Help Needed, Cakes Always Seem to Burn

chrisb1357

Not sure if this is correct place to post.

Everytime i try and cook a basic sponge cake in my small desktop cooker they always seem to burn and i dont know why. We are using this type of cooker
http://www.russellhobbs.co.uk/Mini_Kitchen_qp_139.html

if anyone can give me any tips
Chris

floyd

If they are burning then the heat is too high, cook at a lower temp for longer or get an oven thermometer to check whether the oven settings are true

chrisb1357

Hi,

The small oven has a Fan Oven Swtich which can be off or on. I have tried both ways but have hit a few problems.

Just with normal oven swtich on the oven eliment at the top heats and the bottom one is off which i find the top of the cake burns before all the inside is cooked.

Also tried with just the fan on which works the bottom eliment but again the bottom burns and top does not cook.

Have tried cooking at 170, 180 etc which is lower than some say.

Is it beacuse the oven is so small

Chris

babyshoes

If you have tried it on a much lower temperature, it does sound like the oven is too small for the air to circulate properly. Have you tried it with smaller cakes (like cupcakes) so that more air can get round it?

McKneff

Could you try lining the botom of your tin with 2 or 3 rounds of greaseproof paper and onc your cake gets going, cover the top with some too.
Its worth a try at least.

chrisb1357

Cool,

I think my Gran use to say always grease the tin, sprinlke flour and then put a sheet like you say on the bottom of the pan

Chris

wssla00

And if you cut a piece of parchment to put on the top it will protect the top of it too.

Olliebeak

chrisb1357 wrote: »

Hi,

The small oven has a Fan Oven Swtich which can be off or on. I have tried both ways but have hit a few problems.

Just with normal oven swtich on the oven eliment at the top heats and the bottom one is off which i find the top of the cake burns before all the inside is cooked.

Also tried with just the fan on which works the bottom eliment but again the bottom burns and top does not cook.

Have tried cooking at 170, 180 etc which is lower than some say.

Is it beacuse the oven is so small

Chris

Hello Chris - I used to have a very similar oven but mine wasn't a 'fan assisted' like this one.

What kind of cakes are you trying to bake, and what temperature are you doing them at? It may also depend on which shelf support you've got your rack on.

When I clicked on the link for the'User Manual' - it suggests setting the oven at 140-160C for Rich Fruit Cakes/160-180C for sponge cakes/190-220C for scones. The lowest of all those three different settings is substantially lower than usual oven temperatures - maybe due to the oven capacity being quite small. It also says that timings will be quicker than a normal oven.

I'd have another go, using the lowest of the settings - maybe try a tray of fairy cakes and keep a careful eye on them. Set a timer for around 8mins and have a peek through the glass door - don't open it though until they look ALMOST ready.

Good Luck .

Butterfly_Brain

Fan ovens are awful for baking cakes! - luckily I have a convection oven in the top of my oven so cakes go in that.

iamana1ias

Butterfly_Brain wrote: »

Fan ovens are awful for baking cakes! - luckily I have a convection oven in the top of my oven so cakes go in that.

my fan oven does a brilliant job of baking cakes!

Butterfly_Brain

Mine is a Belling and is carp