USEFUL COOKING TIPS
Cakes and bread:
• Heat the oven for at least 15 minutes before you
start cooking bread or cakes.
• Do not open the door during baking because the
cold air would stop the yeast from rising.
• When the cake is cooked turn the oven off and
leave it in for about 10 minutes.
• Do not use the enamelled oven tray or drip pan,
supplied with the oven, to cook cakes in.
• How do you know when the cake is cooked? About
5 minutes before the end of cooking time, put a cake
tester or skewer in the highest part of the cake. If it
comes out clean the cake is cooked.
• And if the cake sinks? The next time use less liquids
or lower the temperature 10°C.
• If the cake is too dry: Make some tiny holes with a
toothpick and pour some drops of fruit juice or spirits
on it. The next time, increase the temperature 10°C
and set a shorter cooking time.
• If the cake is too dark on top: the next time put the
cake on a lower shelf, cook it at a lower temperature
and longer.
• If the top of the cake is burnt: cut off the burnt layer
and cover with sugar or decorate it with cream, jam,
confectioner's cream, etc..
• If the cake is too dark underneath: the next time
place it on a higher shelf and cook it at a lower
temperature.
• If the cake or bread is cooked nicely outside but is
still uncooked inside: the next time use less liquids,
cook at a lower temperature and longer.
• If the cake will not come out of the tin: slide a knife
around the edges, place a damp cloth over the
cake and turn the tin upside down. The next time
grease the tin well and sprinkle it with flour or bread
crumbs.
• If the biscuits will not come away from the baking
tray: put the tray back in the oven for a while and
lift the biscuits up before they cool. The next time
use a sheet of baking parchment to prevent this
happening again.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE USER
14
Meat:
• If, when cooking meat, the time needed is more
than 40 minutes, turn the oven off 10 minutes before
the end of cooking time to exploit the residual heat
(energy saving).
• Your roast will be juicier if cooked in a closed pan; it
will be crispier if cooked without a lid.
• Normally white meat, poultry and fish need medium
temperatures (less than 200°C).
• To cook "rare" red meats, high temperatures (over
200°C) and short cooking times are needed.
• For a tasty roast, lard and spice the meat.
• If your roast is tough: the next time leave the meat
to ripen longer.
• If your roast is too dark on top or underneath: the
next time put it on a higher or lower shelf, lower the
temperature and cook longer.
• Your roast is underdone? Cut it in slices, arrange
the slices on a baking tray with the gravy and finish
cooking it.
Grilling:
• Sparingly grease and flavour the food before grilling it.
• Always use the drip pan to catch any dripping
from the meat during grilling (fig. 9). Always pour
a little water in the drip pan. It will prevent grease
and sauces from burning avoiding burnt smells
and smoke. Add more water during cooking to
compensate for evaporation.
• Turn the food half way through cooking.
The aluminium can be easily corroded if it comes
into contact with organic acids present in the
foods or added during baking (vinegar, lemon
juice). Therefore it is advised not to put directly
the foods on aluminium or enamelled trays, but
ALWAYS use the proper oven paper.