Tips for Using Thermometers and Ovens

Type of oven

Ovens are divided into electronic and mechanical types.

Mechanical oven

The oven commonly used at home is about 35 liters. This capacity oven is also compatible with many baking molds.

If the kitchen is relatively large, you can buy an oven of about 40 liters or 45 liters, and you can bake more at a time.

If it is less than 35 liters, it is best to pay attention to the size when buying the mold, so as not to buy the mold home and not put it in the oven.

Electronic ovens are generally touch-sensitive.

The temperature of the oven is controlled by a computer chip, and the temperature is controlled more accurately. After the required temperature is set, no adjustment is needed, and the help of an oven thermometer is generally not needed.

It's very convenient to use, and it's also very energy-saving. In contrast, the price will be more expensive.

However, electronic components are prone to short circuits under the action of oil stains, so the service life is shorter than that of mechanical ovens.

Mechanical ovens are equipped with knobs and need to be adjusted by themselves.

Mechanical ovens cannot accurately adjust the temperature, only an approximate temperature value can be given, and the temperature needs to be adjusted according to the oven thermometer.

type

Generally divided into temperature control timing type and ordinary simple type.

Temperature control timing type

This type of oven most often appears in everyone's kitchen. The function can meet the baking requirements of most pastries, and the cost performance is the highest.

Ordinary simple type

The most common is the gift in the store. For example, if you buy a gas stove, you will get a small oven.

This type of oven is more suitable for baking chicken wings, steaks, and egg tarts. Not suitable for baking biscuits or cakes. It is prone to pinch or burn off.

So, what we are going to talk about today is those things about this kind of oven and thermometer.

If you are buying a mechanical oven, be sure to buy an oven thermometer yourself. This is the major premise.

Preheating principle

Before baking, the oven must be preheated to allow the internal temperature of the oven to reach the temperature required for baking.

The preheating temperature of the oven is proportional to the time. The higher the temperature required, the longer the preheating time. The general warm-up time is 10 minutes.

The purpose of preheating is to make the internal temperature of the oven consistent, the surface of the food is evenly heated, and the moisture can be locked immediately to prevent the baked food from becoming dry and hard.

Preheating small mistakes

In all recipes, the "preheating of the oven" step is written during the production process. About ten minutes before the batter is made, the recipe will prompt that it is time to preheat the oven.

But, in fact, this is for electronic ovens, not for mechanical ovens.

For this small job, you must adjust the temperature before you start making it.

why?

1. The temperature difference at different temperature points of the same oven is different.

For example, I have tried baking a 180°C pastry, and found that the oven temperature is low with a temperature difference of 20°C, that is, it needs to be adjusted to 200°C before the thermometer displays 180°C.

When I make a 200°C pastry next time, I think from experience that as long as the temperature is set to 220°C, it's wrong.

Different temperature points have different temperature differences. It may be 30°C worse.

So you need to measure more and understand your own oven.

2. The same oven, different environment, the temperature difference is different.

For example, in summer and winter, there will be a significant difference in temperature difference. In winter, the temperature difference is 20°C, and in summer, it may be 30°C.

There is an oven in Kitayama by the window. When we bake it the day before, we used 180°C, and the next day we made the same pastry. We turned on the same temperature, and the thermometer showed only 170°C. It turned out later that the window had been opened the day before yesterday, but it had not been opened for a few days.

Therefore, the temperature difference will be different when the window is opened and the window is not opened.

3. The temperature difference of each oven is different.

If it is stated in a formula, 200°C is required. Put the thermometer in the middle of the oven and adjust the oven to 200°C. After ten minutes, the thermometer will display 180°C.

It means that the temperature of the oven is low, and the temperature needs to be adjusted to 220°C. Observe for another 5 minutes.

It must be noted here that if the temperature of the thermometer does not go up after a minute, it is impossible to rush to increase the temperature of the oven again.

Adjust once, and wait at least 5 minutes before you can conclude whether there is a temperature difference.

If you adjust the temperature knob frequently, the temperature difference of the oven will become more and more unstable.