16
BAKING
(continued)
Preheating
Preheat the oven if the recipe calls for it. Preheat
means bringing the oven up to the specified
temperature before putting the food in the oven.
To preheat, set the oven at the correct temperature—
selecting a higher temperature does not shorten
preheat time.
Preheating is necessary for good results when baking
cakes, cookies, pastry and breads. For most casseroles
and roasts, preheating is not necessary. For ovens
without a preheat indicator light or tone, preheat 10
minutes. After the oven is preheated place the food
in the oven as quickly as possible to prevent heat
from escaping.
Pan Placement
For even cooking and proper browning, there must be
enough room for air circulation in the oven. Baking
results will be better if baking pans are centered as
much as possible rather than being placed to the front
or to the back of the oven.
Pans should not touch each other or the walls of the
oven. Allow 2 to 4 cm (1 to 1
1
⁄
2
″
) space between pans
as well as from the back of the oven, the door and the
sides. If you need to use two shelves, stagger the pans
so one is not directly above the other.
Baking Guides
When using prepared baking mixes, follow package recipe or instructions
for best baking results.
Cookies
When baking cookies, flat cookie sheets (without
sides) produce better-looking cookies. Cookies baked
in a jelly roll pan (short sides all around) may have
darker edges and pale or light browning may occur.
Cookies can be baked on several shelves at the same
time but browning may be uneven because of reduced
air circulation.
Do not use a cookie sheet so large that it touches
the walls or the door of the oven.
Aluminum Foil
Never entirely cover a shelf with aluminum foil.
This will disturb the heat circulation and result in poor
baking. A smaller sheet of foil may be used to catch a
spillover by placing it on a lower shelf several
centimeters below the food.
Do not put aluminum foil on the oven bottom.
