Stove Burners Too Hot To Simmer On? Here’s 4 Tips To Fix It

Do you use your stove on a daily basis? If so, you rely on it to work properly. It can be frustrating when your stove is not behaving as it should. This can make it difficult for you to cook safely. Fortunately, there are ways you can make your life easier by figuring out why your burners are too hot to simmer on.

If your burners have gotten too hot to simmer, there are several possible reasons why. Of course, you need to make sure that the burners are not turned up too high. Then, you should make sure you are using the right pots and pans for the stove. You might also need to check the oven vent and make sure the burners are exposed properly. 

So, how do you figure out which of these problems has impacted your burners? Take a look at a few steps below, and make sure you address them properly.

What You’ll Need: Gather Your Materials

Fortunately, to address this issue, you will not need much at all. All you need is access to your stove. You also need to be able to remove the burner from the stove if you need to clean it. So, once you have enough time and access to your stove, it is time to get started.

How To Fix a Burner That Is Too Hot To Simmer On: 4 Steps

The steps you need to follow to figure out what is wrong with your burner include: 

Step #1 Check the Settings on the Burners 

Of course, we cannot ignore the obvious issue. First, make sure the settings on your burners are not too high. For example, you are going to have a difficult time simmering on your burner if you turn it all the way up. 

Ideally, if you are simmering something on the stove, it should be on the lowest setting possible. This should be enough to generate the heat you need to simmer your food. Therefore, try turning down enough to get the food to simmer. If you are certain the knob is already on the lowest setting, you can move on to another potential problem.

For example, you should check and make sure the knob has been installed appropriately. What this means is that when you have turned the knob to the lowest setting, is the burner actually low? You might need to remove the knob to see how it is set on the metal shaft. That way, you can make sure the number reflected on the knob is actually the setting on the burner. 

If you are certain that the burner is turned all the way down, and it is still overcooking your food, there are several other possible reasons why. 

Step #2 Check the Pan You Are Using

Next, you need to check the pots and pans you are using. If you take a look at your stove, you will see two different sizes of coils. The pan you use should never be larger than an inch beyond the coil on which it sits. This means that if your pan extends beyond the edge of the burner more than an inch, the pan is too big for the burner.

If you use a pan that is too large, it will not heat evenly. The edges are not going to get quite hot enough. Instead, there will be an overhang created by the pan, causing the heat to be trapped in the middle. Therefore, the pan will get hotter than it should. This could be the reason why you are having trouble simmering your food.

Fortunately, this is also a relatively easy fix. You should move that pan to a larger burner that is going to heat your food evenly. Or, you should move your food to a smaller pan that will fit on the burner properly. That way, you can simmer your food without overheating it. 

If you are sure that your pots and pans are matched up appropriately for the burners on the stove, there are other problems you can explore as well. 

Step #3 Remove the Wrapping from Your Drip Pans

There is another issue you might want to explore. There is a common tip going around that if you wrap your drip pans in aluminum foil, they will be much easier to clean. This is definitely true. All you have to do is strip off the aluminum foil and throw it away. 

At the same time, if you wrap your drip pans in aluminum foil, you are also going to make it very difficult for you to control the temperature of your stove. Have you noticed that aluminum foil reflects when you leave it in the sun? The same thing is true when you leave aluminum foil on the stove. 

Therefore, if you wrap your drip pans in aluminum foil, it will be nearly impossible for you to control the temperature of the stove. The burners will be hotter than you think they are, meaning that you will have a difficult time simmering food on your stove without overcooking it. 

Fortunately, this is another relatively easy fix. All you have to do is remove the aluminum foil from the drip pans, put them back in place, and see if you can simmer your food appropriately. If you find that you can cook your food easily, you have addressed the issue. If you are still having a difficult time summer in your food, there is something else you might want to try.

Step #4 Check the Oven Vent

If you find that there is only one burner that is acting up, and you may want to take a closer look at the oven vent. There is a good chance that that burner is sitting close to the oven vent. This means that when the oven burner is on, it is going to be hotter than it usually is. Fortunately, there is usually not that much of a difference unless the oven vent has not been adjusted properly.

Therefore, take a closer look at what that burner does when the oven is not turned on. If the burner is behaving appropriately when the oven is not turned on, then you have probably found the culprit. You can either avoid using that burner when the oven is on or take a closer look at the oven vent to make sure it has been calibrated properly. 

The figure out how the oven vent should be calibrated, take a closer look at the manual for your oven. Check the oven vent and make sure it is in the right position. You may also want to clean the oven vent to prevent it from directing excess heat to the stove. This will make it easier for you to control the temperature of the firm when you are simmering your food. 

These are the most common reasons why you are having a difficult time simmering food on the stove. Fortunately, all of these are relatively easy fixes. At the same time, you might want to learn more about your stove, so you can get as much use out of it as possible. 

Could There Be Something Wrong with the Surface Element of the Burner?

If you have done all of this, you might be wondering if there could be something wrong with the surface element of a specific burner. Even though there is a chance this could be the case, you will probably have greater problems than simply delivering your food. 

For example, if there is something wrong with the surface element above the burner, you may have a difficult time getting it to turn off at all. Or, you may notice that the surface element of the stove is not turning on. This is going to be a much more drastic issue than simply a burner overheating. 

Therefore, it is unlikely that something is wrong with the surface element. Of course, you are always welcome to test the surface element using a multimeter. That way, you can put your mind at ease. 

How Often Do I Need To Clean My Drip Pans?

If you are removing the aluminum foil from your drip pans, you may be wondering how often you need to clean your stove. Ideally, you should clean your stove after every use. That way, you can keep debris from clogging the burners. Fortunately, it does not take a lot of work to clean the stove.

What you need to do is get some warm water and some detergent. If you are worried that you may have stains that are very difficult to remove, then you may want to get some vinegar as well. After this, all you need to do is wipe down a stove. All the food debris should come off relatively easily. 

If you are having a difficult time getting the stains off your stove, you may want to reach out to a professional who can help you. That way, you know you have kept your stove as clean as possible.

Make Sure You Can Simmer Your Food on Your Stove

You have a busy schedule, so it can be difficult to time all of your dishes appropriately. Therefore, there might be a situation where you might need to simmer the food on your stove. If this is the case, you need to make sure your burners can do so without overeating. 

Make sure the oven man has been calibrated appropriately, and ensure all of your knobs are turned to the right setting. You should also make sure you remove the aluminum foil from your drip pans and ensure your pots and pans are the right sizes for the burner. 

If you are still having issues with your so, you might want to reach out to a professional who can take a closer look at it for you. That way, you can use your stove exactly as it should.