Unlike the wonderful bloggers at The Kitchn, our baking escapades are amateur, at best. We usually leave the oven light on the entire time we're baking (Yes, it's OK to do that!) to check and make sure everything is rising and browning like it should. Needless to say, we're absolutely lost when that little bulb burns out.

Here's a run-down on how to replace that burnt-out oven light safely and easily—without 1st degree burns or multiple trips to the corner hardware store:

1. Make sure the bulb is the problem.
Sure, the light doesn't come on, but that doesn't mean a burnt-out bulb is to blame. Check and make sure that there's power to the oven—maybe it came unplugged or a circuit shut off. You can also check to see if the problem is the switch located inside the oven door, the one that signals to turn on the light when you open the oven.

2. Buy the (right) bulb.
The easiest way to discover what bulb you need is to check your oven's manual. If it's M.I.A. (because really, who has their home's oven manual lying around?), use an online service like this one. Or alternatively, just follow the rest of these steps to remove the burnt-out bulb and take it to the hardware store with you.

3. Let the oven cool completely and unplug it.
You'll usually discover that the bulb is dead just after you're finished cooking, but it's best to wait until the next day to try and extract it. At least wait for the oven to return to room temperature. It's not absolutely necessary, but to be extra safe you may want to unplug or cut power to your oven.

4. Find the bulb inside the oven.
It's amazing how impossible it can be in some ovens to find the light when it's not on. The bulb is often located behind a shield or cover. You might want to grab a flashlight for this task—and remember not to put any weight on the oven door.

5. Un-clip and unscrew.
Once you find the shield or cover, it should come off with a gentle pull or twist. Some glass covers are surrounded by a wire clip or ring that is screwed in the back. If that's the case, remove the clip and unscrew the glass cover like a jar, taking care not to break it.

6. Screw in the new bulb.
Replace the bulb using a tissue or cotton gloves, then replace the cover or shield. Power the oven on and test out your new oven light!

(Images: Flickr user Tor Hakon under license from Creative Commons, Flickr user Richard Holden under license from Creative Commons, Flickr user Dave 77459 under license from Creative Commons)