Cooking is, in fact, an alchemical process in which flour, sugar, baking powder, butter, eggs, and essences are mixed to obtain all kinds of delicious desserts, bread and other dishes. However, the magic does not end with the mixture of ingredients because when putting dough in the oven, we witness a series of changes and magical processes that make the dough inflate; the soufflés have a spongy texture, and the cakes double their size.
This alchemical process does not only depend on weighing the ingredients correctly or following a good recipe because the cooking temperature is also ideal for obtaining treasures such as cookies and cakes. For example, if you are going to cook a fried egg and you pour it on the pan while it is not very hot, it will take longer to cook, so preheating the oven is necessary; here we tell you why!
Why should the oven be preheated?
In his book Sociology, the science of cooking, Dr. Stuart Farrimond, who specializes in the science behind food, explains that there are several reasons to preheat your oven before preparing all kinds of sweet and savory dishes:
“A well-preheated oven is an insurance against temperature drops, but it also ensures that the oven’s air and metal walls reach the desired temperature. The hot metal acts as a heat reservoir and radiates it inward to keep its temperature stable.
In other words, by preheating the oven, we ensure that the temperature remains stable during cooking and also helps reach the desired temperature, which will be critical in preparing cakes and desserts.
On the other hand, the author also points out that, by preheating the oven, heat loss is reduced when the oven door is opened to check the dishes that are being baked:
“Every time the oven door is opened, hot air escapes; if the walls are cold, the heater has a hard time heating the air again; on the other hand, if they are hot, the correct temperature of the air is quickly recove.”d”.
How long should an oven be preheated?
In the kitchen, there are many opinions, so experts recommend different preheating times.
For his part, Dr. Farrimond points out that by preheating an oven for 15 minutes, all we’re doing is heating the air, while the walls are still cool, which means we’re not baking at the right temperature.
For this writer, the oven should be preheated for 30 minutes because, at this point, a good heat reserve will be reached, and the walls will already be hot, which will keep the temperature stable during cooking.
While for Shilpa Uskokovic, chef and food journalist, the oven should be preheated for around 20 minutes, as she points out that, although others recommend preheating for longer, preheating for 30 minutes or more will not make a difference and will only make your receipt of gas is exorbitant.
Before preheating the oven
Opinions are divided when it comes to preheating your oven, so in addition to expert advice, you’ll need to consider several factors:
1. How well does your oven work?
2. Does it have a fan? This makes it heat up faster and the temperature more stable.
3. What are you going to bake? While baking requires precision, other dishes will not fail if the suggested temperature is not reached.
4. How long did it take you to bake something similar?
5. Remember that the larger your oven, the longer it will take to preheat it.
