The Oven Mistake That Is Guaranteed To Ruin Your Bakes

You and your oven have been working together for years. You know its buttons and knobs like you know the back of your own hand. But there are likely some things that you can do to help this trusty appliance work more effectively.

There are a myriad of oven tips designed to make your life easier and your food taste better. Do you know the secrets behind your oven's rack placement? Sure, the middle rack is the safe bet for most of your cooking needs, but as Whirlpool points out, your oven has other rack positions for a reason. The top region is perfect for broiling, toasting, and "crisping thin foods," while the bottom is ideal when roasting generously-proportioned proteins, like your Thanksgiving turkey. 

Are you guilty of opening that oven door to snatch a glimpse of your food's progress? That's a big no-no. In fact, Rochelle Cooper, of Washington, D.C.'s The Duck & The Peach, told Food & Wine that each peak will cost your oven, "15 to 30 degrees." Instead, turn on the oven light and peer through the glass.

And that's not all. There is another way that you may be misusing your faithful kitchen friend for your baking needs. 

Do you often skip the preheating stage and fire your food into the oven right away? Tsk tsk. You should always preheat your oven. Consultant Chef Rosie Sykes explained to The Guardian that many baked goods need a fast surge of heat to set properly, and that some meats require it for caramelization. Without a proper preheat, your muffins may be flat. Food 52 explains that some doughs require any trapped air or moisture to expand in order to gain the needed shape. That expansion occurs when the dough is exposed to heat — like the blast of a fully preheated oven. 

There are possible health ramifications related to not preheating your oven as well. According to Houston Methodist Leading Medicine, a product's cooking instructions operate under the belief that you are going to preheat your oven to the correct temperature. As a result, the cooking times are based on that assumption, meaning that your chicken breast or quiche may be underdone.  

No one's denying that cooking can be a time-consuming activity. And nobody can blame you for trying to speed up the process, but failing to preheat your oven simply isn't worth it. Ensuring that your oven reaches temperature before putting the fruits of your hard work inside will help ensure a delectable dish.