Forgot to check my oven temp before baking bread, disaster followed

I was baking sourdough for the morning shift and didn't let the oven preheat fully. The loaves came out dense and undercooked in the middle. It taught me that even small shortcuts can ruin hours of work. Now I always use a thermometer to double-check before anything goes in.

2 comments

2 Comments

palmer.jordan2d ago

Man I used to just trust the oven dial every time. Baked a pizza that came out soggy in the middle and cookies that spread into one giant mess. After a few fails like that, I finally bought an oven thermometer. Turns out my oven runs almost 25 degrees cold. Now I check it without fail.

fisher.anna2d ago

My last oven was off by about 20 degrees, but I just learned to add extra time. I mean @palmer.jordan, I see your point with the thermometer, but for me it's extra work. I usually watch my food and take it out when it seems done. Maybe it's just me, but I've made okay cookies without checking the temperature. After a few tries, you get a feel for how your oven runs. I'd rather use my own judgment than buy another thing to keep track of.