If you own one of the iconic Viking kitchen ranges, you may have noticed it takes significantly longer to preheat your oven compared to other ranges – sometimes up to 15 or even 20 minutes. This extended preheat time is normal for Viking ovens due to their sturdy commercial-grade construction, but that doesn’t make it any less frustrating when you’re waiting to bake cookies or roast a chicken.
Heavy-Duty Commercial Build Quality
One of the hallmarks of Viking ranges is that they’re built to withstand the demands of busy restaurant kitchens. The thick, heavy-duty steel and high-quality insulation used in their oven construction is excellent for heat retention at intense commercial baking temperatures up to 650°F. However, it also means it takes longer for ovens to heat up during preheating.
Unlike cheaper lightweight ranges designed for home use, Vikings utilize dense materials and manage heat differently in order to maintain consistent high temperatures over longer periods. This makes them ultra-durable workhorses in professional kitchens – but contributes to lengthier preheating at home as all that material needs to warm up first.
Tips to Reduce Viking Oven Preheat Times
While you can’t rush physics and drastically overhaul how your oven preheats, there are a few tips to help shave off a couple minutes:
Start Early
The simplest way to reduce perceived preheat time is to turn on your oven at least 10-15 minutes before you expect to start cooking. Build the extra warmup time into your meal preparation routine so the extended preheat is less noticeable.
Preheat at a Higher Temperature
Cranking your Viking oven 25-50°F hotter during the preheating phase can help it reach your target cooking temperature faster. Just don’t forget to turn it down afterwards or your food might burn!
Replace Door Gaskets if Worn
Over time, oven door gaskets compress and no longer form as tight of seals, allowing valuable hot air to escape. Swapping out worn gaskets can greatly cut preheat times by keeping all that heat inside the oven where it belongs.
Consider the Convection Setting
Making use of your oven’s convection fan circulates hot air more efficiently, helping your Viking oven preheat marginally faster. This works best for dishes that bake quickly at high heat like pastries.
Perform Routine Maintenance
Like any complex appliance, Vikings benefit from regular upkeep for optimal performance. Carefully cleaning your oven, replacing filters, removing debris that may act as insulation, and checking that heating elements work as expected can all enable your oven to reach set temperatures quicker.
Be Patient – It Will Be Worth It
As eager as you may be to start cooking, patience is a virtue when owning a Viking range. Their commercial-style construction simply necessitates a longer preheat warmup cycle. But that same hardy build is also why Vikings handle high heat so beautifully and cook foods with such crispy, caramelized perfection once fully heated.
Many home chefs consider the wait well worth it for how a hot Viking oven sears succulent roast meats or bakes flaky pastry masterpieces. The unparalleled baking results speak for themselves. When dealing with a shorter delay upfront, remember that first aromatic waft of whatever you’re cooking as the reward!
