Two simple techniques to determine your oven temperature.
How to Check Oven Temperature
- Use an oven-safe thermometer. Place the thermometer on a rack in the center of your oven. Pre-heat your oven to the temperature you’d like to test (350° F, or 177° C) is generally a good recommendation). Once the oven is preheated, check the temperature on the thermometer inside. Repeat this step in ten minutes. If the temperature varies, that’s a sure sign that your oven temperature is off and you should adjust your baking temperatures accordingly.
- Use the Sugar Method if you don't have an oven-safe thermometer.
- Preheat your oven to 375° F (186° C). Line a cookie sheet with tin foil and place a small amount (about a teaspoon) of sugar on it.
- Once the oven is preheated, place the sheet inside it for 15 minutes.
- If your oven is correctly calibrated, the sugar should be melted and probably caramelizing. If it’s running too cold, the sugar will not be melted. If it’s running too hot, the sugar will melt within a few minutes.
Important note: Because even preheated ovens don’t sit on one temperature the entire time they’re on, it’s possible that your oven is correctly calibrated and just has a wider temperature margin it cycles through while staying near the preheated temperature. Some temperature margins are as high as 15° F (8° C).