Do Both Oven Elements Come On When Baking? Understanding How Your Oven Heats

Ever peeked into your oven while baking and wondered if both the top and bottom heating elements are working at the same time? It’s a fair question, especially if you’re aiming for perfect cookies or a golden loaf.

Knowing how these elements work together (or don’t) could help you get better results—and maybe spot a problem before it ruins dinner.

The bottom heating element usually stays on during baking. The top element generally only turns on during the preheating phase.

So, your oven mostly relies on the bottom element for cooking. The top element? It’s mainly for broiling or giving an extra boost of heat when preheating.

How Oven Elements Operate When Baking

Inside your oven, the heating elements have pretty specific jobs. They work together (sort of) to reach and hold the temperature you set.

If you know what each part does, troubleshooting gets a whole lot easier. Or maybe you just want to geek out about oven science—no judgment.

Role of the Bake and Broil Elements

You’ve got two main heating elements: one at the bottom (bake element) and one at the top (broil element). The bake element sits at the bottom and does most of the heavy lifting during baking.

It stays on to keep things hot and cooks your food from below. The broil element, up top, usually stays off unless you’re broiling or the oven is preheating.

During preheat, the broil element jumps in to help the oven heat up faster. Once you reach the right temp, it steps back and lets the bake element take over.

So, if you look inside while baking, you’ll probably see that glowing red bar at the bottom. The top one? Not so much—unless you’re broiling.

Temperature Regulation During Baking

Your oven doesn’t just blast heat nonstop. It cycles the bake element on and off to keep things steady.

When the temperature drops, the bake element kicks in. Once it’s hot enough, it turns off.

This cycling keeps your food from burning or the oven from overheating. It’s kind of clever, honestly.

During preheating, both elements might run together. After that, only the bake element cycles to control the temperature.

Common Variations in Different Oven Models

Not every oven does things exactly the same way. Some models will use the broil element a little during baking to help with heat circulation.

Others—especially older ovens—rely only on the bake element. Convection ovens? They throw a fan into the mix to move hot air around, but still use the bake element for most of the heat.

You’ll see small differences from oven to oven, but the bake element almost always runs the show when you’re baking. The broil element is mostly for preheating and, well, broiling. Want to get nerdy about it? Check out this electric range and wall oven element guide.

Troubleshooting Issues With Oven Heating

If your oven isn’t heating the way it should, it’s time to check those elements. A little detective work can save you from a ruined meal.

Identifying Malfunctioning Elements

Start with a visual inspection. Look for blisters, cracks, or breaks in the metal tubing of the bake and broil elements.

If you spot any of those, you’ll probably need a new element. Next, grab a multimeter and test for electrical continuity.

Set it to resistance (ohms), then touch one probe to each end of the element. If you get a reading near zero, you’re good. If it shows nothing or infinite resistance, the element’s toast.

Don’t forget to check the wiring, too. Loose or damaged wires can stop elements from heating, even if the element itself looks fine.

Signs Both Elements Are Not Working Properly

If neither the bake nor broil element heats, the issue could go deeper than just the elements themselves.

You might notice the oven refuses to heat up in both baking and broiling modes.

Sometimes, the broil element flickers on for a second during preheat, then both elements stay cold. That’s a frustrating one.

When only one element fails, it’s easier to pinpoint the culprit. But if both stop working, it’s time to look at things like the oven control board or maybe a blown thermal fuse.

For more hands-on steps, check out these oven heating element troubleshooting tips.