more on the oven

[quietann]

Most ovens have their controls on a panel in the back, so there are not issues with oven heat damaging the controls. But when we were looking for our new oven, Ben wanted the controls in the front because he thought it would be easy to get burned if one has to reach across a hot stove to get to the controls. I went along with this, not really thinking about what problems might be caused by having the controls in the front.

So now I want to ask you, Dear Readers, if you or anyone you know has been burned while reaching towards the controls at the back of a stove...

Comments

[sweetmmeblue.livejournal.com]

I got some steam burns that way when I went to turn something off that was boiling over.

Steam at 100 is hotter than water at 100. Just saying :)

[spinrabbit.livejournal.com]

"Steam at 100"? The steam that burned you was probably near 212F (=100C); water at that temperature would burn you as badly or worse.

[sweetmmeblue.livejournal.com]

According to my chemistry teacher that's not quite true. The way it was explained is that in order top go from liquid to steam there is a state that needs to be transcended and to do so energy needs to be put into into the H20 to make this shift. That extra energy is what makes steam hotter, because it has more actual energy in it.

While water covers more territory and can do you more damage does not mean it's hotter.

[lyonesse.livejournal.com]

i once set the sleeve of my bathrobe on fire when reaching over one burner to get at something on a back burner. my oven's controls are in front, though.

then again i've never had problems with my oven's controls melting, either.

[marmota.livejournal.com]

Hmm. The last stove I had, the clock/timer was at the back. While reaching over to reset it wasn't much of a problem even with all four burners being used, it did get quite hot just in front of it if the oven was going, as that was where the vents were also located. Hopefully this is an obvious design flaw that's been fixed over the last fifty years or so, but still, if you go with rear controls, check where the vents are around them.

[pookfreak.livejournal.com]

I've gotten steam burns with rear controls - I think it's more a function of height of the user than the stove. I'm 5'1/2" tall so I have to tip toe and reach up and over to rear controls on most stoves. But people of avg height or taller won't have the same problem as I might. But then you can always get a step stool - my stove here has front controls and gas burners and I love it.

[chhotii.livejournal.com]

I'm 5'3/4" tall and I've never had any problem,
either with reaching controls or with burns. I
don't see why the extra .25 inch would make that
much of a difference. :)

[maedbh7.livejournal.com]

burns, hot grease burns, steam burns...all yes, all me. But then, I am a klutz. You get used to it after a while, and back controls are much safer if children are ever a part of the picture. Tho, when one rents, one doesn't get much of a choice. -H...

[teddywolf.livejournal.com]

I have gotten a bit singed reaching over to rear controls. I have also gotten singed when adjusting front controls if the oven was hot. I guess it comes down to comfort and reach, ultimately.

There are some stoves with controls off on the side, but they are not common.

[quietann.livejournal.com]

I actually have not been burned by this. When I was a child, the stovetop and oven were separate. The stovetop had controls in front (first house) or in front but to one side (second house). The stovetop and ovens had dials on them -- nothing digital. (once again, digitizing the controls seems to have created a new problem, because the digital controls are not resistant to oven heat. Why aren't analog dials OK anymore?)

[whitebird.livejournal.com]

I like the controls to the side setup best. I also like the cooktop seperate best. I also like dial controls best. And, I also like gas cooktops best.

Yes, I'm an old fogey.

[thespian.livejournal.com]

I've burnt myself on steam and general heat from reaching over repeatedly. Front controls are better - but the digital controls not being heat resistant seems dorky.

[halleyscomet.livejournal.com]

One Flannel Shirt, one of my favorites, got a nasty char mark when I was leaning over a stove.

It was not fun to see a little red flame at the corner of a shirt that was on my body at the time.

I slapped the flame out and watched the surreal spectacle of smoke rising from my clothing.