What Are the Symbols on an Oven? A Clear Guide to Their Functions and Uses

Oven symbols can seem a bit mysterious at first, but they’re meant to help you cook food properly. These little icons show which heating elements are on and what mode your oven’s using.

Knowing what each symbol means makes it easier to use your oven efficiently and avoid kitchen disasters.

The most common oven symbols show where the heat’s coming from—top, bottom, or both—and whether the fan is circulating hot air. If you see a line at the bottom, that’s the lower heating element. A line at the top means the upper element is working.

Some symbols also stand for grilling or fan-assisted cooking. Once you get the hang of these, picking the right setting for baking, roasting, or grilling gets much easier.

If you want to dig deeper, check out this guide to oven symbols and settings.

Common Oven Symbols And Their Meanings

Oven symbols show you which heating elements or functions are active. These help you choose the best setting for baking, grilling, or roasting.

Bake

The Bake symbol usually looks like a single line at the bottom of a square. This means the lower heating element is on.

Use bake for dishes that need gentle, even heat—think cakes, casseroles, and bread. It keeps the top from burning while the food cooks through.

Baking is the go-to for a lot of recipes. Place your food in the middle of the oven for even results.

Broil

The Broil symbol is a single line at the top of a square. It fires up just the upper heating element.

Broiling cooks food fast by blasting it with high heat from above. It’s great for crisping or browning, like when you want to melt cheese or finish off a steak.

Some ovens need you to leave the door slightly open for broiling, so check your manual. Watch your food closely—things can burn before you know it.

Fan Assisted

The Fan Assisted symbol usually shows a fan inside a square. This means the fan and heating elements work together to move hot air around.

With this setting, your food cooks faster and more evenly. It’s a lifesaver for roasting meats or baking lots of trays at once.

Fan assisted ovens help avoid hot and cool spots. You can usually lower the temperature a bit compared to traditional baking.

Grill

The Grill symbol looks like a zigzag line or grill bars near the top of a square. It turns on the upper heating element, sometimes with the fan.

Grilling is perfect for foods that need strong, direct heat on top—sausages, veggies, or just toasting some bread.

It browns and caramelizes food fast, locking in flavor. Keep an eye on things, and use a tray to catch drips.

Specialized And Advanced Oven Symbols

Some oven symbols point to special functions for precise cooking or easy cleaning. These settings can make your life in the kitchen a bit smoother.

Defrost

The defrost symbol usually looks like a snowflake or a drop of water. It means the oven will use gentle heat to thaw food without cooking it.

This setting stops food from accidentally cooking while it defrosts. The oven circulates mild warm air, slowly softening frozen items.

Use defrost if you want to get meat or bread ready without starting the cooking process. It’s handy when you don’t want to deal with rock-hard ingredients.

Pizza Setting

The pizza symbol often looks like a little pie or a fan paired with a bottom heat icon. This setting uses both the fan and bottom heat.

It cooks pizza by giving the crust extra heat while the fan spreads warmth around. That way, you avoid soggy bases and get toppings cooked just right.

Use this one for pizza or flatbreads. You’ll get a crispier crust and nicely melted cheese.

Self-Clean

The self-clean symbol is usually a square or circle with flames or wavy lines inside. This means the oven will crank up the heat to burn off food residue.

When you use this, leftover bits turn to ash, which you can wipe away later. It beats scrubbing at stubborn spills.

Only run self-clean when the oven’s cool and empty. Don’t use it too often, or you might wear out some oven parts. Always check your manual for safety tips.

Slow Cook

The slow cook symbol usually looks like a small pot or maybe some gentle heat waves. It means the oven will keep things at a low, steady temperature for a long time.

This setting shines when you’re working with tougher cuts of meat or any dish that just needs hours to get really tender. The heat usually comes from one spot—most often the bottom.

With slow cook, you can let flavors mellow and blend without worrying about food drying out. You don’t need a separate slow cooker, so it’s pretty handy for casseroles or stews.