Using Your Oven If The Glass is Broken

If the glass in your oven has cracked or smashed you may be looking to see whether or not you can safely cook without it and whether or not you can replace the glass or need a new appliance entirely.

Lucky for you, this has happened to me not once, not twice, but three times over the past 12 years and as such I’m a bit of a pro when it comes to cooking with and repairing oven glass.

You can still use your oven temporarily if the glass has broken provided that the oven unit itself is still sealed. Most modern ovens have multiple panes of glass so there should still be a sheet (or multiple sheets) of glass between you and the appliance.

However, if the oven only had one sheet of glass, or if all sheets of glass between you and the food inside your oven have broken it’s best to avoid using the oven until the appliance has either been repaired or replaced.

Using Your Oven If The Glass is Broken

Most modern ovens have multiple sheets of glass and therefore if one breaks it’s highly likely the oven unit itself will still be sealed and therefore safe to use temporarily unit you fix it.

However, if all the sheets of glass have broken or if you only had one sheet of glass between you and the food you’re cooking inside the oven it’s unsafe to use the oven until the glass is replaced.

If the glass that’s broken is on the inside of the oven then it’s highly likely to come into direct contact with the food you’re cooking.

In this case, I’d advise using the oven until the glass can be removed and replaced since you run the risk of eating / serving food with small shards of glass.

If you’re in any doubt it’s best to avoid and get the oven repaired before using it again.

Using Your Oven If The Glass Is Cracked

If the glass in your oven is just cracked and hasn’t yet broken then you can still cook with the oven as normal, provided the unit is still sealed.

However, you’ll want to avoid putting any pressure on the cracked glass or hitting it as this could cause the crack to spiderweb and turn into a break.

Now while you can use the oven with just a crack it is best to look at getting the glass repaired or replaced.

While the crack very well may remain as just a small crack, given the high temperatures of the oven it’s more than likely just a matter of time before it breaks.

And I speak from experience when I say that usually happens when you least want it to happen!

What Causes The Glass On An Oven To Break?

There are a few different things that can cause the glass on an oven to break.

The most common is simply wear and tear – over time the constant heating and cooling of the glass can cause it to weaken and eventually break.

Another common cause is if there’s something inside the oven (usually a pan) that’s come into contact with the glass and caused it to crack or smash.

However, most recently I’ve found that a lot of people are contacting me because they’ve caused their oven glass to break as a result of using popular abrasive cleaners.

These cleaners are advertised as miracle workers, and don’t get me wrong, they are.

However, the small abrasions in the paste actually cause small cracks in the glass which then cause it to smash when exposed to high temperatures through cooking.

Be sure to check your oven glass regularly for any signs of cracking or peeling. That way you should be able to replace the pane of glass before it gets any worse.

How To Repair An Oven’s Glass Panel

If the glass on your oven has broken then you’ll want to get it repaired as soon as possible.

The best way to do this is by calling a professional who will be able to come out and replace the glass for you.

However, if you’re feeling confident then you can attempt to do it yourself.

I would only recommend this if you have experience with appliances and feel comfortable taking your oven apart.