The phrases "in the oven" and "on the stove" are commonly used to describe the location of food during the cooking process. The difference in prepositions used is primarily due to the structural and functional differences between ovens and stoves.
An oven is an enclosed appliance specifically designed for baking, roasting, or heating food. It typically consists of a compartment with heating elements that surround the food, creating a controlled, heated environment. When you place something inside an oven, it is literally contained within the oven's interior space. Therefore, we use the preposition "in" to indicate the location of the food.
On the other hand, a stove usually refers to a cooktop or a range with burners for cooking food in pots or pans. Unlike an oven, a stove doesn't have an enclosed space where you can physically put something inside. Instead, you place your cookware, such as pots or pans, directly on top of the burners. Since the food is not "inside" the stove but rather on the surface of the stove, we use the preposition "on" to describe its location.
So, in summary, the distinction in prepositions arises from the different physical arrangements of ovens and stoves. "In the oven" refers to the food being enclosed within the oven's interior space, while "on the stove" indicates that the food is on top of the cooktop or range burners.