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What is a moderate oven & more quick temperature conversions

Confused when the recipe calls for 'moderate' or 'very slow'? Our guide will clear things up.
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Wondering what a moderate oven temperature is? Or how to convert 375°F to Celsius? Here’s our handy guide to what the different oven temperatures mean in recipes, with conversions for Celsius, Fahrenheit and gas.

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Very slow to moderate to very hot oven temperature guide

  • Very slow = 120°C = 250°F = Gas Mark ½

  • Slow = 150°C = 275-300°F = Gas Mark 1-2

  • Moderately slow = 160°C = 325°F = Gas Mark 3

  • Moderate = 180°C = 350-375°F = Gas Mark 4-5

  • Moderately hot = 200°C = 400°F = Gas Mark 6

  • Hot = 220°C = 425-450°F = Gas Mark 7-8

  • Very hot = 240°C = 475°F = Gas Mark 9

Does the recipe you’re using call for a moderate oven temperature, or only has a Fahrenheit temperature? Use our simple guide and you’ll bake at the correct temperature every time.

Oven temperatures on Women’s Weekly recipes are only a guide for conventional ovens. If you are using a fan-forced oven, check the operating instructions for best results. As a general rule, if you have a fan-forced oven, decrease the temperature by 10-20°C. Recipes might also take slightly less time to bake than specified in recipes.

For optimal results, bake in an oven that has been preheated to the necessary temperature, which typically takes about 10 minutes. Check the preheating instructions, as some ovens have a specific preheat mode while others do not.

Some domestic fan-forced ovens may have “hot spots,” leading to uneven baking. To ensure even browning, adjust as needed—rotate or turn the pans, or switch them between shelves. For baking times of up to 30 minutes, reposition the pans halfway through. For longer baking times, make adjustments every 20 to 30 minutes.

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A guide to ovens (video)

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Classic sweet & savoury oven-baked recipes to try

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Women's Weekly Food

Trusted by home cooks for 90 years, The Australian Women’s Weekly’s Test Kitchen and cookbooks hold a singular place in shaping home cooking within the Australian culinary landscape. Today, the AWW Test Kitchen in Sydney is a thriving hub for food content, connected to two bustling photographic studios where a talented team of Australia’s best recipe developers, art directors, editors and photographers create our world class food content. Our recipes are thoroughly tested and tasted and given the Test Kitchen tick of approval, guaranteeing you’ll get great results in your home kitchen.

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