Stupid Question From an Experienced Cook!

moggins

How long do I need to heat my oven up before I stick a cake in there? I've never baked in my oven before but I've finally got the spirit level out and levelled it up. I don't normally bother with preheating my oven for other stuff but I've heard this part is essential when baking

I don't have anything on there that tells me when it's reached the right temperature (it's gas btw) and it starts off with a small flame, breaks into an inferno for a while and then settles back down again. Help?????

Curry_Queen

I usually turn the oven on before I start mixing up ingredients so by the time it's ready to go in the temp is usually right. I have a gas oven though so I'm not sure if it works the same with electric, having never used one before, but I'd have thought it would.


Ooooops just noticed yours is gas too, so yes, once the flame goes back down it usually means it reached the right temperature

moggins

Thanks CQ, I normally use the microwave for baking but I want to make a fruitcake and I thought that might be better off cooked in a proper oven.

Curry_Queen

Yeah, I'd definitely do it in the oven, much nicer

I only tend to do sponge pudding type things in the microwave, for quickness more than anything else when you just fancy something sweet after dinner but can't be bothered to wait to cook it properly

Ticklemouse

Yep - I'm with CQ on this one (again). Even if you don't look at your oven, with a gas one you can usually hear when they are at temp as the gas makes a bit of a noise when at full whack. If you don't know, then when it is hot, if you open the door to put stuff in, when you close it and the temp has dropped, you will hear it fire up again.

Gas ovens are meant to keep your cakes moister than leccy ones, aren't they?

calleyw

I never really pre-heat.

I have read when you are cooking for more than 30mins it is suppose to make no difference.

I tend to light it just before I put the cake/roast etc in.

oops prehaps I am bad cook. Don't think so. Most things come out yummy.


Yours

Calley

raeble

It depends on your oven, with some ovens you can get away with not preheating. My current oven you have to preheat or else the cakes don't rise enough. I would say about five minutes, but I tend to start it as soon as I'm mixing so that I don't forget to start the oven.

squeaky

The first instruction on most recipes in my trusty Be-Ro book start with "set the oven to preheat" at gas mark whatever.

It also says to close the door gently when checking your cake because allowing it to slam can make some cakes fold.

Curry_Queen

squeaky wrote:

It also says to close the door gently

... otherwise it can also blow out the flame on a gas oven, if shut too quickly :eek:


I've had that happen on occassions before and you wonder why nothing's cooking and you can smell gas!!!! :rotfl:

squeaky

Oo-er!! :eek: Mine did a re-ignition last time that happened. Thank goodness.

moggins

LOL, never had that happen in the oven. On the hob is a different matter

We have a loft in the kitchen, on windy days the loft door blows open and out goes the flame on the cooker.