AEG Electrolux U88106 User Manual page 19

Hints and tips when using the top oven
• Arrange the shelves in the required positions before switching the oven ON. Shelf posi-
tions are counted from the bottom upwards.
• There should always be at least 2.5cm (1") between the top of the food and the element.
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. Enam-
elware, dark, heavy or non-stick 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 and lower temperatures, shorter cooking times are
sometimes required. Be guided by the recommendations given in the cooking chart.
• For economy leave the door open for the shortest possible time, particularly when placing
food into a pre-heated oven.
Hints and tips when using fan cooking
• Arrange the shelves in the required positions before switching the oven on. Shelf posi-
tions are counted from the bottom upwards.
• When cooking more than one dish in the fan oven, place dishes centrally on different
shelves rather than placing several dishes on one shelf, this will allow the heat to circulate
freely for the best cooking results.
• When batch baking one type of food, e.g. Victoria sandwich cakes, those of similar size
will be cooked in the same time.
• It is recommended that when baking larger quantities the shelf positions should be evenly
spaced to suit the load being cooked. A slight increase in cooking time may be necessary.
• Do not place baking trays directly on the oven base as it interferes with the oven air
circulation and can lead to base burning; use the lower shelf position.
Hints and tips when defrosting
• Place the frozen food in a single layer where possible and turn it over half way through
the defrosting process.
• The actual speed of defrosting is influenced by room temperature. On warm days de-
frosting will be faster than on cooler days.
• It is preferable to thaw fish, meat and poultry slowly in the fridge. However, this process
can be accelerated by using the defrost function. Small or thin fish fillets, frozen peeled
prawns, cubed or minced meat, liver, thin chops, steaks etc., can be thawed in 1 – 2 hours.
• A 1kg/2¼lb oven ready chicken will be thawed in approximately 5 hours. Remove the
giblets as soon as possible during the thawing process.
• Joints of meat up to 2kg/4½lb in weight can be thawed using the defrost function.
• All joints of meat and poultry must be thawed thoroughly before cooking.
• Always cook thoroughly immediately after thawing.
• Do not leave food at room temperature once it is defrosted. Cook raw food immediately
or store cooked food in the fridge, once it has cooled.
Use, tables and tips
19