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Hi everyone,

My stove is on the fritz. It goes on and off without warning, usually at the most inopportune times, and while I have workarounds for many kitchen tasks, I cannot bake anything of conventional-oven size. I'm between microwave ovens and do not expect to get a new one until after the pandemic. All I have is my trusty toaster oven, which I have had since the 1990's and which is too small for an 8x8" pan.

Cakes and pies will have to wait. But when I see a casserole recipe for a 13x9" or 8x8" pan, how do I reduce it? Baking time? Baking temperature?

I found your question interesting. I've flown by the seat of my pants in this regard in the past and I wondered if there are rules. I did a bit of research, I found this at The Kitchn: 

https://www.thekitchn.co...roles-tips-for-re-137981

That llinks to this website which has lots more detail, and I include it here, because it's easy to miss the link:

https://www.joyofbaking.com/PanSizes.html

The short version is that casseroles aren't too sensitive and if you fill the pan to the same depth as it would have been in the larger pan you don't really need to adjust time and temperature.

If the oven is going on without being turned on, that is a real safety hazzard and you should unplug it immediately. I worked in a small bakery during high school and commercial ovens are never turned off. Due to their size, they take too long to come up to preheat. They are merely turned down. Well, the thermostat on the oven failed and the oven stayed on 24/7 over a long weekend I think it was. Anyway, the oven got hot enough it caused the floor to smolder and weaken. By the time it was discovered, the floor was failing and the oven partially collapsed into the basement. Luckily the gas line wasn't severed or the entire block would have gone up in the explosion.

If it is a gas oven and it is simply failing to stay on, it is either the thermocouple or the thermostat, both of which are relatively affoardable repairs, if you are comfortable having a repair person in your home right now.

Fyretigger has a good answer to the immediate issue, but a longer term fix for you may be a fancier/bigger toaster oven.

My built-in wall oven has been unusable for more than two years. At first we didn't do anything because a replacement that would fit in the space was way beyond the budget, and lately, because we are not willing to have anyone in the house. Luckily, just before it broke down I had purchased a Breville Smart Oven Pro Convection Countertop Oven, mostly so I could bake during the warm months without heating up the kitchen. That baby does pretty much anything. Casseroles, 13" pizza, whole chicken, and of course, toast. I like to make lasagna in 9" loaf pans and can cook two at a time side by side. I bought an extra rack so I can cook on two levels at once, swapping half way between cooking, handy for two pans of cookies, or meals that I need to cook in two small sheet pans. I recently bought a mesh air frier basket, that while not made for this brand, fits beautifully, so I can crisp on all sides/"air fry" using the convection setting.

I don't miss the wall oven at all. I suppose I will get it replaced eventually, but it isn't high on my list of priorities.

No, the stove is not actually turning on at random times, it just alternates, at random times, between being ignitable and being unignitable. I test it by turning the oven knob.

Buying a new toaster oven would be a problem for me now, because the shelf which is the only place to keep it is too small for the toaster ovens they make today. Unless I can find a new 1990's-size toaster oven, I would have to hire a handyman to replace the shelf with a bigger one.

My stove is a gas stove, and I'm relieved to know that it's probably a minor repair which any good handyman can do. Yes, this is one exceptional situation in which I'm willing to have someone over - what's the alternative, enduring a long winter lockdown without a working stove?

I already had a locksmith over in these dangerous conditions, and I'm having a window repairman over this week - again, what's the alternative? What I have to remember is stay the **** away from the handyman, except to let him in and to pay him - briefly, while wearing a mask.

It's good to hear it's not turning on by itself. Given your description, I stand by my suspicion that it is either the oven thermostat or thermocouple, which I now know is more commonly called a 'glowtube', 'igniter' or 'glowtube ingniter' on an oven or furnace. It's what replaced a pilot light in newer gas oven designs. If you're interested in how it works, it's fairly well explained here:

http://www.appliance411....ition_systems.shtml#glow

When you call the appliance service, and explain what is wrong, if you tell them the make (e.g., GE, Hotpoint, Westinghouse, etc) and the model, it's possible they may be able to bring the appropriate parts with them when they come out to diagnose the problem, limiting your COVID exposure, and the time your oven is down. I've twice in 25 years had to have this repair on my gas furnace (apparently, glowtubes, like light bulbs, wear out). The first time they were able to replace the part on the spot and the service call was well under an hour (for MY furnace, no idea where the part is buried in your oven). The second time, due to the age of the furnace at that point, the part had to be ordered and required a second service call.

Good luck. My fingers are crossed for your repair.

Thank you, Fyretigger. The stove is an Avanti - I don't know what the model is. I'll take a picture of it.

ETA: The stove was in "on" mode yesterday so I baked a batch of mini-muffins. Next time I'll use paper liners : (

ETA, next day:  The stove is in its "off" mode again; I'm glad I seized the moment.