If you’re wondering whether to put water in the oven when baking a cake, the simple answer is usually no. Adding water directly under a regular cake can keep the batter from setting properly, so you might end up with a flat or dense cake instead of that light, fluffy texture you want. Most cakes…
Baking a cake at 180 degrees Celsius is a classic move for home bakers. It’s a reliable temperature that usually gives you even cooking and a nice texture. Go ahead and preheat your oven to 180 degrees, then bake your cake for however long your recipe says—most cakes need about 25 to 30 minutes. At…
When you load up your oven with more food, you’ll probably notice it takes longer for everything to cook through. Adding extra dishes drops the oven’s internal temperature, which forces it to work overtime to get back up to your chosen setting. The heat has to spread across more food, so each item absorbs warmth…
Starting your oven for the first time isn’t complicated, but it’s important to get it right. You’ll want to preheat your oven to a high temperature, around 200°C (400°F), and let it run empty for about an hour. This helps burn off any factory residues and preps your oven for real cooking. It’s a simple…
If your cake is still raw in the middle, it probably hasn’t baked long enough or the oven temperature’s off. Your cake needs enough time at the right temperature to cook fully through the center. Using the wrong pan size or opening the oven early can mess things up, too. You might think just baking…
If you’re tired of waiting for your oven to preheat, try turning on the broiler for a few minutes before switching to your desired temperature. That quick blast of heat gets things moving faster. This trick raises the oven’s heat quickly, so you spend less time staring at the display. Don’t open the door while…
If your oven’s blowing cold air and not heating up, chances are something’s wrong with the heating element, temperature sensor, or maybe the internal controls. A busted heating element or sensor often means your oven just won’t get hot, so you end up with cold air instead. Sometimes, the control board or a relay can…
If your oven starts acting weird or just won’t respond, a reset might do the trick. The most reliable way to reset your oven is to turn off its power at the circuit breaker, wait about a minute, and then turn it back on. This completely cuts the power and can clear out any electronic…
Knowing exactly when your oven is preheated can save you time and make your cooking more consistent. The most reliable way to tell if your oven is preheated is to wait for the indicator light or audible signal that many ovens have, such as a beep or a chime. If your oven doesn’t have these…
Baking in an oven with a fan isn’t as tricky as it sounds. The key is to drop your baking temperature by about 25 degrees Fahrenheit (or 15 degrees Celsius) compared to a standard oven. The fan moves hot air around, so your food cooks faster and more evenly. This little adjustment keeps your cookies…