I have a brand-new electric oven in this community, obviously designed
by a man who doesn't bake. With my previous one at my house, one rack
was truly at the middle of the oven. With this one, the rack guides
are so placed that one rack is above the center and the next is below
it. I'm having a hard time with cakes and quick breads, etc. Does
anyone have any rough guidelines for what should be placed where in
the oven?

Dora
--
Dora

On Tue, 27 Oct 2009 17:04:41 -0400, "Dora" > wrote:

>
>I have a brand-new electric oven in this community, obviously designed
>by a man who doesn't bake. With my previous one at my house, one rack
>was truly at the middle of the oven. With this one, the rack guides
>are so placed that one rack is above the center and the next is below
>it. I'm having a hard time with cakes and quick breads, etc. Does
>anyone have any rough guidelines for what should be placed where in
>the oven?
>
>Dora


You don't say what brand/model stove you have. Ovens are designed so
that the food being cooked is properly positioned, the shelf is not
being cooked. For most baked goods you want them placed so that the
center height of the item being baked is at the center height of the
oven, therefore the lower shelf being below dead center is correctly
placed. What is odd is that your oven has only two shelf positions,
most have at least three and some have four with one at a very low
point, used mostly for large roasts... my GE Profile has four
positions. I would suggest that the stove supplied is a rather
inexpensive unit.

On Oct 27, 10:04*pm, "Dora" > wrote:
> I have a brand-new electric oven in this community, obviously designed
> by a man who doesn't bake. *With my previous one at my house, one rack
> was truly at the middle of the oven. *With this one, the rack guides
> are so placed that one rack is above the center and the next is below
> it. *I'm having a hard time with cakes and quick breads, etc. *Does
> anyone have any rough guidelines for what should be placed where in
> the oven?

It is a weighting function of the mass center of the food being in the
center of the oven and the top of the food shouldnt be too close to
the heat elements in the top.

Michael Nielsen wrote:
> On Oct 27, 10:04 pm, "Dora" > wrote:
>> I have a brand-new electric oven in this community, obviously
>> designed by a man who doesn't bake. With my previous one at my
>> house, one rack was truly at the middle of the oven. With this one,
>> the rack guides are so placed that one rack is above the center and
>> the next is below it. I'm having a hard time with cakes and quick
>> breads, etc. Does anyone have any rough guidelines for what should
>> be placed where in the oven?
>
> It is a weighting function of the mass center of the food being in
> the
> center of the oven and the top of the food shouldnt be too close to
> the heat elements in the top.

That's the problem I'm having - can't juggle so that the food itself
is in the right place. It's a learning process with this particular
oven; so far, results have been disappointing.

On Tue, 27 Oct 2009 20:24:29 -0400, "Dora" > wrote:

>Michael Nielsen wrote:
>> On Oct 27, 10:04 pm, "Dora" > wrote:
>>> I have a brand-new electric oven in this community, obviously
>>> designed by a man who doesn't bake. With my previous one at my
>>> house, one rack was truly at the middle of the oven. With this one,
>>> the rack guides are so placed that one rack is above the center and
>>> the next is below it. I'm having a hard time with cakes and quick
>>> breads, etc. Does anyone have any rough guidelines for what should
>>> be placed where in the oven?
>>
>> It is a weighting function of the mass center of the food being in
>> the
>> center of the oven and the top of the food shouldnt be too close to
>> the heat elements in the top.
>
>That's the problem I'm having - can't juggle so that the food itself
>is in the right place. It's a learning process with this particular
>oven; so far, results have been disappointing.

If you've tried baking them on the level that's slightly below center
it sounds like there's a problem that requires a tech, Dora. Your
oven is new so it should be under warranty. Call someone in! It
could be a bad thermostat that's not cycling properly.

--
I love cooking with wine.
Sometimes I even put it in the food.

On Oct 27, 4:04*pm, "Dora" > wrote:
> I have a brand-new electric oven in this community, obviously designed
> by a man who doesn't bake. *With my previous one at my house, one rack
> was truly at the middle of the oven. *With this one, the rack guides
> are so placed that one rack is above the center and the next is below
> it. *I'm having a hard time with cakes and quick breads, etc. *Does
> anyone have any rough guidelines for what should be placed where in
> the oven?
>
> Dora
> --
> Dora
>

Some electric stoves I have had in the past had racks that could be
positioned right-side up or upside down - one way puts the surface of
the rack slightly above the grooves, and the other puts it slightly
below. If your racks are like this (an "elbow" bend at both sides of
one end), does that help?

N.

On Oct 27, 2:04*pm, "Dora" > wrote:
> I have a brand-new electric oven in this community, obviously designed
> by a man who doesn't bake. *With my previous one at my house, one rack
> was truly at the middle of the oven. *With this one, the rack guides
> are so placed that one rack is above the center and the next is below
> it. *I'm having a hard time with cakes and quick breads, etc. *Does
> anyone have any rough guidelines for what should be placed where in
> the oven?
>
> Dora
> --
> Dora
>

Why not return it and find an oven that has the features you want. Did
you look at it before you bought it??

Nancy2 wrote:
> On Oct 27, 4:04 pm, "Dora" > wrote:
>> I have a brand-new electric oven in this community, obviously
>> designed by a man who doesn't bake. With my previous one at my
>> house, one rack was truly at the middle of the oven. With this one,
>> the rack guides are so placed that one rack is above the center and
>> the next is below it. I'm having a hard time with cakes and quick
>> breads, etc. Does anyone have any rough guidelines for what should
>> be placed where in the oven?
>>
>> Dora
>> --
>> Dora
>>
>
> Some electric stoves I have had in the past had racks that could be
> positioned right-side up or upside down - one way puts the surface
> of
> the rack slightly above the grooves, and the other puts it slightly
> below. If your racks are like this (an "elbow" bend at both sides
> of
> one end), does that help?
>
> N.

Sadly, no. They won't slide in when in an inverted position. Good
thought, though, Nancy. Looks like I'm stuck with this and have to
learn to compensate through trial and error.

"Dora" > wrote in message
...
>
> I have a brand-new electric oven in this community, obviously designed by
> a man who doesn't bake. With my previous one at my house, one rack was
> truly at the middle of the oven. With this one, the rack guides are so
> placed that one rack is above the center and the next is below it. I'm
> having a hard time with cakes and quick breads, etc. Does anyone have any
> rough guidelines for what should be placed where in the oven?
>
> Dora
> --
> Dora
>


There is a lot of advice around but without knowing all of the variables it
is impossible to tell.

There are several steps you should take.

1. Buy an additional oven thermometer and check to see you your oven is
running at the correct temperature.
2. Are you adjusting for the pan type/color/material.
3. Is there any significant altitude where you are?
4. Remember just because the oven clicks off (reaches temperature) does
not mean the oven has been preheated properly. Many baking\bread recipes
call for the oven to be preheated for at least 45 minutes and some recommend
1 hour.


--
Dimitri

Soy & Vegetables

http://kitchenguide.wordpress.com.

Dimitri wrote:
>
>
> There is a lot of advice around but without knowing all of the
> variables it is impossible to tell.
>
> There are several steps you should take.
>
> 1. Buy an additional oven thermometer and check to see if your
> oven is running at the correct temperature.

Absolutely. I feel it needs calibrating.


> 2. Are you adjusting for the pan type/color/material.

Well, I'm using the pans I've used for years.


> 3. Is there any significant altitude where you are?

No, I'm at sea level.

> 4. Remember just because the oven clicks off (reaches
> temperature) does not mean the oven has been preheated properly.
> Many baking\bread recipes call for the oven to be preheated for at
> least 45 minutes and some recommend 1 hour.

I get what you are saying. Part of the solution no doubt lies in
calibration or at least the oven thermometer.

Thanks, everyone, for the advice. Back to the drawing board.

Dora

Chemo the Clown wrote:
> On Oct 27, 2:04 pm, "Dora" > wrote:
>> I have a brand-new electric oven in this community, obviously
>> designed by a man who doesn't bake. With my previous one at my
>> house, one rack was truly at the middle of the oven. With this one,
>> the rack guides are so placed that one rack is above the center and
>> the next is below it. I'm having a hard time with cakes and quick
>> breads, etc. Does anyone have any rough guidelines for what should
>> be placed where in the oven?
>>
>> Dora
>> --
>> Dora
>>
>
> Why not return it and find an oven that has the features you want.
> Did
> you look at it before you bought it??

I didn't buy it. I'm in a retirement community and it came with the
territory. It's a brand-new smoothtop.

Dora wrote:
>
>
> I get what you are saying. Part of the solution no doubt lies in
> calibration or at least the oven thermometer.
>
> Thanks, everyone, for the advice. Back to the drawing board.
>



I was thinking along Dimitri's lines, perhaps the temp control
needs calibrsating.

Otherwise, would it work to "boost" your baking pan by putting a
cake pan upside down under it, or would that make the lower rack
too high? It sounds as though something to raise the pan an inch
above the rack would help.

gloria p

gloria.p wrote:
> Dora wrote:
>>
>>
>> I get what you are saying. Part of the solution no doubt lies in
>> calibration or at least the oven thermometer.
>>
>> Thanks, everyone, for the advice. Back to the drawing board.
>>
>
>
>
> I was thinking along Dimitri's lines, perhaps the temp control
> needs calibrsating.
>
> Otherwise, would it work to "boost" your baking pan by putting a
> cake pan upside down under it, or would that make the lower rack
> too high? It sounds as though something to raise the pan an inch
> above the rack would help.
>
> gloria p

The upside-down cake pan sounds like a good idea. I'll try that the
next time I bake. It's been pretty discouraging.
I'm going to see if the maintenance department here will calibrate the
rascal, since Dimitri could be right about the temp.

Dora

On Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:54:19 -0400, "Dora" > wrote:

>Sadly, no. They won't slide in when in an inverted position. Good
>thought, though, Nancy. Looks like I'm stuck with this and have to
>learn to compensate through trial and error.

My ovens came with one rack like that and one "straight" rack. Yours
came with two of the same?

--
I love cooking with wine.
Sometimes I even put it in the food.

On Wed, 28 Oct 2009 09:58:39 -0700 (PDT), Chemo the Clown
> wrote:

>Why not return it and find an oven that has the features you want. Did
>you look at it before you bought it??

I'm sure she did, but it didn't register. Sometimes, you're so used
to what you have that you don't even notice a feature variation like
that until you're actually using it.

--
I love cooking with wine.
Sometimes I even put it in the food.

Dora wrote:
>
> I have a brand-new electric oven in this community, obviously designed
> by a man who doesn't bake. With my previous one at my house, one rack
> was truly at the middle of the oven. With this one, the rack guides are
> so placed that one rack is above the center and the next is below it.
> I'm having a hard time with cakes and quick breads, etc. Does anyone
> have any rough guidelines for what should be placed where in the oven?
>
> Dora

Not supporting any postings of sale stuff... but this may be a good deal
for a convection oven. I do have experience with the manufacturer as I
have two oil filled heaters I'm happy with made by them.

http://www.buy.com/prod/DeLonghi-Sta...212713094.html

I like my current toaster oven, so I'm not in the market, but since I
ran across this, thought I'd post it.

Bob

sf wrote:
> On Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:54:19 -0400, "Dora" >
> wrote:
>
>> Sadly, no. They won't slide in when in an inverted position. Good
>> thought, though, Nancy. Looks like I'm stuck with this and have to
>> learn to compensate through trial and error.
>
> My ovens came with one rack like that and one "straight" rack.
> Yours
> came with two of the same?

I'm afraid so.

sf wrote:
> On Wed, 28 Oct 2009 09:58:39 -0700 (PDT), Chemo the Clown
> > wrote:
>
>> Why not return it and find an oven that has the features you want.
>> Did you look at it before you bought it??
>
> I'm sure she did, but it didn't register. Sometimes, you're so used
> to what you have that you don't even notice a feature variation like
> that until you're actually using it.

It was supplied by the retirement community. I did have the ability
to upgrade to a smoothtop but they determined which model it would be.
No choice on that.

On Oct 28, 12:54*pm, "Dora" > wrote:
> Nancy2 wrote:
> > On Oct 27, 4:04 pm, "Dora" > wrote:
> >> I have a brand-new electric oven in this community, obviously
> >> designed by a man who doesn't bake. With my previous one at my
> >> house, one rack was truly at the middle of the oven. With this one,
> >> the rack guides are so placed that one rack is above the center and
> >> the next is below it. I'm having a hard time with cakes and quick
> >> breads, etc. Does anyone have any rough guidelines for what should
> >> be placed where in the oven?
>
> >> Dora
> >> --
> >> Dora
> >>
>
> > Some electric stoves I have had in the past had racks that could be
> > positioned right-side up or upside down - one way puts the surface
> > of
> > the rack slightly above the grooves, and the other puts it slightly
> > below. *If your racks are like this (an "elbow" bend at both sides
> > of
> > one end), does that help?
>
> > N.
>
> Sadly, no. *They won't slide in when in an inverted position. *Good
> thought, though, Nancy. *Looks like I'm stuck with this and have to
> learn to compensate through trial and error.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

How far away from center is your next highest and next lowest? I
don't think a matter of an inch or even an inch and a half would make
any difference. I'd go for a thermometer in any case, like another
poster suggested, and see if the thermostat is out of whack.

N.

>
> I'm sure she did, but it didn't register. *Sometimes, you're so used
> to what you have that you don't even notice a feature variation like
> that until you're actually using it. *
>

I can attest to that - I thought every electric clothes dryer had a
light inside it. Huh. Nope. I finally, last year, was able to get
rid of that one and buy a new one. That's the first question I asked
when I was shopping.

N.

On Oct 28, 1:41*pm, "Dora" > wrote:
> Chemo the Clown wrote:
> > On Oct 27, 2:04 pm, "Dora" > wrote:
> >> I have a brand-new electric oven in this community, obviously
> >> designed by a man who doesn't bake. With my previous one at my
> >> house, one rack was truly at the middle of the oven. With this one,
> >> the rack guides are so placed that one rack is above the center and
> >> the next is below it. I'm having a hard time with cakes and quick
> >> breads, etc. Does anyone have any rough guidelines for what should
> >> be placed where in the oven?
>
> >> Dora
> >> --
> >> Dora
> >>
>
> > Why not return it and find an oven that has the features you want.
> > Did
> > you look at it before you bought it??
>
> I didn't buy it. *I'm in a retirement community and it came with the
> territory. *It's a brand-new smoothtop.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Here's an idea - maybe someone already thought of it: Put an empty
baking pan - appropriate size for whatever pan you are putting your to-
be-baked stuff in - upside down on the rack which is on the lower-than-
middle groove, and then put your to-be-baked goods on top. The hollow
inside of the extra pan in this configuration should not interfere
with heat distribution. You can find pans of all depths, so you could
use one that is 1 inch deep, 1 1/2, 2, 3, or whatever makes your item
that's baking the right height in the oven.

N.

Dora wrote:
>
> I have a brand-new electric oven in this community, obviously designed
> by a man who doesn't bake. With my previous one at my house, one rack
> was truly at the middle of the oven. With this one, the rack guides
> are so placed that one rack is above the center and the next is below
> it. I'm having a hard time with cakes and quick breads, etc. Does
> anyone have any rough guidelines for what should be placed where in
> the oven?
>
> Dora
> --
> Dora
>

Some oven shelves have an offset and can be used either side up
providing two height positions for each oven slot.

Put a rack and a pizza stone at the bottom position permanently and it
will improve temperature stability as well as eliminate radiant heat
burning on the bottom of items.

Nancy2 wrote:
>> I'm sure she did, but it didn't register. Sometimes, you're so used
>> to what you have that you don't even notice a feature variation like
>> that until you're actually using it.
>>
>
> I can attest to that - I thought every electric clothes dryer had a
> light inside it. Huh. Nope. I finally, last year, was able to get
> rid of that one and buy a new one. That's the first question I asked
> when I was shopping.
>
> N.

Sounds like me and the door-closed broiler.

--
Jean B.

> Nancy2 wrote:
>> I can attest to that - I thought every electric clothes dryer had a
>> light inside it. Huh. Nope. I finally, last year, was able to get
>> rid of that one and buy a new one. That's the first question I asked
>> when I was shopping.
>>
>> N.

Never had a dryer with a light and never missed it. What is the purpose?
Seriously, don't you just put stuff in and take it out when done? I never
thought about browsing through a pile of clothes but maybe if I had a light,
I'd like it.