When reading recipes, it is common to come across different ways of writing oven temperatures. Some cookbooks use Celsius (°C), while others use Fahrenheit (°F) or even Gas Mark. This may not be very clear if your oven is marked differently.
Here’s a clear guide to help you convert the most common oven temperatures.
01
Main Oven Temperature Systems
Celsius (°C): Most of the world, including Europe.
Fahrenheit (°F): Used in the USA.
Gas Mark: UK and Ireland, especially with older gas ovens.
02
Why Do Oven Conversions Matter?
International recipes often use different temperature systems. Setting your oven correctly is essential for a good result. 180°C in Europe is NOT the same as 180°F in the US!
03
Quick Reference Table
For most recipes, you don’t need an exact mathematical conversion. A simple reference chart is usually enough.
Heat Type
Celsius (°C)
Fahrenheit (°F)
Gas Mark
Typical Use
Very Cool / Very Low
110°C
225°F
¼
Drying herbs, meringue, slow-cooked meats
Very Slow
120°C
250°F
½
Slow drying, gentle slow-cooking
Cool
140°C
275°F
1
Cheesecakes, custards, slow baking
Low
150°C
300°F
2
Sponge cakes, delicate pastries
Moderate
160°C
325°F
3
Cakes, muffins, cupcakes, biscuits
Moderately Hot
180°C
350°F
4
The most common: cookies, layered cakes, pies
Fairly Hot
190°C
375°F
5
Quick breads, roasting vegetables
Moderately High
200°C
400°F
6
Roasting vegetables, breads
Hot
220°C
425°F
7
Roasting root vegetables, browning meat
Very Hot
230°C
450°F
8
Fast pizza, flatbread, quick roasting
Very Hot / Max
240°C
475°F
9
Pizza ovens, artisan bread, high-heat searing
Extremely Hot
260°C
500°F
10
Broiling, charring, Neapolitan pizza
Note: The most popular baking temperature for cookies, cakes, and more across recipes is 180°C / 350°F (Gas 4).
04
Fan Oven (Convection) Adjustment
If you’re using a fan (convection) oven, you should reduce the recipe temperature by 20°C (36°F) compared to a standard (conventional) oven.
Examples:
If a recipe says 180°C → set your fan oven to 160°C
If a recipe says 400°F → set your fan oven to 364°F (or, for simplicity, use 365°F)
05
Conversion Formulas (For custom numbers)
If you need to convert a temperature that isn’t on the chart, you can use these formulas.
Celsius to Fahrenheit: Formula:(°C × 9/5) + 32 = °F Example:(180°C × 9/5) + 32 = 324 + 32 = 356°F (often rounded to 350°F in recipes).
Fahrenheit to Celsius: Formula:(°F - 32) × 5/9 = °C Example:(350°F - 32) × 5/9 = 318 × 5/9 = 176.6°C (often rounded to 180°C).
