Most homeowners think of their oven as the go-to appliance for foods like cookies, casseroles, bread and muffins. While baking is certainly the most common use for an oven, you may be shocked to find out how versatile this appliance is. Learn some surprising uses for your oven, and find out how much you can do with yours starting today.

Dehydrate Herbs, Fruits and More

If you’re a fan of homemade dry snacks, you may assume that you’d need to invest in an expensive dehydrator to make them. But your oven makes that unnecessary. It can handle low-and-slow drying jobs with relative ease. Set your oven to a low temperature of 170-200°F, and you’re ready to start dehydrating.

You can thinly slice virtually any fruit and lay it on a baking sheet with parchment paper. Leave the oven door slightly open so that moisture can escape. After a few hours, you should have preservative-free snacks to enjoy. You can use the same strategy to dehydrate herbs like rosemary and thyme. Preserving your garden harvest means you can always have fresh herbs on hand.

Make Homemade Yogurt

You may be shocked to find out that you can make yogurt in your oven. All you’ll need is some warm milk, a starter culture and an oft-forgotten heat source in your oven. After you’ve warmed and cooled your milk, mix your starter into it, and then pour the mixture into jars. Keep your oven turned off with the lights on, and place the jars inside.

You won’t even need to use the heat from the oven to make yogurt. The warmth generated by the light should heat the jars to the ideal temperature range, 100-110°F. Leave the jars in place for several hours, and then you’ll have creamy, homemade yogurt.

Bring the Restaurant Home

Have you ever wondered how restaurants always seem to bring your orders out on warm plates that keep the food hot throughout your meal? While many restaurants have plate warmers, you can use your oven for the same purpose.

Simply plate your food, and then put the plates on a baking sheet in your oven at the lowest temperature setting, around 150°F. The heat won’t be high enough to overcook your food, but you can enjoy your meal on a hot plate like you do at the restaurant.

Having a reliable oven allows you to do more than just bake. Whether yours needs repairs or replacement, our team is here to help. Call Hotshot Appliance to find out more about our stove and oven services for your Olathe, KS home.