Thanksgiving is by far the most traveled holiday of the year. Despite the bustling airport terminals, there is perhaps one place busier: the kitchen. Whether you are a professional chef preparing a corporate feast, or hosting a full house of hungry relatives at your restaurant it is important to make sure your appliances are in good condition before taking the turkey day plunge.

Ovens
No matter how you cook the bird, your oven will still be working on pie, casserole, and yams, so make sure the following parts are working properly:

• Bake element – This increases convection, allowing food to be cooked thoroughly. Located at the bottom of the oven, this thin stick glows red while the oven is heating. These need to be replaced every few years.
• Thermostat probe – This piece ensures that food is cooked at the correct temperature.
• Broiler element – Similar to the bake element, this part is at the top of the oven, and also needs to be replaced regularly
• Oven Light – Your best friend when cooking large poultry, the oven light, allows you to check on food often, without changing cooking conditions by opening the oven door. Fixing the oven light can be as simple as replacing the light bulb if there are no electrical problems. Oven Door – This can be bent or retain moisture from previous use. Make sure your oven door opens and closes securely, and the glass has no condensation.

Fryers
Deep-frying the turkey is growing in popularity. Though known for accidents during the holiday season, that doesn’t exclude the fryer as an appealing option – so long as you use yours safely. Have these parts of your fryer inspected regularly:

• Thermostat – A broken thermostat can lead to greasy, burnt food, and foaming oil. Make sure your fryer thermostat is calibrated correctly.
• Safety thermostat and safety switch – these parts sense when cooking conditions are unsafe.
• Heating element – If this is not working correctly, it will become either too hot, or will not reach the desired temperature.

Stoves
For electric stoves – Electricity should be properly connected, and the infinite switch should be checked often.
For gas stoves – Burner valves and spark modules are easily fixed when broken.

Naturally, the chef is the expert at cooking. We leave it up to you for tasty food. Feel free to leave it up to us to keep your equipment in tip-top shape. Schedule an appointment with Sun Devil Plumbing.