Recommended USE and Tips

How to read the cooking table

The table indicates the best function to use for any given food, to be cooked on one or more shelves at the same time. Cooking times start from the moment food is placed in the oven, excluding pre-heating (where required). Cooking temperatures and times are purely for guidance and will depend on the amount of food and type of accessory used. Use the lowest recommended values to begin with and, if the food is not cooked enough, then move on to higher values. Use the accessories supplied and preferably dark coloured metal cake tins and oven trays. You can also use pans and accessories in pyrex or stoneware, but bear in mind that cooking times will be slightly longer. To obtain best results, carefully follow the advice given in the cooking table for the choice of accessories (supplied) to be placed on the various shelves.

Cooking different foods at the same time

Using the “FORCED AIR” function, you can cook different foods which require the same cooking temperature at the same time (for example: fish and vegetables), using different shelves. Remove the food which requires less cooking time and leave food which requires longer cooking time in the oven.

Desserts

-Cook delicate desserts with the conventional function on one shelf only. Use dark coloured metal cake tins and always position them on the wire shelf supplied. To cook on more than one shelf, select the forced air function and stagger the position of the cake tins on the shelves, aiding optimum circulation of the hot air.

-To check whether a raising cake is cooked, insert a wooden toothpick into the centre of the cake. If the toothpick comes out clean, the cake is ready.

-If using non-stick cake tins, do not butter the edges as the cake may not rise evenly around the edges.

-If the cake “sinks” during cooking, set a lower temperature the next time, perhaps reducing the amount of liquid in the mixture and mixing more gently.

-For sweets with moist fillings (cheesecake or fruit pies) use the “CONVECTION BAKE” function. If the base of the cake is soggy, lower the shelf and sprinkle the bottom of the cake with breadcrumbs or biscuit crumbs before adding the filling.

Meat

-Use any kind of oven tray or pyrex dish suited to the size of the piece of meat being cooked. For roast joints, it is best to add some stock to the bottom of the dish, basting the meat during cooking for added flavour. When the roast is ready, let it rest in the oven for another 10-15 minutes, or wrap it in aluminium foil.

-When you want to grill meat, choose cuts with an even thickness all over in order to achieve uniform cooking results. Very thick pieces of meat require longer cooking times. To prevent the meat from burning on the outside, lower the position of the wire shelf, keeping the food farther away from the grill. Turn the meat two thirds of the way through cooking.

To collect the cooking juices it is advisable to place a drip-tray with half a litre of water directly under the grill on which the meat is placed. Top-up when necessary.

Turnspit (only in some models)

Use this accessory to evenly roast large pieces of meat and poultry. Place the meat on the rotisserie rod, tying it with string if chicken, and check that it is secure before inserting the rod in the seat located on the front wall of the oven and resting it on the respective support. To prevent smoke and to collect cooking juices, it is advisable to place a drip-tray with half a litre of water on the first level. The rod has a plastic handle which must be removed before starting to cook, and used at the end of cooking to avoid burns when taking the food out of the oven.

Pizza

Lightly grease the trays to ensure the pizza has a crispy base. Scatter the mozzarella over the pizza two thirds of the way through cooking.

Rising function

It is always best to cover the dough with a damp cloth before placing it in the oven. Dough proving time with this function is reduced by approximately one third compared to proving at room temperature (20-25°C). Proving time for a 1 Kg batch of pizza dough is around one hour.

EN18