20
DEAlING wItH cookING proBlEMs
(see also solving problems)
problem
causes
remedies
uneven cooking:
• Incorrect shelf position.
• Oven tray too large.
• Trays not centralised.
• Air flow in oven uneven.
• Grill dish affecting thermostat.
– select shelf that puts food in the centre
of the oven .
– Experiment with other trays or dishes .
– centre trays .
– rotate food during cooking .
– remove grill dish from oven on
bake modes .
Baked products too brown
on top:
• Oven not preheated.
• Baking tins too large for the recipe.
• Baking tins not evenly spaced.
• Products not evenly sized or spaced
on trays .
• Baking temperature too high.
– preheat the oven .
– use correct size tins .
– stagger baking tins at least 3cm
between tins and the oven walls .
– Make into same size and shape,
& spread evenly over trays .
– lower the temperature .
Baked products too brown
on bottom:
• Baking tins too large for the recipe.
• Baking tins are dark metal or glass.
• Food too low in the oven.
• Oven door opened too frequently
during baking .
• Baking temperature too high.
• Grill dish affecting thermostat.
– use correct size tins .
– change to shiny, light tins or lower the
temperature by 10°c .
– cook one shelf higher .
– Don’t open the oven door until at least
half the cooking time has passed .
– lower the temperature .
– remove grill dish from oven on
bake modes .
cakes have a cracked,
thick crust:
• Baking temperature too high.
• Food too high in oven.
• Cake batter over mixed.
• Pan too deep.
• Baking pans dark.
– lower the temperature .
– cook one shelf lower .
– Mix just long enough to combine
ingredients .
– check size of pan and use
recommended size .
– change to shiny pans .
Baked products are pale,
flat and undercooked:
• Baking temperature too low.
• Food too low in oven.
• Baking time too short.
• Incorrect tin size.
– raise the temperature .
– cook one shelf higher .
– Increase cooking time .
– use correct size tin .
cakes fallen in the centre:
• Baking temperature too low.
• Baking time too short.
• Proportions of Ingredients incorrect in
the recipe .
• Opening door too early in baking.
– raise the temperature .
– Increase cooking time .
– check recipe .
– Do not open the door until the last
quarter
of cooking time .
roast meat & potatoes not
browning in fan oven:
• Poor hot air circulation.
• Grill dish affecting thermostat.
– Elevate food onto a rack to allow
air circulation .
– remove grill dish from oven on
bake modes .
Juices running out of meat:
– Do not pierce meat with fork, turn
with tongs .
Grilled meats overcooked on
outside & raw in the centre:
– Grill at lower insert position .
Grilled chops & steaks curling:
– cut into fat every 2cm (1/2”) .
