# Please help me with my oven burner... **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 3, 2019, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-with-my-oven-burner/828869 "2019-02-03T05:24:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![paulreallyisdeceased](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3ab097/32.png) [@paulreallyisdeceased](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/paulreallyisdeceased)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2019, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-with-my-oven-burner/828869/1 "2019-02-03T05:24:01Z")
I need deep help. I am reaching out- please help me. I cook something in a pot or pan- let’s say the burner control is at 3 o’clock. I go to turn it off- do I turn it directly to ‘off’ in a counter-clockwise motion, or take the long way around clockwise? Because you see the former option _increases_ the heat for a moment, while the latter _reduces_ the heat just before turn-off. The former can add up to a higher electric bill, while the latter takes more time…O M G I need help with this never-ending situation. Not sure why I posted here- in MundaneLand- took a wrong turn I reckon. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2019, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-with-my-oven-burner/828869/2 "2019-02-03T05:56:18Z")
That’s really sad, dude. I wouldn’t worry about the increase in fuel costs, it could add up to, IDK, 2 cents. Time is relative. Or use the microwave. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2019, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-with-my-oven-burner/828869/3 "2019-02-03T06:29:40Z")
More time? The key to the answer is multi-tasking: remember you have two hands, two feet, ears, vocal cords, eyes, nose (smell), mouth, brain…: what else could you be doing the same time as you are turning this knob? ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2019, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-with-my-oven-burner/828869/4 "2019-02-03T06:41:19Z")
Yeah, I would say turn it whatever direction makes the burner turn off the fastest. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2019, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-with-my-oven-burner/828869/5 "2019-02-03T07:01:38Z")
If the switch is at 3 o’clock and you want to save electricity, turn it to 2 o’clock, go back in time and get all your electricity back!! ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2019, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-with-my-oven-burner/828869/6 "2019-02-03T23:00:29Z")
You turn it down, then off. Not off, then down. Because switching large currents is more likely to damage the equipment. (OK, I work with DC, but it’s ingrained.) ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2019, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-with-my-oven-burner/828869/7 "2019-02-03T23:13:03Z")
> [@TokyoBayer](#): > > If the switch is at 3 o’clock and you want to save electricity, turn it to 2 o’clock, go back in time and get all your electricity back!! Doesn’t work because it’s five o’clock somewhere. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2019, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-with-my-oven-burner/828869/8 "2019-02-03T23:32:20Z")
The true trick to saving electricity is to **unplug the stove** , _then_ turn the knob. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2019, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-with-my-oven-burner/828869/9 "2019-02-03T23:45:08Z")
I hope the OP didn’t gas himself with his stove. ‘paureallyisdeceased’ has gone quiet. ---
**Author:** ![dba\_Fred](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c37758/32.png) [@dba\_Fred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dba_Fred)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2019, 8:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-with-my-oven-burner/828869/10 "2019-02-04T08:04:08Z")
The Electricity Police are currently grilling the OP. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2019, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-with-my-oven-burner/828869/11 "2019-02-04T14:09:16Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > The true trick to saving electricity is to **unplug the stove** , _then_ turn the knob. Safety first: Flip the circuit breaker, pull the plug and _then_ turn the knob. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2019, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-with-my-oven-burner/828869/12 "2019-02-04T14:51:30Z")
I suggest you switch from electric to gas.