Because a La Cornue oven uses a dial and a thermostat, the only way to know the real temperature is to measure it. A simple oven thermometer gives you evidence before you book.
How to run the test
- Use a thermometer made for ovens and place it at the center of the middle rack.
- Preheat to 350 degrees and wait until the burner cycles at least twice.
- Read it through the door glass if possible, or open the door briefly once.
- Repeat on a second day to rule out a one-time reading.
How to read the result
A small gap is normal for any mechanical oven, and many cooks simply adjust the dial. A large, consistent gap at several settings, or a result that drifts during the test, suggests a thermostat that needs calibration or replacement.
What the test cannot show
It does not tell you whether the cause is the thermostat, a weak burner flame, or a door seal leaking heat. Those look alike from the dial and are separated with a flame check and a seal inspection. Gas and electric ovens also behave differently at startup.
When the thermometer is not enough
Gas ovens cycle on and off, so a reading depends on where you are in the cycle. Averaging a reading over a full cycle gives a fairer number. If your readings swing widely within a cycle, that is useful information for the technician and worth writing down.
If your oven has a gas pilot or a safety device that cuts gas when the flame goes out, it can add a delay at startup. That delay is normal and should not be mistaken for a weak flame.
Bring your readings and we will compare them to our own measurements. Details are on our vaulted oven repair page, or check where we serve in Houston.