This gives best cooking results and allows room for rise in yeast mixtures, Yorkshire puddings, etc. When cooking cakes, pastry, scones, bread, etc., place the tins or baking trays centrally on the shelf. Ensure that food is placed centrally on the shelf and there is sufficient room around the baking tray/dish to allow for maximum circulation. Stand dishes on a suitably sized baking tray on the shelf to prevent spillage onto the oven base and to help reduce cleaning. The material and finish of the baking tray and dishes used affect base browning. Enamelware, dark, heavy or nonstick utensils increase base browning. Shiny aluminium or polished steel trays reflect the heat away and give less base browning. Because of the smaller cooking space, lower temperatures and shorter cooking times are sometimes required. Do not place dishes directly onto the oven base as it becomes very hot and damage may occur. For economy leave the door open for the shortest possible time, particularly when placing food into a pre-heated oven.
Do not place cookware and cooking pots with rough bases e.g. cast iron on the oven door as damage to the glass may occur.
