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Is Your Oven Calibrated Correctly?

Have you ever baked a cake that wasn't done at the end of its cooking time, or cookies that were burnt long before theirs?  It could be that your oven is not calibrated correctly.

Cook's Illustrated ("America's Test Kitchen") found that when 16 ovens were set at 350º, only two registered exactly on.  All the others ranged from 300º to 390º!*

Then they rated 10 oven thermometers, and the Taylor Classic Oven Guide Thermometer (#7788)** came out first.  The Taylor was the only thermometer that registered exactly-on at all temperatures tested, while the others produced readings of up to more than 18 degrees off.

So, you could hire a service person to come and re-calibrate your oven for $90-$125.   Or you could buy a simple oven thermometer to tell you if your oven is off, and compensate by adjustment.   We think, to avoid culinary disaster, the $15 investment is a first-rate solution.

 
*2005 Holiday Baking Issue "Do Cheap Oven Thermometers Work?"
**The Taylor was also rated #1 by Cook's in March-April 2002.

>>  ORDER Taylor Classic Oven Guide Thermometer
 
 

If your oven is less than perfect, you might want to store your pizza stone there.
 

Keep a baking stone in your oven, and you could see better baking results.   The dense clay stone retains heat and keeps oven temperatures steady.  When baking directly on the stone, the porous clay absorbs moisture to produce crisp crusts on pizzas, flat breads, and focaccia.  When left in the oven during baking, it maintains even heat to give you better overall baking results.

Place the baking stone on the lowest oven shelf and preheat with the oven. Place baked goods directly on the stone.  When not in use, leave the stone in the oven.

See:  BRAVO Brick Baking Stones