A guide to fan oven symbols and settings

Let’s start with the main one – the fan oven symbol. As you might expect, it’s represented by a fan, usually inside a circle. This is also known as the convection setting. In other words, the fan circulates hot air evenly throughout the oven’s cavity. By doing this, it means you have a consistent cooking temperature, without any hot spots.

Different oven brands have their own term for this setting. For instance, Zanussi has the True Fan while NEFF has the CircoTherm. But they all do the same thing – that is, provide even heat distribution.

The fan and grill symbol combines a fan icon with a jagged line above it, symbolising the grill element. This setting uses the fan's hot air circulation and the grill element's direct heat at the same time. It’s ideal for getting that perfectly cooked pie, with a nice golden finish on top.

The fan with bottom heat symbol features a fan icon with a straight line at the bottom. The line represents the heating element in the oven's base. This setting circulates hot air while providing concentrated heat from below. So it’s ideal for getting crispy bases on pizzas and pastries.

The full surface grill symbol is made up of one or two jagged lines across the top of a square. This represents the grill element covering the roof of the oven cavity. You can use this setting for consistent, all-over grilling. It’s great for even browning and caramelisation of dishes like lasagne, shepherd’s pie or just a quick round of toast.

At a glance, the centre grill symbol looks like the full surface grill symbol. It shows jagged lines at the top of a square. Except this time, they’re at the top in the centre of the square. The jagged lines represent the central part of the grill element. This setting focuses heat on the centre of the oven. So it’s perfect for grilling smaller portions or for achieving precise browning on dishes like steaks or fish fillets.

The grill with bottom heat symbol features a jagged line at the top, representing the grill element. There’s also a straight line at the bottom, representing the heating element. This setting combines the direct heat from the grill with heat from the bottom. You might use it for something like a casserole. It’s ideal for crispy toppings or browning your dish, while making sure there’s constant heat from below.

The top and bottom heat symbol is typically made up of two horizontal lines – one at the top and one at the bottom. These represent the heating elements. Both heating elements are used at the same time. So it’s good for things like baking cakes and bread. The direct heat from above and below helps achieve even browning and consistent cooking.

The bottom heat symbol usually shows a straight line at the base of the square – representing the  bottom heating element. As heat only comes from the bottom, it’s perfect for baking things like pastry crusts. Or for making sure your bread or pizza dough is thoroughly baked from below.

The slow cook symbol usually shows a broken line running along the top and bottom of a square. This represents the extended cooking time at a lower temperature. Gentle, consistent heat over a longer period makes it perfect for tenderising tough cuts of meat. Or for developing rich flavours in hearty stews.

The preheating symbol on a fan oven often shows some stacked plates. It might also show a thermometer, or a line with waves (indicating the heating process). This setting means the oven is in the process of reaching the right temperature before cooking can start.

The reheating symbol on a fan oven often features a plate with steam (indicating the reheating process). This setting lets you keep food warm without overheating it.

The defrosting symbol on a fan oven usually features a snowflake or fan oven with a water droplet. This represents the defrosting process. It uses low temperatures and airflow to thaw frozen foods. So it minimises the risk of bacterial growth.

The pyrolytic cleaning symbol often looks like three sets of three arrows or dots. Some big brands have their own name for these systems – Siemens' activeClean, for example. During pyrolytic cleaning, the oven can reach temperatures of around 500 degrees Celsius. That’s hot enough to incinerate any residue to ash. Once cooled, it's easy to wipe clean, leaving your oven spotless.

The child lock symbol often resembles a key. It's a helpful safety feature designed to prevent accidental changes to oven settings.

The alarm symbol is usually a bell. It indicates an alarm that goes off when the cooking process is finished. Unlike the minute minder, which is a timer, the alarm signals the end of a cooking cycle – prompting you to check on your (hopefully perfectly cooked) dish.

The minute minder symbol typically resembles a clock or timer. It lets you set a specific duration for cooking or baking. Once the time’s up, the oven lets out an alert sound.