Oven Functions Explained: The Complete Guide to Every Setting

Modern ovens come with a wide range of functions, each designed to help you cook with greater precision, efficiency, and ease. But what does each oven symbol mean? Whether you’re baking, roasting, grilling or defrosting, understanding your oven’s settings is the key to better results in the kitchen.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll break down every common oven function – from conventional heat and fan-assisted modes to pizza settings and pyrolytic cleaning. You’ll learn exactly how each function works, what it’s best used for, and how to get the most out of your appliance.

Let’s decode those symbols and take the guesswork out of cooking.

Conventional Oven Function

Feature	Description
What it does	Uses both top and bottom heating elements without a fan to create natural heat circulation inside the oven.
How it works	Heat rises from the bottom and falls from the top, producing zones of warmer and cooler air. This provides gentle, even cooking across a single shelf.
Best for	Cakes, biscuits, breads, roasts, and classic slow-cooked dishes where steady, even heat is needed.
Top tip	Cook on the middle shelf for the most balanced heat. Avoid crowding trays, as airflow is passive rather than forced.

Base Heat Oven Function

Feature	Description
What it does	Uses only the lower heating element to provide direct heat from the bottom, with no fan assistance.
How it works	Heat rises gently from the base of the oven, ideal for dishes that need a firm or crisp underside without browning the top.
Best for	Tarts, quiches, pizzas, pastry cases, or reheating food gently without drying it out.
Top tip	Place dishes on a low shelf to maximise contact with the base heat. Use at the end of cooking to crisp the bottom of undercooked items.

Top Heat Oven Function

Feature	Description
What it does	Uses only the upper heating element to apply heat from above, with no fan assistance.
How it works	Heat radiates downwards from the top of the oven, warming the upper surface of your dish. The bottom remains relatively unaffected, making this a finishing or browning function.
Best for	Browning meringues, finishing gratins, toasting breadcrumbs, or lightly reheating food from the top.
Top tip	Use this setting at the end of cooking to add colour or crispness to the top layer. Watch closely—things can brown quickly under direct heat.

Fan Assisted Oven Function

Feature	Description
What it does	Combines the top and bottom heating elements with a fan to circulate hot air evenly throughout the oven.
How it works	The heating elements warm the air, which is then distributed around the oven cavity by the fan. This ensures a consistent temperature on every shelf and reduces cooking times.
Best for	Roasting meat and vegetables, baking on multiple shelves, and cooking dishes that require even heat throughout.
Top tip	You can cook multiple dishes at once without flavours mingling. Reduce the temperature by 10–20°C from conventional settings for the best results.

Base Heat with Fan Oven Function

Feature	Description
What it does	Uses only the lower heating element along with a fan to circulate hot air from the bottom of the oven.
How it works	Heat from the bottom element is pushed around the cavity by the fan, directing warmth upwards. This gives an intense base heat with even air distribution for improved results.
Best for	Cooking pizza, pastry-based dishes, or foods that need a crisp base and even top. It’s also useful for slow cooking stews and casseroles.
Top tip	Preheat the oven thoroughly to get a strong base temperature. Ideal for foods that often end up soggy underneath when using standard settings.

Top Heat with Fan Oven Function

Feature	Description
What it does	Combines the top heating element with a fan to circulate hot air from the top of the oven cavity.
How it works	The top element generates radiant heat, while the fan disperses it throughout the oven. This creates a more even surface finish and faster top-down cooking.
Best for	Finishing dishes with a golden top, such as gratins, pies, or pasta bakes. Also useful for recipes that need top-down browning with even air flow.
Top tip	Use towards the end of cooking to brown the top of a dish evenly without burning. Keep an eye on food, as top-down fan heat can work quickly.

True Fan Oven Function

Feature	Description
What it does	Uses a dedicated circular heating element around the fan to distribute hot air evenly throughout the oven cavity.
How it works	Unlike standard fan-assisted modes, True Fan (also called fan oven or 3D hot air) doesn’t rely on top or bottom elements. The rear element heats air directly, which the fan circulates evenly across all shelves.
Best for	Cooking multiple dishes at once, batch baking, and recipes requiring uniform heat with minimal flavour transfer.
Top tip	Lower your recipe temperature by around 10–20°C compared to conventional settings. You can fill more than one shelf without worrying about uneven results.

True Fan and Base Heat Oven Function

Feature	Description
What it does	Combines the even heat of a True Fan system with additional warmth from the lower heating element for enhanced base cooking.
How it works	The circular rear heating element heats air, which is circulated by the fan. At the same time, the bottom element delivers direct heat to the base of the oven, ensuring crisp undersides and even all-round cooking.
Best for	Perfect for pizzas, pies, pastry dishes, and anything requiring a well-cooked base and evenly baked top. Also good for reheating items like savoury bakes.
Top tip	Place your food on a lower shelf to maximise base crisping. Use baking trays with good airflow to allow the fan to circulate heat properly.

True Fan and Top Heat Oven Function

Feature	Description
What it does	Combines the True Fan’s rear heating element with additional top heat for enhanced browning and faster top-side cooking.
How it works	The fan circulates hot air from the rear element while the top heating element adds direct radiant heat from above. This balances all-over cooking with extra colour and crisping on top.
Best for	Perfect for pasta bakes, gratins, pies, and dishes that need even cooking throughout with a golden top finish.
Top tip	Use a higher shelf position to take full advantage of the top element. Ideal for when your dish is cooked through but needs extra browning.

Eco True Fan Oven Function

Feature	Description
What it does	An energy-efficient version of the True Fan mode that reduces power consumption while still providing even cooking results.
How it works	Uses the circular heating element and fan to maintain a stable, even temperature, but operates at a lower power level and slower heat-up speed to save energy. Best used with only one shelf in the centre of the oven.
Best for	Cooking single items like casseroles, traybakes, or roasts when time is not a constraint but energy efficiency is a priority.
Top tip	Avoid preheating unless specified by the recipe, and keep the oven door closed throughout cooking to retain heat and improve efficiency.

Pizza Oven Function

Feature	Description
What it does	Combines base heat with fan assistance and sometimes additional top heat to simulate a pizza oven environment.
How it works	Strong heat from the lower element crisps the pizza base while the fan ensures hot air is circulated for even cooking. Some models also apply top heat for melted, golden toppings.
Best for	Perfect for pizzas, flatbreads, focaccia, and other dough-based dishes that require a crisp base and evenly cooked top.
Top tip	Preheat your oven fully before use, and cook your pizza directly on a preheated pizza stone or tray placed low in the oven for a crispier base.

Full Grill Oven Function

Feature	Description
What it does	Activates the entire upper heating element to deliver intense, direct heat across the full width of the grill area.
How it works	The top element emits strong radiant heat, ideal for browning, crisping, and high-temperature cooking. Unlike oven modes, the heat does not circulate—it cooks from above only.
Best for	Grilling sausages, chops, fish, or vegetables; toasting bread; or giving casseroles and bakes a golden topping.
Top tip	Always leave the oven door slightly ajar if your manual recommends it, and monitor food closely—grills can burn quickly if left unattended.

Full Grill and Fan Oven Function

Feature	Description
What it does	Combines the power of the full-width grill with a fan to circulate heat for more even grilling at slightly lower temperatures.
How it works	The top grill element radiates heat while the fan helps move that heat around the cavity. This reduces hot spots and allows you to grill larger items more evenly without constant turning.
Best for	Grilling thicker cuts of meat or fish, roasting chicken legs, and browning the tops of baked dishes while cooking them through more gently.
Top tip	Place food on a lower shelf than usual to benefit from the circulated heat. It’s great for reducing splatter and over-charring on the top surface.

Full Grill and True Fan Oven Function

Feature	Description
What it does	Combines the full-width grill element with the rear True Fan system to provide radiant top heat and evenly distributed hot air throughout the oven.
How it works	The grill browns food from above while the fan circulates heated air from the rear element. This dual-action method ensures your food is cooked through more evenly while still achieving a crisp or golden top.
Best for	Ideal for thicker cuts of meat, fish fillets, or gratins that need to be grilled on top but also cooked thoroughly all the way through.
Top tip	This setting offers a good alternative to traditional grilling when you want less surface charring and more even results. Use a middle shelf for balanced heat exposure.

Half Grill Oven Function

Feature	Description
What it does	Activates only the central portion of the upper grill element, providing a focused area of radiant heat.
How it works	By heating just the middle section of the grill element, this setting allows for energy-efficient grilling of smaller portions without overheating the whole cavity.
Best for	Toasting a sandwich, grilling a single steak or small batch of sausages, or browning a small dish without using unnecessary power.
Top tip	Position food in the centre of the oven to get the most benefit from the concentrated heat zone. Ideal when cooking for one or two people.

Half Grill and Fan Oven Function

Feature	Description
What it does	Combines the central portion of the top grill element with a fan to circulate heat gently around the food for more even grilling.
How it works	The half grill element emits direct heat from above while the fan circulates it throughout the oven cavity. This reduces hot spots and allows gentler, more even cooking for smaller portions.
Best for	Grilling smaller items like chicken thighs or fish fillets, or giving a golden top to small dishes while cooking them through evenly.
Top tip	Use a central shelf position for best results. A great energy-saving alternative to full grill modes when cooking small quantities.

Half Grill and True Fan Oven Function

Feature	Description
What it does	Combines the central section of the top grill element with the rear-mounted True Fan system for balanced grilling and thorough heat circulation.
How it works	The grill browns food from above, while the fan distributes hot air from the rear heating element. This ensures even cooking without over-charring, particularly useful for smaller dishes or portions.
Best for	Smaller bakes, roasted vegetables, fish fillets, and dishes that benefit from a browned top and all-over heat distribution.
Top tip	Ideal for finishing smaller meals with a crisp top while keeping the interior moist and evenly cooked. Position food centrally for best performance.

Microwave Oven Function

Feature	Description
What it does	Generates microwave energy to heat food quickly by directly exciting water molecules inside the food.
How it works	Microwaves penetrate food and cause water molecules to vibrate, producing heat from within. This makes it highly efficient for reheating, defrosting, and cooking soft-textured dishes.
Best for	Reheating leftovers, defrosting frozen foods, cooking vegetables, ready meals, and soft dishes like porridge or custard.
Top tip	Use microwave-safe containers and stir food halfway through for even heating. Always cover dishes to retain moisture and prevent splatter.

Microwave and Pizza Oven Function

Feature	Description
What it does	Combines microwave energy with a pizza-specific heating mode (base heat + fan and/or top heat) for fast and crisp pizza cooking.
How it works	Microwaves cook the pizza quickly from the inside, while the pizza function applies strong base heat and fan circulation (and sometimes top heat) to crisp the crust and melt toppings evenly.
Best for	Perfect for frozen or chilled pizzas when you want fast cooking with a crispy base and gooey top. Also works well for flatbreads, naan, and focaccia-style bakes.
Top tip	For best results, use a crisping tray or preheated pizza stone. Keep an eye on cooking times, as food cooks much faster than with traditional pizza settings alone.

Microwave and True Fan Oven Function

Feature	Description
What it does	Combines microwave technology with the True Fan system to cook food quickly and evenly with both internal and external heat.
How it works	Microwaves heat food from the inside, while the rear fan and circular heating element distribute hot air around the oven for consistent surface cooking. This hybrid method reduces cooking time without sacrificing texture or browning.
Best for	Great for cooking poultry, casseroles, baked potatoes, or ready meals that need to be cooked through quickly and evenly with a golden finish.
Top tip	Ideal when you're short on time but want oven-cooked texture. Use microwave-safe cookware suitable for combination settings, and avoid metal trays.

Microwave, Full Grill and Fan Oven Function

Feature	Description
What it does	Combines microwave heating with full-width grilling and fan assistance to cook food quickly while browning the top and circulating heat for even results.
How it works	Microwaves cook the inside of the food rapidly, the full grill crisps and browns the surface, and the fan spreads heat throughout the oven for even cooking. This trio reduces cooking time while improving texture and appearance.
Best for	Perfect for baked pasta dishes, gratins, stuffed vegetables, or reheating meals that benefit from a golden, bubbly top and quick internal heating.
Top tip	Use microwave-safe, non-metallic cookware that can withstand grill heat. Keep an eye on the top of the dish to avoid over-browning while the microwave finishes cooking inside.

Defrost Oven Function

Feature	Description
What it does	Circulates unheated or very gently warmed air around the oven to safely and gradually thaw frozen food.
How it works	The oven fan operates without activating the heating elements, or with a minimal amount of residual heat. Air movement speeds up the defrosting process while keeping temperatures low enough to prevent cooking.
Best for	Safely defrosting meat, poultry, fish, bread, cakes, or frozen prepared meals before cooking.
Top tip	Place food on a wire rack with a tray underneath to catch drips. Avoid using cling film or closed containers, as good air flow is key for safe, even defrosting.

Rapid Preheat Oven Function

Feature	Description
What it does	Rapidly brings the oven up to the desired temperature by using multiple heating elements simultaneously for a faster warm-up time.
How it works	Top, bottom, and rear elements (plus the fan, if applicable) work together at maximum power to heat the oven quickly. Once the set temperature is reached, the oven switches to your selected cooking function.
Best for	Saving time when preheating for baking, roasting, or any dish that requires a hot oven before placing food inside.
Top tip	Use only for preheating—don’t place food in the oven until the temperature indicator confirms it's ready. Ideal for getting a head start on busy weeknight meals.

Sabbath Mode Oven Function

Feature	Description
What it does	Disables automatic shut-off, lights, and sounds to allow the oven to remain on for extended periods in accordance with Sabbath and religious observance rules.
How it works	Once activated, Sabbath Mode maintains a constant temperature without requiring user interaction. Internal lights, display updates, tones, and auto shut-off features are all disabled to avoid violating Sabbath restrictions.
Best for	Keeping pre-cooked food warm or gently heating meals during Sabbath or Jewish holidays without manually adjusting the oven or triggering digital feedback.
Top tip	Activate Sabbath Mode before the observance begins and ensure food is already inside. Check your appliance manual for specific steps and features, as implementations may vary by model.

Vapour Clean (Self Cleaning) Oven Function

Feature	Description
What it does	Uses low heat and steam to loosen grease, food residue, and grime from the oven cavity walls for easy manual cleaning.
How it works	You add a small amount of water to the oven’s base or dedicated reservoir. The oven heats gently, creating steam that softens baked-on residue so it can be wiped away with a cloth after the cycle ends.
Best for	Routine cleaning between deep cleans. Ideal for lightly soiled ovens or maintenance after baking, roasting, or grilling.
Top tip	Remove trays and racks first. Add lemon juice to the water for natural degreasing and a fresh scent. Wipe down the cavity while it’s still warm (but safe to touch) for best results.

Pyrolytic Clean (Self Cleaning) Oven Function

Feature	Description
What it does	Heats the oven cavity to extremely high temperatures (usually around 470°C) to burn off food residues and grease, reducing them to ash for effortless cleaning.
How it works	The oven locks the door for safety and runs a high-heat cycle that incinerates all deposits on the oven walls, racks, and trays. After cooling, all that’s left is a fine ash that can be wiped away with a damp cloth.
Best for	Thorough cleaning of heavily soiled ovens. Ideal after roasting meats, baking greasy foods, or long-term use without manual cleaning.
Top tip	Remove all trays, racks, and accessories before starting. Run the cycle when you won’t need the oven for a few hours. Always allow the oven to cool fully before wiping down.

Gas Oven Function

Feature	Description
What it does	Uses a gas burner, typically located at the base of the oven, to produce radiant heat that naturally rises throughout the cavity.
How it works	When ignited, the gas burner emits heat from the bottom of the oven. As the heat rises, it creates warmer zones at the top and cooler ones below. This natural convection results in temperature gradients that must be accounted for when positioning food.
Best for	Roasting meat and vegetables, baking bread, or traditional recipes where moisture retention and base heat are important.
Top tip	Place dishes in the centre of the oven for best results. Gas ovens may cook hotter at the top, so rotate food when necessary and monitor closely for even cooking.

Oven Function Comparison Table: Heating Elements and Technologies Used

Every oven function works by activating a different combination of heating elements. These may include the top and bottom heating elements, a rear fan element (used in true fan settings), the grill, or even a built-in microwave generator or steam system. Understanding which elements are active helps you cook more efficiently, choose the right mode for your dish, and make the most of your oven’s features. The table below shows exactly which elements each function uses.

Function	Top Element	Bottom Element	Rear (True Fan)	Grill	Fan	Microwave	Steam	Gas Burner
Conventional	✔	✔	–	–	–	–	–	–
Base Heat	–	✔	–	–	–	–	–	–
Top Heat	✔	–	–	–	–	–	–	–
Fan Assisted	✔	✔	–	–	✔	–	–	–
Base Heat with Fan	–	✔	–	–	✔	–	–	–
Top Heat with Fan	✔	–	–	–	✔	–	–	–
True Fan	–	–	✔	–	✔	–	–	–
True Fan + Base	–	✔	✔	–	✔	–	–	–
True Fan + Top	✔	–	✔	–	✔	–	–	–
Eco True Fan	–	–	✔	–	✔	–	–	–
Pizza Function	✔	✔	–	–	✔	–	–	–
Full Grill	–	–	–	✔	–	–	–	–
Full Grill + Fan	–	–	–	✔	✔	–	–	–
Full Grill + True Fan	–	–	✔	✔	✔	–	–	–
Half Grill	–	–	–	✔	–	–	–	–
Half Grill + Fan	–	–	–	✔	✔	–	–	–
Half Grill + True Fan	–	–	✔	✔	✔	–	–	–
Microwave	–	–	–	–	–	✔	–	–
Microwave + Pizza	✔	✔	–	–	✔	✔	–	–
Microwave + True Fan	–	–	✔	–	✔	✔	–	–
Microwave + Grill + Fan	–	–	–	✔	✔	✔	–	–
Defrost	–	–	–	–	✔	–	–	–
Rapid Preheat	✔	✔	✔	–	✔	–	–	–
Sabbath Mode	✔	✔	✔	–	–	–	–	–
Vapour Clean	–	–	–	–	–	–	✔	–
Pyrolytic Clean	✔	✔	✔	–	–	–	–	–
Gas Oven	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	✔

Conclusion: Choosing the Right Oven Function

Understanding the different oven functions available on modern appliances can completely transform the way you cook. From classic conventional heat to powerful fan-assisted modes, specialist settings like pizza and grill functions, and advanced features such as microwave combos and self-cleaning cycles — each one serves a clear purpose to make your cooking faster, easier, and more precise.

Now that you’ve explored every setting, you can confidently select the right function for any dish, whether you’re baking delicate pastries, roasting a Sunday joint, or quickly reheating leftovers. Mastering these modes is the key to unlocking your oven’s full potential.

For best results, always check your appliance manual for model-specific features and recommendations. Happy cooking!