Quick dumb question: What is the difference between bake and broil on an oven?

[Mears]

None of my roommates know the answer to this and I couldn't find a useful answer on a quick google search. So what is the difference between these two options?

 

[Evadman]

bake = top, broil = bottom.

 

[Bulk Beef]

Broil has both top and bottom elements heating. Bake is just bottom.

EDIT: I just checked my oven on broil, and it feels like the top element is actually getting hot, while the bottom is just getting warm, so the upshoot of all that is that I don't know WTF I'm talking about. HTH

 

[Tom]

On my oven broil is top heating element only, bake is bottom only. Some ovens use both to speed up initial heating time and then only use one element.

The broil setting is good for steaks and stuff that needs direct heat. Put the oven rack near the top and broil away. Also can be used to brown stuff like pizza cheese, or even make toast.

The bake setting is for indirect heat like cakes, pies, etc.

 

[Walleye]

broil is harder to do right...

 

[olds]

Originally posted by: Walleye
broil is harder to do right...

Yes.

 

[JC]

Not all broilers are 'top rack'. Cheaper stoves have the broiler in the bottom drawer, they use the same oven burner. Broiling in general is having the heat right above the food, baking may use top and/or bottom heat.

JC

 

[Tom]

"Cheaper stoves have the broiler in the bottom drawer"

Hadn't heard of that kind, sounds like a potentially big mess !

 

[ggavinmoss]

Originally posted by: Evadman
bake = top, broil = bottom.

Remind me not to let you bake for me.