Many homeowners reserve their ovens for creating desserts and large family meals. However, your oven has a lot of uses that go well beyond baking cookies and roasting turkeys. With these tips, you can cook more efficiently and surprise your family with delicious treats.
1. Make S’mores
You can heat up s’mores in the microwave, but the oven gives your marshmallows a toasty brown surface and warm, gooey interior. Assemble the s’mores on a baking sheet, and then heat them in the oven until the marshmallows turn brown and the chocolate starts to melt.
2. Keep Your Food Warm
When you’re cooking a meal for a lot of guests, you can use your oven to keep the food warm until you’re ready to eat. Simply cover the food and place it in the oven at the lowest setting.
3. Cook in Batches
Cooking your entire meal at once instead of heating each item individually can save time and lower your energy bills. If you have a large oven, you probably have enough room for the entree, appetizers, and side dishes.
However, you’ll need to leave space between the dishes to promote air circulation and ensure the food heats evenly. Overstuffing your oven could result in cold, soggy meals. Additionally, make sure that you can cook everything at the same temperature without sacrificing quality. Meat and vegetables usually pair well together, but baked goods require a more precise method.
4. Enjoy Homemade Yogurt
This method takes several hours, but when you’re done, you’ll have a batch of homemade yogurt with no special equipment required. Find an online recipe, and then heat and cool the milk according to the instructions. Afterward, you’ll set the oven to a low temperature and place the milk inside to incubate. This gives the bacteria the chance to turn your milk into delicious yogurt.
5. Toast Spices
Toasting spices, such as cumin, coriander, and mustard, brings out a rich, full-bodied flavor that adds depth to your dishes. To toast your spices, place them in the oven and heat them for a few minutes at a time. Keep checking the spices until they have the perfect aroma.
6. Reheat Muffins
Leftover muffins tend to get soggy when you reheat them in the microwave. However, if you warm them in the oven for about 10 minutes, they’ll be soft and chewy with a slightly crispy exterior.
It’s time to use your oven to its full potential. If you’re noticing issues, such as strange burning odors or undercooked food, reach out to Rochester Appliance Service in Rochester, MN to request appliance repair. We’ll fix or replace broken parts so that you can enjoy cooking again.
