Know Your Oven

Learn what preheating means, where the racks go, how to use a timer and how the toothpick test shows a cake is done.

The oven is always a grown-up job, but you can still learn how it works. You will also become the timer captain.

You will learn

• What preheating means
• How the timer and oven window help
• How the toothpick test works

What you need

• An oven, run by your grown-up
• Oven mitts
• A kitchen timer
• Toothpicks
• A trivet, a stand for hot pans
• Your grown-up

Steps

1. Racks firstRacks are the metal shelves inside the oven. Before it heats up, your grown-up sets them where the recipe says, often in the middle.
2. PreheatTo preheat means to turn the oven on early, so it is fully hot when the food goes in. Your grown-up sets the temperature, and many ovens beep when they are ready.
3. Set the timerWhen the pan goes in, you set the timer. If the recipe says 20 to 25 minutes, set it for 20. You can always bake longer, but you cannot unbake.
4. Peek through the windowAsk your grown-up to turn on the oven light, then look through the glass instead of opening the door. Keep your hands and face off the glass, because the oven door gets hot. Each time the door opens, heat rushes out. Stand back whenever your grown-up opens it.
5. Do the toothpick testFor cakes, muffins and quick breads, your grown-up takes the pan out and pokes a toothpick into the middle. A quick bread is a loaf you stir together and bake right away, like banana bread. Clean or with a few dry crumbs means it is done. Wet batter means a few more minutes in the oven.
6. Know other cluesCookies and fudgy brownies use other clues, like golden edges. Your recipe tells you what to look for.

Try it

• 
  Junior Bakers

  Vanilla Cupcakes

• 
  Junior Bakers

  Classic Banana Bread

• 
  Little Helpers

  Vanilla Blueberry Muffins

Check yourself