Oven

An oven is a <a href="/facts/Tool/KhhEHz1I">tool</a> that is used to expose materials to a hot environment. Ovens contain a hollow chamber and provide a means of heating the chamber in a controlled way. In use since <a href="/facts/Prehistoric_technology/sF1hYNeR">antiquity</a>, they have been used to accomplish a wide variety of tasks requiring controlled heating. Because they are used for a variety of purposes, there are many different <a href="/facts/List_of_ovens/5Wjjy2rI">types of ovens</a>. These types differ depending on their intended purpose and based upon how they generate heat.
Ovens are often used for <a href="/facts/Cooking/YWVfGWD1">cooking</a>, usually <a href="/facts/Baking/SU8Cb6Wa">baking</a>, sometimes <a href="/facts/Broiling/mVsgTQpL">broiling</a>; they can be used to heat <a href="/facts/Human_food/RgNq6NAK">food</a> to a desired <a href="/facts/Temperature/QyGe4gmj">temperature</a>. Ovens are also used in the manufacturing of <a href="/facts/Ceramics/9JKudpqX">ceramics</a> and <a href="/facts/Pottery/XLcUT1mX">pottery</a>; these ovens are sometimes referred to as <a href="/facts/Kilns/MFTuDWhU">kilns</a>. <a href="/facts/Metallurgical_furnace/11qWf4A3">Metallurgical furnaces</a> are ovens used in the manufacturing of <a href="/facts/Metals/PT8hNX6R">metals</a>, while <a href="/facts/Glass_melting_furnace/SWbRsIeI">glass furnaces</a> are ovens used to produce <a href="/facts/Glass/hezRsAGf">glass</a>.
There are many methods by which different types of ovens produce heat. Some ovens heat materials using the <a href="/facts/Combustion/ohQoWj8z">combustion</a> of a <a href="/facts/Fuel/H8DIRL1j">fuel</a>, such as <a href="/facts/Wood/z13NpHPl">wood</a>, <a href="/facts/Coal/83kV3qxg">coal</a>, or <a href="/facts/Natural_gas/9MYQ7NAP">natural gas</a>, while many employ <a href="/facts/Electricity/hNC8D65W">electricity</a>. <a href="/facts/Microwave_ovens/nS1B3wp2">Microwave ovens</a> heat materials by exposing them to <a href="/facts/Microwave_radiation/HmVSN31Y">microwave radiation</a>, while electric ovens and <a href="/facts/Electric_arc_furnace/GgYK6Nz1">electric furnaces</a> heat materials using <a href="/facts/Resistive_heating/eANEHVzP">resistive heating</a>. Some ovens use forced <a href="/facts/Convection/E8vsCPhu">convection</a>, the movement of <a href="/facts/Gases/hVVAoodV">gases</a> inside the heating chamber, to enhance the heating process, or, in some cases, to change the properties of the material being heated, such as in the <a href="/facts/Bessemer_process/Al0kr3a3">Bessemer method</a> of <a href="/facts/Steel/aN6qWo4H">steel</a> production.

Oven open-in-new

Oven