Are Canadian Ovens In Fahrenheit Or Celsius? | Quick Guide

Yes—Canadian ovens support both scales; most display °F by default, and you can switch to °C in the settings.

Shopping, renting, or just baking in Canada and wondering which numbers you’ll see on the knob or display? You’re not alone. Canada cooks with both temperature scales. Many household ranges sold here arrive set to degrees Fahrenheit because a lot of models share designs with the U.S. market, yet nearly all modern units let you flip to degrees Celsius in a few taps. Below you’ll find a clear rundown, brand tips, and an oven-friendly conversion table, so you can set accurate heat without guessing.

Canadian Oven Temperatures: F And C Explained

Canada adopted metric units decades ago, and Celsius is the official temperature scale in public life, from weather to science. In the kitchen, appliance makers still ship many models with Fahrenheit as the starting display while providing an easy switch to Celsius in the control menu. That mix reflects how recipes, appliances, and habits flow across the border. Digital panels usually show one scale at a time; analog dials often print both.

What You’ll See On Common Models

On a new electric or gas range, expect a digital readout in °F out of the box. The setup menu typically includes an item called “Temperature units,” “F/C,” or “Display scale.” After changing it once, the oven remembers your choice. If you buy a second-hand unit, it could already be set to °C. Either way, preheat behavior and cooking results stay the same; only the number on the screen changes.

Fast Reference: Baking Heat Across Both Scales

The chart below lists popular baking settings with plain-language uses. It’s rounded to common kitchen conventions and keeps things readable while you cook.

Why Both Scales Show Up In Canadian Kitchens

Canadian law sets the International System of Units as the basis for measurement nationwide, which includes Celsius for temperature. If you want the source, the Weights and Measures Act lays out that foundation. At the same time, cross-border manufacturing means many ranges share parts and menus with U.S. models that default to °F. The result: a simple setting lets you pick the scale that matches your recipes.

Recipes, Labels, And Habits

Cookbooks and food sites used by Canadian home cooks mix both systems. You’ll see 350°F in North American baking books and 180°C in many Canadian and European recipes. Meat thermometers, roasting charts, and grocery packaging often print the two together. If your unit shows the “other” scale, there’s no need to rewrite a recipe; a quick conversion or a settings change solves it.

Public Temperatures Use °C

Weather, climate data, and most public displays use Celsius in Canada. You can see this right on the national forecast pages where cities list temperatures in °C. That’s a helpful reminder when you switch mental gears between outside air and oven heat.

How To Switch Your Range Between °F And °C

Most brands hide the toggle behind a few buttons to prevent accidental changes. The wording varies, but the idea is the same: open special features, find the unit option, and flip it. Always check your exact model manual, since steps differ slightly.

Brand-By-Brand Notes

Whirlpool/Maytag/KitchenAid: Many models let you press and hold a dedicated key such as Temp/Time or use a menu labeled “F/C.” Some models use a long press on Broil. Whirlpool’s help pages outline both approaches; see the maker’s temperature setting guide.

GE Profile/GE/Hotpoint: A common sequence is pressing Bake and Broil together until “SF” appears, then tapping Broil to cycle F→C and pressing Start. GE’s support article lists that exact path; see GE oven temperature selection.

Frigidaire/Electrolux: Typical method is holding Broil for about seven seconds until the display shows °F or °C, then toggling with arrows. Many Frigidaire product pages and manuals note “Program Fahrenheit or Celsius” as a standard feature.

These shortcuts work across many Canadian-sold models, including standalone ranges and wall ovens. If nothing happens, your control panel likely uses a menu icon or a settings gear instead of a long-press.

Safety And Food Doneness Still Depend On Internal Temperature

Whether you set 375°F or 190°C, doneness is about the temperature inside the food. Use a probe thermometer and follow trusted safety charts. Public guidance lists both scales side-by-side, which makes cooking safer no matter which units you prefer. Health authorities publish cross-listed numbers for meats, poultry, seafood, and egg dishes, so you can cook confidently in either system.

Converting Between °F And °C Without A Chart

You don’t need an app to convert a recipe quickly. Use these kitchen-friendly rules. They’re accurate enough for everyday baking and roasting.

Two Handy Methods

• Exact math: °F = (°C × 9 ÷ 5) + 32; °C = (°F − 32) × 5 ÷ 9.
• Quick mental trick: To estimate, subtract 30 from °F and halve it; to go back, double °C and add 30.

Where Rounding Helps

Home ovens drift a little as they cycle burners or elements on and off. That makes small differences disappear in practice. A round number such as 180°C is close enough to 350°F for most cakes; 200°C matches 400°F well for sheet-pan dinners. When you need precision for sugar work or lean bread, use an oven thermometer to see what your box is really doing.

Fan Ovens And Convection

If your range uses a fan mode, reduce the set temperature by about 20°C (or 25–30°F) compared with conventional bake. Many recipes list both numbers; if not, this small reduction avoids over-browning while keeping timing close. Convection also benefits from low-profile pans and leaving space around trays for airflow.

Make Settings Stick: Calibrate And Verify

Even a new oven can run warm or cool. If cakes dome too fast or roasts lag, check calibration. Most models let you offset the displayed temperature by a few degrees in the settings menu. For the best check, place an oven thermometer on the center rack and watch several heat cycles. Average the readings and adjust the offset once.

Common Signs Your Readout Needs A Nudge

• Cookies spread more than they used to at the same setting.
• Top browns hard while the center stays pale.
• Sheet pans scorch on one side first.

Simple Home Test

Set 350°F (or 180°C) and let the unit preheat. Place an oven thermometer in the center and check after ten minutes, then again after twenty. If the average is off by more than about 15°F (8°C), use the calibration option in your settings to add or subtract that amount. Repeat the test with a second thermometer if you suspect a faulty gauge.

Switching Units On Popular Brands

Here’s a quick summary of where the F/C toggle lives on well-known makers. Always read the manual for your exact model, since words and buttons vary.

Typical Canadian Recipe Equivalents

When Canadian recipes list both scales, they often round to tidy kitchen numbers. Here’s a quick set you’ll see again and again, matching everyday bakes and roasts.

Buying Or Renting? What To Check

Before you commit to a range or move into a rental, look for three unit-friendly details. First, confirm that the display can show both °F and °C; most can, yet it’s worth a glance at the manual. Second, check that the temperature offset is adjustable, so you can calibrate after a few bakes. Third, if you’re a bread or pizza fan, confirm the top setting goes to at least 500°F (260°C). That extra headroom brings better crust and faster recovery after you open the door.

Where To Find The Right Manual

The easiest path is the model number sticker—usually on the frame behind the door, or on a rim under the cooktop. Search the maker’s support site for a PDF and look for sections labeled “Special features,” “Display units,” or “Temperature units.” For proof that Canadian-sold models include both scales, brand manuals and help pages spell it out. You’ll see lines such as “Fahrenheit or Celsius temperature selection” in GE wall-oven PDFs and “Program Fahrenheit or Celsius” on Frigidaire product support pages.

Practical Tips For Smooth Cooking Across Units

• Pick one scale on the display and stick with it week to week. Fewer conversions mean fewer mistakes.
• Write conversions in pencil on beloved recipes, so you don’t redo the math each time.
• Mind doneness with a probe thermometer; oven air temperature is only half the story.
• Preheat fully, especially for pastries and breads. Many displays beep early; wait a few extra minutes for stable heat.
• Use the center rack unless the recipe says otherwise. That keeps heat even while you learn a new oven.
• Watch fan modes and reduce the set temperature a touch to keep edges from over-browning.

Final Take For Canadian Home Cooks

In Canada you can bake in either scale with confidence. The hardware supports both, recipes print both, and safety advice lists both. Set the display to the units you prefer, keep a simple conversion rule handy, and focus on internal temperature for doneness. If you want the legal backdrop, the Weights and Measures Act confirms Celsius as the national standard; if you want brand steps, the Whirlpool temperature setting guide and GE support instructions show the F↔C toggle in action. Pick a scale, dial it in, and let your recipes shine—whether you read 190°C or 375°F.