Top 7 Secrets How to Bake in Oven
Are you tired of your baked goods not turning out like they do in restaurants? Want to learn how to bake like a pro? Well, you’re in luck! Here are the Top 7 Secrets How to Bake in the Oven.
1. Do not open the oven door
First things first, resist the urge to constantly open the oven door to check on your goodies.
The temperature inside can drop, messing up your final result. This is crucial for delicate dishes like soufflés or macarons.
If you really need to peek, try looking through the glass. If it’s dirty, give it a quick clean. And remember, some dishes require you to open the oven door at certain points.
For example, my Lemon Japanese Souffle Cheesecake or this Baked Dulce de Leche Cheesecake are first baked in a closed oven, and then left to bake for some time in the switched off oven with the door ajar.
So always read your recipes carefully.
2. Avoid overcrowding the oven.
While the oven may seem spacious, it’s important not to cram too many dishes in at once.
Leave some space around your roasting pan or baking dish to allow air to flow freely around each item.
This will help your food cook faster and more evenly.
3. Leave room for air circulation.
Make sure there is at least 5-10 cm of space between ovenproof dishes to ensure proper air circulation.
Avoid letting your baking pans touch the sides of the oven.
4. The best spot for baking.
For perfect muffins, cakes and pies every time, place them in the center of the oven on the middle rack.
This will help them bake evenly and come out just right.
5. Keep your oven clean for success!
It’s crucial to always keep your oven clean.
Leftover crumbs or other debris from previous cooking sessions can prevent your new recipe from turning out as expected.
Dirty heating elements can create uneven hot and cold spots in the oven, leading to burnt or smoked food. This can also cause the oven to overheat.
At the very least, your baked goods will taste like soot.
At worst, attempting a complex recipe in a dirty oven will be a recipe for disaster.
6. Invest in a specialized oven thermometer
Ovens don’t always display the correct temperature.
The actual temperature inside the oven can often be 15-20oC (50-60oF) degrees off from what you set it to.
Some manufacturers even include instructions on how much the actual temperature may vary from the stated one.
So, how can you ensure your complex dishes turn out perfectly?
Simply place a special thermometer in the oven to monitor the actual temperature.
This way, you can be confident that your food is cooking at the right heat level.
If your oven lacks a light or sound signal, the thermometer will alert you when it reaches your desired temperature.
7. Practice makes perfect!
Curious about how to master your oven?
Start baking and roasting, paying close attention to the process and the end result.
This hands-on approach is the best way to familiarize yourself with your oven and unlock the secrets to flawless baking.
Remember, each oven has its own quirks. By recognizing and adapting to them, you’ll become a better cook in no time!
So, next time you’re baking, keep these Top 7 Secrets How to Bake in the Oven in mind and watch your dishes turn out perfectly every time!
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