Yes, you can use your electric oven as a heating element without turning on the fan or light. The primary purpose of an electric oven is to provide a controlled heating environment for baking, roasting, and cooking food. When you set the oven temperature and turn it on, it activates the heating elements inside the oven cavity.
The fan and light in an electric oven serve different purposes:
Fan: The fan in a convection oven circulates the hot air, promoting even heat distribution and faster cooking. If you choose not to use the fan, you are essentially using the oven in conventional mode, which may result in slightly different cooking times and heat distribution.
Light: The light in an oven is primarily for visibility, allowing you to monitor the food while it cooks. It doesn't impact the heating function of the oven.
When you use your electric oven without the fan or light, it will still heat up to the set temperature, and the heating elements will provide the necessary heat to cook your food. Just be aware that without the fan, there may be slight variations in cooking times and potential hotspots in the oven, but it shouldn't significantly affect most recipes.
If you're using a recipe that specifies convection cooking (with the fan on), you can still use your oven without the fan, but you might need to adjust the cooking time or temperature slightly, as the absence of the fan may result in slightly longer cooking times.
In summary, yes, you can use your electric oven as a heating element without the fan or light, but be mindful of potential differences in cooking times and heat distribution compared to when using the oven in convection mode.