You’ve been preheating your oven all wrong – the right way gets it up to temp SO much quicker
USING the oven seems pretty straightforward - but turns out, there are a few things you're probably doing wrong.
Whether it's just chucking in a frozen pizza at 2am after you get home from a boozy Saturday evening or preparing a meal for your family, no kitchen can call itself a kitchen without an oven.
But despite believing you've probably mastered how to use it properly, there are a few things most people don't know, according to .
From rack placement to preheating, these tips will ensure you're using the oven in the most efficient and smart way.
THE PREHEAT HACK
All foods and dishes that require baking in the oven also call for preheating - there simply is no escaping this crucial step.
But as important as it is, waiting for what feels like forever is torture - especially if it's at the end of the day and you're starving.
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Luckily, there is a way around it - turn your broiler on high for about 3 to 5 minutes.
Once the time has passed, put the setting to whatever temperature you need, and just watch how quickly it dings at you.
According to , it only takes about two more minutes for the oven to reach 350 degrees.
RACK PLACEMENT
It is no secret that the position of the oven rack is very important - particularly when you're baking brownies.
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The temperature inside isn't going to be uniform, so it's crucial to remember that depending on what you're thinking of chucking in the oven.
The top portion is best for browning the tops of dishes, like a hearty mac and cheese, or a fruit crisp.
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Contrary, the bottom portion is - you guessed it - browning the bottoms of your dishes, such as pizzas or roasted veggies.
The middle section is where cooking fans will get the most even temperature - and most baked goods fall into this category.
LINING THE BOTTOM WITH FOIL
Think a piece of foil and an oven is a great combination? Think again.
Turns out, there are a bunch of reasons you should never line the bottom with kitchen foil.
Firstly, it can create a reflection, causing baked goods to cook too quickly - and that's just the least of your worries.
It is also possible that the foil melts to the oven floor, causing permanent damage and voiding your warranty.
Using foil - something many of us do to avoid a messy oven - can trap heat so effectively that it causes a fire.
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And lastly, doing so can block the airflow so much that it causes carbon monoxide poisoning.
If you must utilise foil to catch spills and making cleaning the oven less of a hassle than it already is, put it on the rack below the food — but ensure to not cover it completely either.