Most Searched Conversion:
💡 Insight: Gas Mark 4 (180°C) dominates British baking - it's the "Goldilocks" temperature!
Complete Gas Mark Conversion Chart
| Gas Mark | °C | °C (Fan) | °F | Description | Best For | Usage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ¼ | 110°C | 90°C | 225°F | Very Cool | Meringues, drying |
|
| ½ | 120°C | 100°C | 250°F | Very Cool | Slow cooking |
|
| 1 | 140°C | 120°C | 275°F | Cool | Rich fruit cakes |
|
| 2 | 150°C | 130°C | 300°F | Cool | Cheesecakes |
|
| 3 | 165°C | 145°C | 325°F | Warm | Gentle baking |
|
| 4 ⭐ | 180°C | 160°C | 350°F | Moderate | Most cakes, cookies |
|
| 5 | 190°C | 170°C | 375°F | Moderately Hot | Scones, pastries |
|
| 6 | 200°C | 180°C | 400°F | Hot | Bread, roasting |
|
| 7 | 220°C | 200°C | 425°F | Hot | Puff pastry, Yorkshire pudding |
|
| 8 | 230°C | 210°C | 450°F | Very Hot | Pizza |
|
| 9 | 240°C | 220°C | 475°F | Very Hot | Searing, grilling |
|
💡 Pro Tip: The "Usage" column shows how often each temperature appears in British recipes. Gas Mark 4 (180°C) is used in 85% of cake recipes - it's the British baker's best friend!
Gas Mark 1-3 (140-165°C)
Result: Moist, dense, pale color
Perfect for: Cheesecakes, rich fruit cakes
Gas Mark 4-5 (180-190°C)
Result: Balanced moisture, golden brown
Perfect for: Most cakes, cookies, scones
Gas Mark 6-9 (200-240°C)
Result: Crispy, deep brown crust
Perfect for: Bread, pizza, pastries
🔥 Cake Domed & Cracked
Cause: Temperature too high
Fix: You probably didn't adjust for fan oven. Gas Mark 4 = 160°C in fan, not 180°C!
→ Learn about fan oven adjustments🍞 Bottom Burnt, Top Raw
Cause: Gas oven hot spots
Fix: Gas ovens heat from bottom. Move rack up one level and reduce to Gas Mark 3.
→ Adjust pan sizes for even baking⏱️ Took Much Longer
Cause: Temperature too low
Fix: Check if you over-adjusted. Gas Mark 4 is 180°C conventional, not fan!
→ Check altitude adjustments🧁 Dense & Heavy Texture
Cause: Wrong Gas Mark interpretation
Fix: "Moderate oven" means Gas Mark 4, not 3. British recipes assume you know this!
→ Professional baking ratios
"Temperature is everything in baking. Get it wrong, and even the best recipe will fail." - Mary Berry
Victoria Sponge
20-25 minutes
💡 The most important temperature in British baking!
Lemon Drizzle Cake
35-40 minutes
💡 Same temp, longer time for loaf shape
Classic Scones
10-12 minutes
💡 High heat for the perfect rise!
Rich Fruit Cake
2-3 hours
💡 Low and slow prevents burning
Signature Bake
Safe, reliable temperature for most cakes
Technical Challenge
Tests temperature knowledge
Showstopper
Often includes pastry elements
Paul Hollywood's Tip: "If in doubt, Gas Mark 4. It's the Swiss Army knife of baking temperatures."
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Gas Mark 4 in Celsius?
Gas Mark 4 equals 180°C (350°F) in a conventional oven. If you're using a fan-assisted oven, reduce this to 160°C. This is the most common baking temperature in British recipes, used for most cakes, cookies, and general baking. It's often called a "moderate" oven in older cookbooks.
What is Gas Mark 6 in Celsius?
Gas Mark 6 equals 200°C (400°F) in a conventional oven, or 180°C in a fan oven. This "hot" temperature is perfect for bread baking, roasting vegetables, and pastries that need a good rise. It's the second most common temperature in British baking.
How do I convert Gas Mark to C for fan ovens?
First convert Gas Mark to Celsius, then reduce by 20°C for fan ovens. For example: Gas Mark 4 = 180°C conventional = 160°C fan. Gas Mark 6 = 200°C conventional = 180°C fan. This adjustment is crucial because fan ovens circulate hot air more efficiently, cooking food faster and more evenly.
Why do British recipes still use Gas Marks?
Gas Marks originated with the "Regulo" gas regulator in early 1900s Britain when gas ovens were standard. Though most UK homes now have electric ovens with Celsius displays, many traditional recipes and cookbooks still use Gas Marks. It's part of British culinary heritage, and many bakers find the 1-9 scale simpler than remembering exact temperatures.
What does "moderate oven" mean in old recipes?
"Moderate oven" almost always means Gas Mark 4 (180°C/350°F). Similarly, "cool oven" means Gas Mark 1-2, "warm oven" means Gas Mark 3, "hot oven" means Gas Mark 6-7, and "very hot oven" means Gas Mark 8-9. These terms were common before standardized temperature controls.
Related Temperature & Baking Tools:
🌡️ Master British Baking Temperatures!
Now you know the secret: Gas Mark 4 = 180°C (160°C fan). Never let temperature confusion ruin your British bakes again!