How Long Does It Take To Preheat An Oven? 3 Things You Need To Know
The most exciting part of cooking food is seeing it getting done in the oven. To witness your chicken turning that golden brown juicy color when roasting it is such a delight. To see your dough rise and shape into that perfect loaf you want is so exciting. Or just to have your chocolate chip batter slowly form into delicious home-baked cookies is a sight to behold. Can you even imagine the heavenly aroma wafting around your kitchen with just these scenarios?
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But the process of getting delicious dishes and baked treats isn’t easy as one, two, and three. You would have to preheat your oven to the right temperature before putting your food in. Otherwise, problems may arise such as your food being burned at the bottom.
Preheating your oven is a must. But how long does it take to preheat an oven? Below are a few guidelines on the estimated time you have to wait so you can calculate your food preparation better.
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How Long Does It Take To Preheat An Oven?
How Long To Preheat Oven To 350˚F / 375˚F | How Long To Preheat Oven To 425˚F / 450˚F |
|---|---|
15 minutes | 20 minutes |
If there’s one important thing to note when preheating an oven, it’s to take into consideration the model of the appliance as well. For instance, if you’re using an older oven, it may take more than 15 minutes to reach 350-375˚ F.
Here are more important preheating tips that you can follow:
1. Use An Oven Thermometer
Don’t rely on your oven’s built-in thermometer or timer. Use a separate oven thermometer for a more accurate reading. You can place it inside your oven so you can monitor the exact temperature. Make sure your thermometer is durable and can withstand the heat that it will be exposed to. Get ones that can easily hang on to the racks and are readable even from outside your oven’s glass window.
2. Prepare Your Food In A Timely Manner
Now that you have a general idea of how long it takes to preheat an oven, it would be best to adjust your food preparation time. So when the oven reaches your desired temperature, all you have to do is put your food inside rather than wait for long. If your oven requires 20 minutes to heat, then you can pace yourself in preparing your food. If you feel that you need more than 20 minutes, then it’s best to start preparing ahead.
3. Put Your Food In After Preheating
Some people make the mistake of putting their food inside before preheating the oven. Avoid doing this as it causes your dish to burn at the bottom and still be uncooked at the top.
It’s also difficult when you bake pastries or loaves of bread without preheating your oven. The rising process wouldn’t be complete making your bread taste different. Your bread would still be edible, but it wouldn’t be as delicious if you just preheat your oven to the right temperature before baking.
You may wonder if there’s an exception to some dishes that wouldn’t need you to preheat an oven. Casseroles may be an exception. But don’t take your chances and just wait 15 minutes to preheat your oven.
Gas Oven VS Electric Oven
Another factor to take into account when preheating your oven is to check whether you are using a gas oven or an electric oven.
How long does it take to preheat a gas oven? It’s faster than an electric one, that’s for sure. Electric ovens take a while to heat up. With your usual 350˚ F temperature, you’ll wait for 15 to 20 minutes if you’re using an electric oven. With a gas oven, it would take around 8 to 10 minutes. Newer gas ovens take even less than 10 minutes to preheat.
Important Tips When Heating Food In The Oven
Preheating your oven is not just about turning the dial of your oven’s temperature and watch the magic happen. You’ll also need to do a few things on your end. Here are a few important tips to do if you’re going to use the oven. Don’t worry, these tips are simple and do not need an expert. You can do this by yourself at home.
1. Adjust The Racks
Adjusting your racks first comes in handy. Don’t wait for the oven to heat up and then start adjusting your racks. If you’re putting in turkey, adjust the racks to a height that will fit the whole dish. So when the oven hits that ideal temperature, you only need to slide your turkey in rather than fuss about the racks’ height level afterward.
2. Check Which Level You Should Put Your Food In
Make sure your oven will be able to heat your food evenly. The heat from the oven usually comes from the bottom. So if you’d like to have cookies that are spread just right and their bottoms soft and well-done rather than crispy, put your baking sheet in the middle.
3. Read the Instructions
Be sure to read everything and try not to skip the instructions. Some cookbooks will already tell you which level you should put your food in or if the recipe calls for more than 350˚ F. People who claim that they cannot achieve the desired taste and texture of the food they cooked in the oven are the ones who probably missed out on a tiny detail. So read everything.
Never trouble over how long does it take to preheat an oven ever again. With this guide, you will be baking cakes, cookies, bread, and all sorts of pastries perfectly. You’ll even be an expert in cooking up roast beef or something as simple as roasting vegetables just with these tips.
Always remember not to skip out in preheating your oven. Besides, waiting for 15 minutes isn’t such a long time. So follow the instructions carefully and have fun using your oven.
