Why do some cooking directions indicate a certain amount of time that the oven is...

C

Cosmic Magnet

New member
...preheated? Like, this package I have says to preheat to 375 degrees for 15 minutes. But it takes my oven under 10 minutes to actually preheat... so why does it specify the time? Why not just say "Preheat oven to 375 degrees"?

Would preheating it for 15 minutes even make a difference? I can hear when the gas turns off and it means it's all set...

Can someone make this clearer? Thanks!
 
newer ovens will show when its reheating. some older ovens doesnt show reheat, just that its on. if the oven is electric, you cant hear the "gas" turn off. older recipes will usually say to preheat 10-15 minutes. if it just says to preheat, people might preheat for only 5 minutes, even though the oven isnt really heated. but if your oven is preheated in under 10 minutes then its preheated, no need to wait 15 minutes. my oven shows when its preheating, and it actually counts down to when its done preheating.
 
Hi Cosmic, the Times are general once that you oven has reached the required temp. you are good to go. Ovens vary greatly depending on the age etc. ( how many ovens do people buy in a lifetime). At home I have a professional range and I wouldn't be able to hear it reach level temp. Because the gas has turned off as you put it should not come into it because by the time you have opened the oven to fill it the temperature could have dropped a few degrees and that could make quite a big difference to cakes and less robust items. As I said it just general guidelines but it is always better to have it at the temp. the recipe calls for beforehand.
Ihope this helps. All the best.Rab
 
Some ovens are fan assisted, some are not. By adding a few minutes extra to the preheat time, the manufacturer is ensuring that your oven is definitely at the optimum temperature for the dish you're about to cook. Imagine the problems it would cause if they got it wrong? They're just covering their backs!!
 
The AIR in ovens preheat very quickly. By giving your oven 15 minutes to preheat, you are ensuring that the rack and sides and top and bottom of your oven are at the ideal temperature. If you open your oven and place something it it as soon as it is preheated, the temp. actually drops drastically, as most of the hot air escapes. Giving it 15 minutes allows for maximum heat retention.
 
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