Stove Top Temperature Control Knobs – What Do The Numbers Relate To? – Low, Medium, High

Question: What do the numbers on my electric stove top relate to in terms of temperature? The numbers are 1 through 9 on the dial for the stove top. My confusion is because I am following a recipe and the heat setting calls for Medium High heat. My problem is that there is no indication of which number (higher or lower) to set the dial to make the stove top High Medium or Low Heat. What number is the hottest on a stovetop? The highest number or the lowest number? What are stove top temperature equivalents? Quick Answer: The higher number is the highest heat setting.

stove top temp control setting numbers

On most any stove top the dials or knobs will have the numbers from 1 to 9 printed on the knobs or on the stove itself. If you set the number on the temperature dial to 9, this is the highest heat temperature. If you set the number on the temperature dial to 1, this is the lowest heat temperature.

Highest heat is 9 on stove knob.
Mid heat is around 4 – 6 on stove knob.
Low heat is around 1 – 3 on stove knob.
All stoves operate different – Use, Observe, Adjust, Learn.

On most stove tops there are 9 numbers on your temperature dials. These numbers are 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 if your knob has 9 numbers or 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 if your knob has 6 numbers. For the numbers 1 – 9, there are four temp settings before THE NUMBER 5 and four temp settings after. 5 is the middle number so 5 is considered medium. If a recipe states it needs to cook on Medium Heat or Mid Heat, set the temperature knob to the number 5 as this is the middle number and is Medium heat.

Stove Top Temperature Control Knob 1 - 9Stove Top Temperature Control Knob 1 – 9,
Numbers printed on stove not on the knob.
Temp setting 5 is Medium Heat.

If a recipe states it needs to cook on Mid Low or Medium Low, set the temperature dial on 3, 4, or a bit lower than 5.

If a recipe states it needs to cook on Mid High or Medium High, set the temperature dial on 6, 7, or a bit lower than 8.

If a recipe states it needs to Simmer, set the temperature dial so a few bubbles come to the surface of the liquid every 2 seconds. Lower the temperature setting if it exceeds a few bubbles every 2 seconds.

Different stoves or stove tops cook or heat a little differently. Some stoves and stovetops heat up faster than others. Pay attention and learn what works best with your particular stove and your pots and pans.

If food items are cooking so fast that they start to burn, simply turn the heat setting down. If food items cook very slowly, then simply turn the temperature setting up higher.

If you have a recipe that shows temperatures in Celsius and you need to convert to Fahrenheit, or the recipe is in Fahrenheit and you need to convert to Celsius, the conversion chart is below.

Temperature conversion chartHere is a temperature conversion chart you can use while cooking.
Fahrenheit to Celsius.
500F = 260C
475F = 245C
450F = 235C
425F = 220C
400F = 205C
375F = 190C
350F = 180C
325F = 160C
300F = 150C
275F = 135C
250F = 120C
225F = 107C

The type of pan or pot you are using will also respond differently according to how flat it is and also the thickness. Pots and pans made from different types of metals and materials will cook differently too. You basically have to learn your stove or stovetops temperatures by using it in combination with your type of pots and pans.

Stove Top Temperature Control Knob 1 - 6If your temp control knobs are the numbers 1 – 6,
then 3 is medium heat, 1 is lowest heat, and 6 is highest heat.

 

stove top replacement knobsIf you have lost a stove top knob or one has cracked or broken,
replacement knobs can be found here for about 5 to 8 US dollars each.
Click image to browse all stove/oven knobs.

Is your electric oven not heating or having issues with bake, broil, or temp settings? Click here to get help troubleshooting your electric oven that will not heat.

Having issues with the temperature settings on your stove or stove top? Please leave a comment below and we will be happy to help!

4 thoughts on “Stove Top Temperature Control Knobs – What Do The Numbers Relate To? – Low, Medium, High”

  1. Jorge Papaleo

    My electric stove One of front burners gets real hot on low temperature what can I do

  2. We just bought a whirlpool stove/oven. The knobs on the front don’t have numbers on them.
    How do we tell what the temperatures are? We assume when we bought it that the temp
    or numbers 1-9 would appear when we turned on but they didn’t : (

  3. If you search the model number of the electric stovetop on google, you may find a manual or images of one with the numbers still on it. Then, you can see. Otherwise, if you make your own marks on the knobs you can choose to make 5, 7, or 9 marks depending on whatever you want.

  4. I have a 5 burner electric stovetop that the #s have worn off. Can you please tell me how I can get a diagram of the temp. Controls for the 5 burners

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