220°C / 428°F OVEN TEMPERATURE GUIDE

220°C is 428°F, Gas Mark 7, and 200°C fan/convection. Classified as a Very Hot Oven — the maximum standard temperature for most domestic ovens and the highest Gas 7 setting. This is the temperature for Yorkshire pudding(requires 220°C — no lower), maximum pork crackling, and theinitial roast blast before reducing. 428°F sits between the US standards425°F (218°C) and 450°F (232°C) — effectively the same as 425°F.

CELSIUS

220°C

conventional

FAHRENHEIT

428°F

≈ 425°F · not 450°F

GAS MARK

Gas 7

highest standard mark

FAN / CONVECT

200°C

−20°C from conv.

✅ 220°C ≈ 425°F (technically 428°F — 2°C above 425°F, completely interchangeable). For US 425°F recipes: use 220°C with no time adjustment.

⚠ 220°C ≠ 450°F. 450°F = 232°C — 12°C hotter. If a US recipe requires 450°F, use the highest setting your oven reaches (often 220–240°C).

WHAT TO COOK AT 220°C (428°F)

220°C is the maximum heat most home cooks will ever use. At this temperature, the Maillard reaction and steam-based processes operate at their domestic peak. Yorkshire pudding demands this exact temperature — no lower will work reliably. Crackling reaches its maximum blistering rate. Bread achieves its most dramatic oven spring. This is the temperature where cooking becomes irreversible in minutes — everything at 220°C needs watching closely.

RECIPE TIMING GUIDE AT 220°C

Yorkshire pudding

20–25 min

Smoking hot fat essential. Do not open oven in first 15 min. Dramatic puff and rise.

Pork crackling (maximum blast)

15–20 min

After slow roast. Skin fully blistered within 15 min at 220°C. Watch every 5 min.

Initial roast blast (any joint)

20 min

Start any roast at 220°C to sear. Then reduce to 180°C for the remainder.

Oven-baked chips (thick-cut)

30–35 min

Maximum crispness. Par-boil 5 min, fluff edges well, hot oil, 220°C, flip halfway.

Bread (oven spring phase)

First 15 min

Load at 220°C for maximum spring, then reduce to 200°C for the crust phase.

Sausages (high heat)

20–25 min

Split and caramelised skin. Turn once halfway through for even colour.

Roasted cherry tomatoes (fast)

12–15 min

Burst, charred, intensely sweet. Concentrated flavour — watch closely at 220°C.

Halloumi (oven-roasted)

12–16 min

Golden, slightly charred exterior. Flip halfway. Only high heat achieves this.

Calzone / folded pizza

14–18 min

Sealed dough needs intense heat to cook through and colour the outside.

Whole baked camembert

18–22 min

Rind golden, cheese fully molten inside. Score top, add thyme and garlic.

220°C is unforgiving. Never leave anything unattended. Minutes matter at this temperature.

220°C ACROSS DIFFERENT OVEN TYPES

220°C

Conventional (fan off)

Maximum standard setting. The highest Gas 7 temperature — Yorkshire pudding, crackling, and initial roast blasts are the primary uses. Preheat 20 minutes minimum.

200°C

Fan / Convection

Reduce by 20°C. 200°C fan is equivalent to conventional 220°C and often gives more even results — the fan distributes heat across the oven, avoiding cold spots that can prevent Yorkshire puddings from rising evenly.

210°C

Fan-assisted (partial fan)

Reduce by 10°C. Very hot fan-assisted mode — good for chips and high-heat roasting where the fan helps dry surfaces.

Gas 7

Gas Mark

Gas Mark 7 = 220°C. The highest standard British gas mark. Most gas oven recipes that require Gas 7 mean 220°C — Yorkshire pudding, crackling, initial roasting.

Roasting oven (top shelf or floor)

AGA / Rayburn

Top shelf or floor of the roasting oven reaches 220°C+. Yorkshire puddings on the floor of the roasting oven (hottest point) are a classic AGA technique.

YORKSHIRE PUDDING — THE RULES AT 220°C

✓ What you MUST do

Preheat oven to 220°C — minimum

Below 210°C they will not rise properly

Fat must be smoking hot

Heat oil in the tin for 5–8 min in the oven before pouring batter

Batter at room temperature

Cold batter cools the fat too much — make it 1 hour ahead

Fill tins only ⅓ to ½ full

Overfilling prevents the dramatic rise

Bake for full 20–25 min

They look done before they are — finish the time

✗ What you must NEVER do

Open the oven door in the first 15 min

Cold air collapses the risen structure before proteins set

Use cold batter straight from the fridge

Chills the fat, prevents steam generation

Use fat that is not smoking hot

Batter sinks into cool fat instead of steaming upward

Open the tin before serving

Deflates immediately once cold air hits

Use a temperature below 220°C

Steam generation too slow — flat result guaranteed

IS YOUR OVEN ACCURATE AT 220°C?

Oven runs hot

  • Crackling burns before blistering fully
  • Yorkshire puddings burn on top
  • Chips blacken at edges before fluffy
  • Initial blast scorches surface before interior cooks

Fix: Set dial to 203–208°C

Oven runs cool

  • Yorkshire puddings flat after 25 min
  • Crackling stays leathery even at 20 min
  • Chips pale and soft
  • Oven cannot reach temperature at all

Fix: Set dial to maximum; verify with thermometer

Oven accurate

  • Yorkshire puddings doubled in size by 20 min
  • Crackling blistered at 15 min
  • Chips deep golden at 32 min
  • Initial blast colours roast in 20 min

Fix: Use 220°C as written

At 220°C, oven accuracy is binary — either it reaches the required heat or Yorkshire puddings will not rise. An oven thermometer (£5–10 / $8–15) confirms your maximum. Ovens lose calibration over time — a thermometer reading 195°C when the dial says 220°C explains years of flat Yorkshire pudding.

FULL OVEN TEMPERATURE REFERENCE TABLE

°C°FGas MarkFan °COven typeBest for
160°C320°FGas 3140°CVery SlowMeringues, cheesecakes, custards
170°C338°FGas 3–4150°CSlowVictoria sponge, banana bread
180°C356°FGas 4160°CModerateCakes, biscuits, roast chicken
190°C374°FGas 5170°CMod. HotPuff pastry, quiche, roast potatoes
200°C392°FGas 6180°CHotBread, roast beef, jacket potatoes
210°C410°FGas 6–7190°CVery HotPizza, sourdough, crispy chicken
215°C419°FGas 7195°CVery HotCrackling, chicken thighs, beef fillet
220°C428°FGas 7200°CVery HotYorkshire pudding, max crackling, initial blast

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

OTHER OVEN TEMPERATURES

MORE BAKING CALCULATORS

Was this calculator helpful?

220°C = 428°F = Gas Mark 7 = 200°C fan · Maximum domestic oven temperature · ≈ 425°F (NOT 450°F = 232°C) · Yorkshire pudding, crackling, initial roast blast · Preheat 20 minutes