The element is the most vital part of an electric oven. Without it, your food will remain uncooked and cold - so when your cooker element breaks, it's important to find the correct replacement quickly.

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Still, when you're replacing your oven's element, it's nice to have a rough idea of how long you can expect the new one to last. And what caused your old cooker element to break in the first place, anyway?

What's the average lifespan of an oven element?

As an estimate, most cooker elements should last for about 5 years. Of course, this is dependent on the health and overall quality of your oven; the better your oven, the longer its parts should last.

Why did my oven element break?

Sometimes a cooker element will fail because it has just suffered a lot of wear and tear. As the wires inside a cooker elements get hotter, they expand; when they cool, they shrink back down. This repeated expanding and shrinking can cause damage to the wire over time, meaning that your oven may eventually break for no apparent reason.

Elements can also break if they overheat. This may happen if your oven's thermostat is malfunctioning - the thermostat is supposed to switch off the element once the oven has reached the desired temperature, but if that doesn't happen, the element may continue to heat up until it breaks.

Read More: How Does a Thermostat Work?

Remember: oven elements aren't interchangeable. If yours breaks, you'll need to buy a new one that's compatible with your appliance. If you need to replace your cooker element, go to the Cooker Spare Parts homepage and enter your cooker's manufacturer and model number - then we'll show you a comprehensive list of compatible spares.

Alternatively you can search our browse our oven elements here. We also stock various grill elements.

If you have any questions, please feel free to get in touch with our knowledgeable customer service team!

As the days get warmer, we want fresher, lighter recipes. Winter warmers are on their way out, and the spring months bring the promise of fresh produce, outdoor dining and plenty of sweet treats to keep the whole family happy.

Read on for three recipe ideas that include our favourite spring food trends - great no matter how much you plan on using your oven!

The last supper

When spring arrives and the weather begins to get warmer, many families swap out comforting roast dinners in favour of fun barbecues and outdoor dining.

However, spring does also include Easter - a great opportunity to give the roast a send-off before you switch to more summery dinners. Roast lamb is a favourite in the spring; give it a fresh new flavour by incorporating Mediterranean ingredients, which are perfect for warmer weather.

We really love this Greek roast lamb recipe for an Easter Sunday roast. Instead of roast potatoes, new potatoes add a fresh flavour that will convert any sceptic. It's a firm family favourite that's perfect for spring celebrations, with seasonal veg and a twist on a classic favourite.

Hot off the press

If you're not a fan of hot cross buns...well, we implore you to reconsider. Are you aware that you can now get several different flavours of hot cross bun? If the traditional cinnamon and raisins aren't your thing, chocolate chip versions have begun to appear in supermarkets, and these may well convert you. Even if you're a die-hard traditionalist, it's good to try these new twists on the timeless Easter treat. We've been eyeing up these chocolate orange ones from Waitrose.

If you feel like trying out some seasonal baking, why not try making your own hot cross buns? It's the perfect way to use your oven and practice for The Great British Bake Off.

Mint to be

Always a controversial ice-cream flavour (perhaps its association with toothpaste has tainted public opinion?), mint has many uses beyond choc-chip. Mint leaves have a milder flavour that leans more savoury and is a far cry from your dentist's favourite mouthwash. If you've ever had a mojito, you'll know it's a lightly refreshing taste that still has a little earthy hit.

What's great about mint is how well it pairs with other seasonal favourites. Think lamb with mint sauce, or green veggies with mint; these are classic combinations that are miles away from ice cream. Greek and Middle Eastern cuisines rely on this herb, and we reckon spring is the perfect time to try tabbouleh. Serve warm as a fresh side dish to meat, or add feta cheese for a great lunch on the go. It's also a no-cook classic - perfect if your oven is out of use. Keep your eye out for mint in other recipes; you'll be surprised how versatile it can be.

If your oven needs to be repaired before the spring festivities can begin, visit the Cooker Spare Parts homepage and browse our huge range of high-quality cooker spares.

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