Although my challenge can sometimes be finding the perfect chocolate chip cookie, I have another challenge to tackle any time I plan on baking a batch of cookies. It's my oven. Its relatively new but I find it quirky to say the least. These new fangled, computerized control panels make me nervous. For me, its my oven temperature. It seems to fluctuate, up and down and all around. It drives me crazy and is turning my hair gray with worry. I just can't count on a batch of cookies coming out the same twice. I cringe sometimes at the thought of checking on a batch that is baking. I wonder what my cookies are going to look like once I open the oven door. Sometimes they're perfect, but sometimes they are either 'melting' because the oven temp has dropped, or they are 'golden brown'....you know what I mean, burnt. Uhggg...
My motto or mantra that I always rely on...........perseverance, never give up.
That's right Sharon never give up!!! Sink or Swim... can't learn unless you fail, ... I'm sure there are lots more sayings like this, but you've grown into a really good baker!!! and sister too
ReplyDeleteTry, try again....another mantra of mine!!! Thanks for the post Debs.
ReplyDeleteI love COOKIES
ReplyDeleteMe too Carol!!! Some will be coming your way within the next week!!!!
DeletePlace an oven thermometer inside the oven where you can see it thru the door, if the temperature is really fluctuating as you say, then you either have a draft issue or your oven's sensor/regulator is not fuctioning correctly . . . Mike
ReplyDeleteHi Mike,
DeleteI actually do have and use an oven thermometer and sometimes I even break out my big gun, my laser thermometer (which takes the temp of the surface walls.) My 'household' FoodNetwork thermometer stays put in my oven all the time and that is how I can see that the temp fluctuates on me. I even had a tech come out early last fall to check the oven out, as I was so frustrated and getting ready to start my Christmas cookie bake-off and didn't want too many headaches. But he did 'his tests' and found the oven to be calibrated and in no need of re-calibrating.
He basically told me that these new digital ovens and stoves are not like the dare I say 'old-fashioned' ovens of our mothers time. They have to come to temp gradually and fluctuate as they do. His basic advice was to make sure I REALLY preheat my oven. For up to 45 minutes.....ugghhh... Who would have thought.
So I've learned (sometimes) to pay attention to each batch of cookies in the oven. Watching carefully and not relying solely on my 'bake 6 minutes, rotate, bake 6 minutes more." Because sometimes is 6 minutes, then 6 minutes but sometimes its 6 minutes, rotate and 3 minutes more. Do you see where I'm going here???
As always is the case, its a learning experience and keeps me on my toes.
Sharon