24
TROUBLESHOOTING
SOLVING BAKING AND ROASTING PROBLEMS
With any oven setting poor results can occur for many reasons other than a
malfunction of the oven. Check the chart below for causes of the most common
problems. Since the size, shape and material of baking utensils directly affect the
baking results, the best solution may be to replace old baking utensils that have
darkened and warped with age and use.
Baking Problem
Cause
Food browns unevenly
•
Oven not preheated
•
Aluminum foil on oven rack or oven bottom
•
Baking utensil too large for recipe
•
Pans touching each other or oven walls
Food too brown on bottom
•
Oven not preheated
•
Using glass, dull or darkened metal pans
•
Incorrect rack position
•
Pans touching each other or oven walls
Food is dry or has shrunk
excessively
•
Oven temperature too high
•
Baking time too long
•
Oven door opened frequently
•
Pan size too large
Food is baking or roasting too
slowly
•
Oven temperature too low
•
Oven not preheated
•
Oven door opened frequently
•
Tightly sealed with aluminum foil
•
Pan size too small
Piecrusts do not brown on
bottom or crust is soggy
•
Baking time not long enough
•
Using shiny steel pans
•
Incorrect rack position
•
Oven temperature is too low
Cakes pale, flat and may not be
done inside
•
Oven temperature too low
•
Incorrect baking time
•
Cake tested too soon
•
Oven door opened too often
•
Pan size may be too large
