Come holiday season, your oven is going to see heavy use. Whether it’s baking delectable cookies and pies, turning out beautiful breakfast bakes for Christmas morning, delivering the perfect side dishes, or roasting the holiday beast, your oven will be working nonstop—and you’ll depend on it to be in perfect working order. How can you be sure that it is?
Calibrate It
Of all preparations, it’s most important to make sure the temperature inside the oven matches the setting you’ve chosen. If you don’t have an oven thermometer, this is the perfect time to get one. (We’ll wait.) Oven temperatures do fluctuate, so once the oven has preheated, check the thermometer repeatedly over a 10- to 15-minute period. Some ovens can vary up to 50° from their set temperature, and that wide of a range can have a huge impact on cooking. Think about it—50° too cool, and you’ll have a hard time getting that lovely brown crust on your holiday rib roast. Fifty degrees too hot, and your most delicate cookies will go from underdone to singed in the blink of an eye.
Depending on the kind of oven you have, you may be able to calibrate it yourself; check the owner’s manual, either in print or online. If you can’t find either type of manual (and you don’t have time to call a specialist), just compensate with basic math—set the oven higher or lower by the number of degrees by which the temperature is off.
Level It
This step is super important if you’re a baker. Turkeys and roasts probably won’t be affected by a slight incline, but a cheesecake or a pumpkin pie certainly will, and you’ll get more professional results if your oven doesn’t introduce a natural tilt to the top of a cake. Grab a carpenter’s level (if you don’t have one in your household toolbox, you can pick one up at the hardware store for a few bucks) and lay it across the top of the oven—first across the width, then from front to back. If the oven isn’t level in either direction, pull it away from the wall and adjust the height. (Having a partner can be helpful here.) Most ovens have adjustable feet mounted on threaded screws; you can raise one or more corners of the appliance quickly and easily simply by twisting them. Check again with the level until you’re satisfied. Your baked goods will thank you.
Clean It
A shiny, clean oven will certainly impress visiting friends and family, but on the practical side, a dirty oven can interfere with cooking times. However tempting, don’t use the self-clean setting for a last-minute scrub. The self-cleaning cycle works by raising the oven temperature to anywhere from 800° to over 1,000°, burning the food residue inside to ash; it actually puts stress on the appliance, and is the most likely time for the oven to break down. Not what you want on the day before you’re due to serve the Thanksgiving turkey or the Christmas ham to a dozen guests! Plus, it’s always a good idea to open windows for the best possible ventilation when using the self-cleaning setting, and if you live in a cooler climate, that may not be an option around Christmastime. We wrote about the easiest ways to clean your oven, here.
A few simple steps—calibrate, level, clean—and your oven will be as ready for the holiday season as you are!
Crown Roast of Pork with Mushroom Dressing
It looks so elegant that everyone thinks I really fussed when I serve this roast. But it's actually so easy! The biggest challenge is to remember to order the crown roast from the meat department ahead of time. —Betty Claycomb, Alverton, Pennsylvania
Stuffed Turkey with Mojo Sauce
I love Latin food so I created this recipe that combines wonderful spices and fresh ingredients. This is a traditional turkey recipe with a healthier twist because it uses chicken sausage instead of chorizo. —Melissa Lauer, San Antonio, Texas
Restaurant-Style Prime Rib
I have served this recipe to people visiting the U.S. from all over the world and to dear friends, family and neighbors. It is enjoyed and raved about by all. It makes an excellent main dish for a Christmas feast. —Kelly Williams, Forked River, New Jersey
Fruit-Pecan Pork Roast
This spectacular roast was a huge hit with members of the cooking club I belong to. The sweet, tangy fruit glaze looks lovely and is a wonderful complement to the juicy pork. It's a family favorite for special occasions and holidays. -Gay Flynn, Bellevue, Nebraska
Creole Roasted Turkey with Holy Trinity Stuffing
I jazz up turkey Creole style with the trinity of onions, bell peppers and celery—plus a stuffing that gets hotter and hotter the longer it sits. —Eric Olsson, Macomb, Michigan
Spicy Kale and Herb Porchetta
Serve this classic Italian specialty as a main entree or with crusty artisan bread as a sandwich. Use the liquid from the slow cooker with your favorite seasonings to make a sauce or gravy. —Sandi Sheppard, Norman, Oklahoma
Beef Tenderloin with Sauteed Vegetables
This is the most elegant, tender beef. It’s made the classic French way—so easy! —cleo gonske, redding, California
Roasted Orange Turkey
I like to bake my turkey a little different every year, so I came up with an orange mixture to rub under the skin. It gives the meat a delicate orange flavor that tastes even better the next day. —Brenda Brooks, Bowie, Maryland
Roast Pork with Apples & Onions
The sweetness of the apples and onions really complements the roast pork. With its crisp skin and melt-in-your-mouth flavor, this is my family's favorite weekend dinner. —Lily Julow, Lawrenceville, Georgia
Prime Rib with Fresh Herb Sauce
Nothing says “special occasion” like a perfectly seasoned prime rib. Savory, succulent, tender, it’s the perfect choice when you want to share something truly divine. —Tonya Burkhard, Palm Coast, Florida
Roast Chicken with Creole Stuffing
I've used this recipe ever since I roasted my first chicken. Our whole family looks forward to it. The combination of shrimp, sausage, ham, vegetables and seasonings makes the stuffing unique and delicious.
Roasted Sage Turkey with Vegetable Gravy
There’s no place like home-style when roasting the big bird. Instead of sage stuffing with turkey, stuff this bird with fresh sage and sprigs of thyme. —Beth Jacobson, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Beef Tenderloin with Pomegranate Chutney
When I want to show family and friends some culinary love, I roast a tenderloin and serve it with a sweet-tart pomegranate and apple chutney. —Devon Delaney, Westport, Connecticut
Moist Cranberry Pork Roast
I love to serve guests this tender, flavorful pork. You don’t have to toil away in the kitchen to prepare it, yet it tastes like a gourmet meal. —Kimberley Scasny, Douglasville, Georgia
Standing Rib Roast
Treat your family to tender slices of standing rib roast or use the seasoning blend on a different beef roast for a hearty, delicious main dish. I love to prepare this recipe for special occasions. —Lucy Meyring, Walden, Colorado
Cranberry-Orange Roasted Turkey
You'll have an elegant centerpiece to your meal with this tender, juicy turkey. The cranberry makes it so good. It has such a wonderful aroma and flavor. —Kara de la Vega, Santa Rosa, California
Garlic-Apple Pork Roast
This is the meal I have become famous for, and it is so simple. The garlic and apple flavors really compliment the pork. It's great with steamed fresh asparagus and roasted red potatoes. —Jennifer Loos, Washington Boro, Pennsylvania
Lemon & Sage Roasted Chicken
Whether it’s soaking in marinade or baking in the oven, this easy-to-prepare chicken allows ample hands-free time. —Jan Valdez, Chicago, Illinois
Cherry Balsamic Pork Loin
After having a wonderful cherry Brie topping from a local market, I just knew I had to create one for pork. If you're really crazy about cherries, add even more to the slow cooker. —Susan Stetzel, Gainesville, New York
Orange Roasted Turkey
When we roast a turkey for the holidays, we use orange marmalade for a tangy glaze that gives the bird’s outer skin awesome flavor. —Lee Bremson, Kansas City, Missouri
Lemon & Thyme Roasted Chicken
I love lemon and thyme together so I decided to roast a chicken with that combo. The seasoning is simple, and the meat comes out moist and tender. —Pam Nelson, Beaverton, Oregon
Glazed Roast Chicken
A few pantry items inspired this recipe, which I've since made for small weeknight meals or for big parties. The quince jelly comes from my boss, who grows the fruit in his own backyard. —Victoria Miller, San Ramon, CaliforniaCreole Roasted Turkey with Holy Trinity Stuffing
I jazz up turkey Creole style with the trinity of onions, bell peppers and celery—plus a stuffing that gets hotter and hotter the longer it sits. —Eric Olsson, Macomb, Michigan
Italian Crumb-Crusted Beef Roast
Italian-style panko crumbs and seasoning give this roast beef a special touch—it's a nice, effortless weeknight meal. That way, you can put your energy into relaxing. —Maria Regakis, Somerville, Massachusetts
Balsamic Roast Chicken
When the aroma from this dish fills your house, your family will think you spent all day cooking. But this elegant, Sunday-special roast chicken, flavored with rosemary, wine and balsamic vinegar, is surprisingly simple to make. —Tracy Tylkowski, Omaha, Nebraska
Apple Roasted Pork with Cherry Balsamic Glaze
I added roasted apples, cherries and onions to turn ordinary pork into an impressive dish. There is a short time span between caramelized onions and burnt ones, so pay close attention once they start cooking. —Josh Downey, McHenry, Illinois
Salt-Encrusted Rib Roast
A rib roast is a big part of our holiday dinner traditions. We love the yellow mustard, but you can use your favorite—Dijon and others are fair game. —Rebecca Wirtzberger, Yuma, Arizona
