Questions about selecting, operating, and maintaining conventional and convection ovens.
14
votes
7answers
8k views
Why is it necessary to preheat an oven?
Just about every recipe advises to preheat the oven before using it. I often forget this, but luckily this doesn't seem to matter all that much. Hence my question: why would it be necessary to preheat ...
7
votes
4answers
2k views
Why do some instructions tell you how long to preheat an oven for?
Why is it that on some directions it says something like "preheat an oven for 400 for 10 minutes"?
Is it not enough to preheat the oven until the oven signals (i.e. usually with a beep) that the ...
3
votes
2answers
3k views
Can microwave safe glass vessels be used in an electric oven?
Can microwave safe glass vessels be used in an electric oven?
I have this oven: http://www.cromaretail.com/Bajaj-28-Litres-2800TMC-Oven-Toaster-Grill-%28White%29-pc-469-468.aspx
I just checked and ...
8
votes
2answers
408 views
Where can I buy borosilicate (Pyrex) bakeware in the U.S.?
Because of the shattering dangers of the apparently inferior lime glass that Pyrex uses for manufacturing in the U.S. as exposed by Consumer Reports, I'd like to replace my Pyrex with borosilicate ...
1
vote
3answers
181 views
Why does my bread burn at the bottom before it is done?
I bake my bread for about half an hour. At the 15 minute mark, the bottom is already slightly burnt, but the bread is clearly not done.
My oven doesn't have a thermometer, so I don't know exactly what ...
26
votes
13answers
20k views
How should I cook bacon in an oven?
I've heard of people cooking bacon in an oven by laying the strips out on a cookie sheet. When using this method, how long should I cook the bacon for, and at what temperature?
1
vote
1answer
4k views
What should be the material of the vessels to be used in an electric oven?
Could you please provide a general guide figure out if a piece of cookware can be used in the oven, based on what material it is made of?
16
votes
3answers
19k views
Is it normal to see flames inside my self-cleaning oven?
I spilled some sauce, cheese, and pepperoni in the oven last night while trying to transfer some homemade pizza from the pizza peel onto the pizza stone, so I decided to clean it today.
I wiped the ...
2
votes
1answer
104 views
How to build steam in the oven for getting an oven spring?
From: What makes a bread either close or open crumbed/textured?
Oven spring
Yeasts continue producing CO2 until they die at 60C/140F. Also, gasses
expand with heat, so it will also help ...
17
votes
7answers
16k views
When baking, is it better to use a gas or electric oven?
I'm looking for an oven and wanted to know if there is any difference between a gas or electric oven when it comes to baking things like cakes, biscuits and scones?
5
votes
2answers
823 views
Can you use a convection oven to make a Soufflé?
I separated this question from the original as there were no answers.
1
vote
2answers
3k views
Difference between conventional oven with fan assisted and convection with fan assisted?
For all my recipes I have been baking using convention plus fan assisted option and my bakes turn out to be good. But now I have moved to new house where there is a convection oven. I tried my cookie ...
2
votes
2answers
125 views
Can I do anything to make my gas oven better?
I have an old gas oven at home which is generally pretty rubbish at most things. The temperature in the oven is wildly off compared to what the dial says it should be; there are hot/cold spots ...
3
votes
1answer
965 views
Why did my roast beef turn out chewy and not tender? Where did I go wrong?
I recently made an Oven Round Roast in the oven and I followed directions quite well. I would really like to know where I went wrong.
The roast was 1.4kg and relatively round in shape, it was also ...
8
votes
12answers
2k views
Is it possible to bake a cake without an oven?
I don't have an oven; is there any way to simulate what an oven does with any other tools available at my home? In particular I would like to be able to bake cakes.
-2
votes
2answers
156 views
How hot is your oven? [closed]
I have a big dispute with an electrician if the oven he supposedly fixed works or not. Problem is I think it reaches only about 150 C (300F) degrees when it indicates it has reached 250 C. So at 250 C ...
2
votes
4answers
205 views
Do breads always have to be baked in some vessels in an oven? If yes, then what shaped vessels would those be?
Is it even necessary to use a vessel for baking breads (assuming I don't care about the shape of the bread)?
In this link for (example) French bread I saw that the dough is not in liquid form, so it ...
9
votes
2answers
862 views
What are the pros and cons of Convection Microwave Ovens?
Are convection microwave ovens a useful item to have? Or are they not good as a microwave and not good as a convection oven either?
I understand that a regular convection oven helps to cook things ...
2
votes
1answer
176 views
What are the benefits, if any, of using a pizza stone in a toaster oven?
My Oven Toaster Grill.
From here: What kind of bakery items do not get horribly affected by electricity going off when the item is still in oven?
Toaster ovens have far less thermal mass to ride ...
3
votes
5answers
14k views
Baking cakes in the Microwave ovens as compared to Electric ovens
Is there a difference in the output or in the procedure when baking cakes in the Microwave ovens as compared to Electric ovens?
What are the basic and crucial differences found among cakes baked in ...
2
votes
4answers
209 views
What kind of bakery items do not get horribly affected by electricity going off when the item is still in oven?
I have a nice oven but I have stopped making cakes for the reason being that if electricity goes off in between I'll have to throw the cake.
Now, if I prepare brown/multigrain breads which need whole ...
2
votes
1answer
208 views
Is there a way to heat a precooked ham in a 425 degree oven?
Is it possible to protect a precooked ham while heating in an over hot oven?
For example is it possible to heat a precooked while cooking a turkey at 425 by say wrapping it in a double layer of foil, ...
5
votes
2answers
358 views
Differences between the oven stone and the pizza oven?
I'm undecided between buying an oven stone, or a pizza oven (like http://j.mp/YXeiTr).
I can't find any helpful suggestion - does anybody have any comment?
I'm aware of the major differences - for ...
4
votes
3answers
3k views
Why do my macarons become lopsided?
I've recently started making macarons using the Italian meringue method. I got this recipe from a macaron class I attended at the Waitrose Cooking School (in the UK). When I made them at my class, ...
6
votes
2answers
177 views
Baking without a thermometer?
So, I'm staying in a location that has a gas oven with no discernable thermostat, and there are no thermometers in sight (oven, meat, or otherwise). The situation is such that I can't just run out and ...
2
votes
1answer
1k views
The best way to roast silverside of beef in th oven?
I have a fairly large piece of beef (2.4kg) with very little fat on it. I was wondering what the best way to roast without drying it out would be please?
I know the temptation is to say that it needs ...
9
votes
3answers
558 views
Can I use my oven for sous-vide
I have an electric oven which has a temperature setting, starting at 50c and goes up in 5 degree increments; [50,55,60,65,...]. It also has a fan to circulate air. (pictured below)
Will this be ...
0
votes
1answer
172 views
Can you put All-Clad LTD2 in the oven?
Just got an All-Clad LTD2 saute pan and I was wandering if it is save to put it in the oven. Thanks
3
votes
4answers
1k views
Why do you slice whole ducks in half when roasting but not for other poultry?
Last time I made a roast, I used a recipe from BBC good food. Since I have had luck with those recipes, I decided to go for their roast duck recipe.
That recipe involves cutting the whole duck in ...
7
votes
4answers
533 views
domestic bread steaming -> will my stone be okay?
Trying to maximise the oven rise of my loaf, and think I will try the steaming method, but what is the best way to do this in a domestic electric oven, and will could it damage my bread stone?
4
votes
1answer
157 views
Which fuels (burning materials) are healthy safe in a wood fired oven?
I have recently made a brick wood fired oven. It's a black / dirt / Roman / traditional type of oven: where you burn the fuel (typically wood) in the same chamber where you put the food to be cooked. ...
2
votes
3answers
2k views
Do I need a special oven to cook a pizza as evenly as the chain stores?
When I buy a pizza from Pizza Hut or Domino's, it has a crispy base with a soft cooked middle and a properly done top.
When I make a pizza in my own oven (electric, fan assisted, maximum 230° C), I ...
2
votes
1answer
309 views
How long do oven elements last under high usage?
If someone were to use their oven to cook five-hour pot roasts every 2-3 days, how long would the elements last before they would need to be replaced?
5
votes
6answers
25k views
Fastest way to cook a baked potato?
Baked potatoes are great as everyone knows but what is fastest way to cook them (obviously preserving the taste).
Normally I do about 10 minutes in the microwave and then in the oven till the top ...
5
votes
4answers
1k views
Should I flip a roasting chicken in lieu of having a rotisserie?
I don't have a rotisserie, but would love to impart some of the flavor that seems to come with rotisserie cooking. The rotisserie chickens I've had were significantly juicier and more flavorful than ...
9
votes
3answers
5k views
What should I do if power goes out while I am baking cake/cookies?
If I am baking cake or cookies in the oven and I lose power, what should I do?
Does it make to sense to leave the cake/cookies in the oven until the power comes back on, or should I take them out?
...
2
votes
2answers
388 views
Potato parts in the oven
Yesterday I asked advice how to prepare nice potato parts. I was recommended to not remove the peel/skin and cut the potato in parts. I was also said to use the oven, instead of a pan and ...
3
votes
2answers
1k views
What is the right use of bake and broil?
I look inside the oven and realize that when baking the heat comes from below and when broiling the heat comes from the top.
Although there's a intuition which says that the oven is small and so ...
2
votes
1answer
467 views
Reheating in the oven: why and how?
I recently made some pan-fried chicken breast halves. When I wanted to reheat the leftovers I tried to do it in the conventional oven instead of the microwave oven as usual. Following some ...
4
votes
4answers
4k views
Stew in the oven or on the stove, does it make a difference?
What is the advantage (if any) of finalizing a stew or other slow-cooked meals in the oven instead of on a hob?
A lot of recipes tells you to set the pot in the oven to cook for x hours after the ...
1
vote
1answer
297 views
Cooking temperature and time adjustments for cooking several whole fish in a conventional oven?
I've successfully prepared one whole fish using a roasting pan and conventional oven, and now would like to make four to six of them at once for a gathering. Is there a rule of thumb to adjust my ...
3
votes
2answers
2k views
What oven should I buy, which is appropriate for baking?
Three months ago I moved to a new apartment. In my old apartment with my old oven, my baked goods turned out pretty well. However, since I moved, my baked goods vary from almost-good to ...
4
votes
3answers
990 views
Are oven bags anything more than disposable dutch ovens?
A few months back, on a whim, I bought plastic oven bags. I'd never seen them before so I was curious. According to notes on the packaging I can cook chicken, beef and pretty much anything else in ...
1
vote
1answer
5k views
Are glass jars from the supermarket oven safe?
I recently discovered from the working class foodies video on french onion soup that mugs are oven safe, or at least their mugs and my mugs seem to be by experimentation. I also happen to be one of ...
2
votes
3answers
843 views
Had a small oven fire, how do i get the smoke smell out of the oven?
I was baking a buttermilk pie. I accidentally spilled it as i pushed the oven rack in. The oven caught fire. Now there is a slight smoke smell in the kitchen. I need to get rid of that smell.
6
votes
1answer
5k views
Fan bake vs bake
Are there any general rules to follow when choosing between bake and fan bake to cook something in the oven? What effect does each have and what are the advantages and disadvantages of both?
2
votes
2answers
594 views
Calibrating a home gas oven
We have a new gas oven which is consistently 30-40F low compared to the dial setting (we've checked with two oven thermometers). While we can get it calibrated as a service call by the manufacturer, ...
1
vote
2answers
408 views
Are there any 27" residential ovens that can accomodate a 3/4 sheet pan?
I am moving into a house that needs a new oven. We aren't going to renovate the entire kitchen; we just want to swap out the oven. The current cabinet space for the oven can hold at most a 27 inch ...
3
votes
1answer
345 views
Toaster oven features - convection/rotisserie
I need some help in buying a toaster oven:
My needs are primarily to roast/grill vegetables, occasional baking (bread, brownies, muffins). I am vegetarian and this is for a 2 person home. I'd like it ...
-1
votes
1answer
112 views
Mac n Cheese Oven Location [closed]
Similar to my previous question about the correct location of Pizza, where do I insert my baking tray for Mac n Cheese ?
My oven is :
2 element (Top Bottom) electric oven with no fan.
Previous ...
