4
Practical Cooking Advice
Preheating
If the oven must be preheated (generally this is the case when
cooking leavened foods) the
“ventilation” mode can be
used to reach the desired temperaure as quickly as possible in
order to save on energy.
Once the food has been placed in the oven, the most appropriate
cooking mode can then be selected.
Cooking on More Than One Rack
If you have to cook on more than one rack at the same time, use
only the
“ventilation” mode, as it is the only one which is
appropriate for this type of cooking.
•
The oven has 5 rack heights. When cooking with the ventilation
mode, use a combination of two of the three central rack
heights. The topmost and bottommost rack heights are
subject to more direct contact with the hot air being circulated
in the oven, and using these levels could result in more deli-
cate food being burned;
•
In general, use the second and fourth rack heights for foods
which require more heat. Fore example, when cooking roasts
together with other foods, put the roast at the second rack
height and use the fourth for more delicate food;
•
When cooking dishes which require different temperatures
and/or cooking times, set the temperature to that between
the temperatures required for the two dishes and place the
more delicate food at the fourth rack height. Then remove
the dish with a shorter cooking time first;
•
Use the drip pan at the bottom rack height and the broiler at
the top;
•
When cooking pastries on two racks at the same time, use
the third and the fourth rack heights, not the second because
it receives to much heat.
Using the Grill
The Multifunction oven offers you three different grilling modes.
Use the
“grill” setting for small portions. Although electrical
consumption is a mere 1200 W, it allows you to grill small portions
like toasted sandwiches, hotdogs, etc., to perfection.
Position the food under the center of the grill because only the
central part of the top heating element is turned on. Food placed
in the corners will not cook properly.
The
“Double Grill” setting allows you to grill along the entire
surface area of the grill. Use this mode when you have food
distributed uniformly throughout the oven and you would like to
brown the items uniformly.
The
“Ventilated Double Grill” is extremely useful for grilling
foods rapidly, as the distribution of heat makes it possible not
only to brown the surface, but also to cook the bottom part.
This mode can also be used for browning foods at the end of the
cooking process.
When using any of the three grilling modes, it is recommended
that the thermostat knob be turned to the highest setting, as it is
the most efficient way to use the grill (which utilizes infrared rays).
If necessary, however, the thermostat can be set to lower
temperatures by simply turning the knob to the desired setting.
When utilizing the grill, place the rack at the lower levels (see
cooking table). To catch grease or fat and prevent smoke, place
a drip pan at the bottom rack level.
Grilling must be done with the door partially open to avoid
increasing the grilling time.
Note: When using the “Ventilated Double Grill”, the oven
door must be closed.
Baking Pastries
When baking pastries, always place them in the oven after it has
been preheated. Make sure you wait until the oven has been
preheated thoroughly (the red "E" light will turn off). Do not open
the door while the pastry is cooking in order to prevent it from
dropping.
Batters must not be too runny, as this will result in prolonged
cooking times. In general:
Pastry is too dry
Increase the temperature by 10°C and reduce the
cooking time.
Pastry dropped
Use less liquid or lower the temperature by 10°C.
Pastry is too dark on top
Place it on a lower rack, lower the temperature, and
increase the cooking time.
Cooked well on the inside but sticky on the outside
Use less liquid, lower the temperature, and increase the
cooking time.
The pastry sticks to the pan
Grease the pan well and sprinkle it with a dusting of
flour.
I used more than one level and they are not all at
the same cooking point
Use a lower temperature setting. It is not necessary to
remove the food from all the racks at the same time.
Cooking Pizza
For best results when cooking pizza use the "ventilation mode"
:
•
Preheat the oven for at least 10 minutes;
•
Use a light aluminum pizza pan, placing it on the broiler
supplied with the oven. If the drip pan is used, this will extend
the cooking time, making it difficult to get a crispy crust;
•
Do not open the oven door frequently while the pizza is
cooking;
•
If the pizza has a lot of toppings (three of four), it is
recommended that the mozzarella cheese be placed on top
halfway through the cooking process;
•
When cooking more than one pizza at the same time, use
rack heights 2 and 4 at a temperature of 220°C. Preheat the
oven for at least 10 minutes. In general, the pizza at rack
height 4 cooks slightly slower. Therefore, remove the pizza
at rack level 2 first and leave the other in the oven for a few
minutes more.