Do I need to pre-heat the oven?

Do you have a fan oven, if so, there is no need 🙂

Hi Connie

I think it depends on how the oven is heated. In days gone by when most ovens were electric and were made of thick metal it took about 20 minutes to warm them up, hence many recipes said to heat them first. Modern gas and fan assisted ovens have changed that.

If you are baking a cake, pie or Yorkshire puddings where it is important to heat the item quickly in order to improve texture, I would still put the item to be cooked into a ready-heated oven. Roasts and casseroles don't need a hot oven immediately. You will learn as you gain experience with your cooking.

Bon appetit!

Jo and Caroline,

Thanks for your helpful replies.

I have a gas oven. It doesn't have a thermostat or temperature gauge, so I can't say for sure how long it takes to reach the required temperature, but I get the impression it heats up very quickly - probably just three or four minutes. So it sounds like it's not a problem.

But I take your point, Caroline, about cakes and pies. I'll bear that in mind as I progress with my cooking.

Connie

beside the knob for the temp of the oven there should be a right light when the oven heats up to the temp that the reciepe needs the light will go out. most reciepes do need the oven preheated even a roast as it seals the meat and keeps the juices in, but as others say it is trial and error, enjoy experimenting.

Thanks for that, Crystal Rose. My previous oven (which was electric and fan-assisted) had a light like the one you mentioned. But my present gas oven doesn't.

It's not that the light doesn't work. It's just not there. (I checked the manual, and it doesn't mention it.)

I preferred my old oven. I'm finding it hard to get used to gas. But I'll persevere.

Connie