesn't turn off the heating elements. If you left the door shut the oven would eventually reach whatever temperature it was set at and the heating elements would turn off. Grilling requires radiant heat. If the heating elements turn off you're no longer grilling - you're baking.

Plus getting overheated can also damage the rubber seal on the door.

It seems most people talking about it online do leave the doors open, but with no real idea WHY. It also does seem to vary from model to model so I think generalisations are hard and probably the specific manual is the best guide.

And this article has some quite good stuff on grilling/broiling, including about open doors!

Elizra · Answer 2 · 2010-02-13 02:35:33Z UTC

My two-year old Kenmore Elite range's oven door has a "Broil Stop Position" built in. Basically, the oven door stays about 4 inches ajar without slamming shut so you can leave it open while broiling.

The manuel that came with it says (in bold) Make sure the oven door is in the broil stop position (while broiling); however it doesn't explain why it needs to be in the broil stop position.

I always figured it was so it was easier to keep and eye on and because it would be obvious much quicker if something, God forbid, where to catch on fire. A quick kick of the foot and a press of a button (to turn oven off) and fire goes out in the closed oven. Probably, though, is more to regulate temperature than anything else.

klypos · Answer 3 · 2010-02-15 01:00:37Z UTC

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The door seal on my Bosch oven has been ruined by a previous owner not leaving the door open. It sags and does not seal properly when it gets too hot.

We got the oven with the house. Shame, because it is a nice oven to use ...

answered Feb 15 at 1:00

klypos♦
3,571●10

d03boy · Answer 4 · 2010-02-13 01:12:51Z UTC

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Ovens have vents that should let out the heat. I've seen people open the door but I don't ever broil anything so I wouldn't know. Anyone have a manual handy?

answered Feb 13 at 1:12

d03boy
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Broiling with the oven door open?

4 Answers