It’s getting warmer outside. The sun is out, the pool and popsicles are on everyone’s mind, and the last thing you want right now is a sweltering kitchen. But if you need some cookies to satisfy a craving or if that delicious casserole can’t stop calling your name, you can definitely still bake even though it’s summer. There are some clever ways to use your oven that can also help prevent your kitchen from becoming a sauna. Here are four ideas to help keep summer baking as cool as possible.
Tip 1: Bake Smart, Bake Small
Consider what you’re baking. It takes hours in the oven to cook a massive roast chicken, and the oven is hot the entire time. Small baked goods, such as a dozen muffins or a small pizza, cook significantly faster. This means the oven is on for a shorter period of time, and less heat leaks out of the oven and into your kitchen. If you are making a meal that is normally cooked in a larger batch, consider splitting it up into small parts. For example, bake smaller rolls instead of one huge loaf of bread. Smaller batches cook much faster, and the oven won’t be cranking out heat for as long.
Tip 2: Embrace the Evening Bake
The time of day that you choose to bake can be an important factor. The afternoon tends to be the warmest. If possible, plan to use your oven at cooler times of the day, such as early in the morning or in the evening after the sun has set a bit. The air outside is cooler while the sun is setting, so any heat that your oven adds to the equation won’t have as much of an effect on the overall temperature of your kitchen. It’s a small shift, but postponing your pie baking until dusk can be a significant help in keeping cool.
Tip 3: Use Your Oven Wisely
A lot of heat escapes into your kitchen every time you open the oven door. There is no need to open the oven repeatedly. Use the oven light instead of opening the door to peek.
If you have multiple items to bake, bake them in succession so that the oven remains warm and you’re not reheating it repeatedly. This saves energy as well as lessens the amount of heat that goes into your cooking environment.
Tip 4: Ventilation Is Your Friend
Make certain that your kitchen is properly ventilated while operating the oven. Use your range hood fan when you’re cooking; it’s there for a reason. This fan pulls the hot air out of your kitchen and expels it outside. If you don’t have a range hood, at least try opening a window or two, especially if you can get a cross-breeze going. Even a small fan directed out of a window can help to push the hot air outside and draw in cooler air. Great air circulation can honestly make a big difference in how comfortable your kitchen will feel when the oven is on.
To make sure your oven functions optimally this summer, you must schedule maintenance. Since this season is a time for relaxation, you want to do everything in your power to avoid any appliance repair emergencies. Call Hotshot Appliance to have your oven serviced so that you can get your Olathe, KS home ready for the summer.
