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Why can't stoves have temperatures instead of just numbers?

D

DonIsHere

Senior member
The cooking directions I have for some recipe say that I set the stove to 350 degrees. What number would that be on the stove dial?

Why can't manufacturers put degrees and not just numbers?

argh
 
It is impossible to tell what temperature a stove is at. An oven on the other hand you can measure the temperature of the air. Are you sure you shouldn't be putting the item in the oven, instead of on the stove?
 
This is the first time I've ever heard of food product directions telling you what temp to set the stove to.

At most I've seen them say "Cook on High" or "Cook on Low".
 
Actually it's not really a recipe. More like cooking directions.

Anyway, it's for the frozen butterfly shrimp available at Costco. The directions say "pan fry at 350F for 3 minutes."
 
Originally posted by: DonIsHere
The directions say "pan fry at 350F for 3 minutes."
Click to expand...

Just to bug them you can check on the box for a phone number then call them up and ask them how the hell you are supposed to determine the temperature of the stove.
 
Some electric skillets have a temperature dial on them. I've never seen it on a range/stovetop although I'm sure it's out there somewhere.
 
Originally posted by: DonIsHere
Actually it's not really a recipe. More like cooking directions.

Anyway, it's for the frozen butterfly shrimp available at Costco. The directions say "pan fry at 350F for 3 minutes."
Click to expand...

That's whacky. Well, just pan fry them until they are done.
 
There are thermometers you can use... Smart & Final has 'em for like $4.

I've seen quite a few bulk packages of food originally designed for restaurants that use temps in the instructions...
 
Originally posted by: BigSmooth
Some electric skillets have a temperature dial on them. I've never seen it on a range/stovetop although I'm sure it's out there somewhere.
Click to expand...

electric skillet
otherwise;use a meat thermometer,


if no meat thermom.handy,
IF your cooking with gas,

once the pan is hot,{preheat the pan about 2 mins.};use like a medium flame;
will be very close to that temp.

If your using an electric stove,same thing,start on high,wait 2-3 mins turn to medium high.

LOL i have been cooking since,like 1970,it takes a while to learn,this junk...
 
Because then you'd need some kind of thermostat to control the heat.

That might be difficult because the heat of the pan changes depending how you load it, what its made of, etc.

Pan fry = 6-7 on my oven. But I've got really nice cookware and medium-high will smoke oil in a heartbeat.

Deglaze with a little sherry and you're all set.
 
I don't think they can. If your gas pressure is less than another person's you won't have the same temperature. If you are using a giant wok vs a small skillet, the temperature would be different too at the same dial position.
 
As others have said, there are too many variables. Unless you put a thermometer in your oil, you won't know the temperature - and neither would the stove. Any time you fry, you should use a cheap thermometer - same when working with candies. However most oils smoke in the upper 300 range, so if it smokes turn it down a notch and you are likely right around 350°F.

For example: suppose you put your stove on high and have oil in a pot. The oil will reach into the 400°F range. But now do the same thing with the same pot filled with water. The water will boil at ~212°F no matter how high you turn the stove to. So how will your stove know the difference?
 
thanks for the suggestions.

I eventually just started on medium and kept raising the heat until I was satisfied with the sound the pan was making. And the shrimp were in there for way more than the 3 minutes the directions said to.

After eating, I looked at the box and saw the company had no phone number but did have a web site. The site said to fry at high heat.
 
Those are commercial cooking instructions.

Basically, put your stove on medium-high and work from there.

Each stove has different settings and unless it's a gas stove won't maintain temp very well anyway.
 
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