15
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.
Baking Pans
Pan Placement
Use the proper baking pan. The type of finish on
the pan determines the amount of browning that
will occur.
• Dark, rough or dull pans absorb heat resulting in a
browner, crisper crust. Use this type for pies.
• Shiny, bright and smooth pans reflect heat, resulting
in a lighter, more delicate browning. Cakes and
cookies require this type of pan.
• Glass baking dishes also absorb heat. When baking
in glass baking dishes, the temperature may need to
be reduced by 25°F.
• If you are using dark non-stick pans, you may find
that you need to reduce the oven temperature 25°F.
to prevent over-browning.
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 1- to 1
1
⁄
2
-inch 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.
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.
Do not use a cookie sheet so large that it touches the
walls or the door of the oven. Never entirely cover a
shelf with a large cookie sheet.
For best results during baking, use only one cookie
sheet in the oven at a time.
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