Quick Tip: Preheat Your Cookie Sheets!

During our recent move, we misjudged where our steps were and landed ourselves out of commission for 5 days. Only being able to lay flat in bed, we spent a good amount of time in front of the TV, catching up on Food Network (although by day 5 we were ready to never hear the word "Yummo" again!). But one idea caught our attention and when we were back on our feet, we gave it a try...

It was suggested that when baking things in the oven that require flipping, to preheat your cookie sheets. Now, we've never been big on flipping our food, we much prefer the "scoot and shuffle" method. It just seems so laborious to flip each individual, fry, tater tot or piece of bacon one by one... by one...

So when we were back on our feet we hit the kitchen full steam ahead and gave this small, off the cuff tip a test run. We placed our cookie sheets in the oven while it was preheating and then placed our hand cut french fries out on freshly warmed sheet.

To our surprise, because the cookie sheet was able to start cooking the bottom side instantly, we didn't have to flip our potatoes at all! It worked like a charm and although we don't suggest this sort of thing for cookies or baking of any kind, it worked wonderfully with starchy foods that always end up soggy on one side!

Give it a try next time you're starting dinner!

Do you have a quick tip that saves you time in the kitchen? Leave us a note in the comments below and let us know!

(Image: Flickr Member ArielAmanda licensed for use under Creative Commons)

Comments (8)

"yummo" is not a word and you have my sympathy for having to watch any Rachel Ray at all.

If I'm frying eggs, I put the lid on the pan so the top firms up before the bottom browns (I hate browned egg). It makes them much easier to flip, too.

"we misjudged where our steps were and landed ourselves out of commission ... we spent a good amount of time in front of the TV, catching up on Food Network"

how many of you were on the ladder..the "We" always cracks me up!

If I'm not mistaking that (the preheating of the baking sheet) is one tip that Rachael Ray gave on her show. It might not be from her but it is where I heard it!...You can like the "Yummo" or not ;)

Good suggestion-I'll have to try it!

And...glad to hear you are back on your feet again.

That is a great suggestion! File that in the "how come I didn't think of it?" pile.

http://www.abreadaday.com

I've never had an issue with sogginess. I always flip my fries because otherwise, the side on the pan gets too brown and crisp, while the other 3 sides don't get crisp at all. I don't understand how this would helps? Maybe it works in electric ovens, but not gas?

cara_mia,
I've got an electric oven, and have the same problem as you. I don't think it's the type of oven so much as distance of the food from the heat source. The type of pan makes a huge difference, too. Some simply brown foods more efficiently than others.

I always thought the "we" in these posts represent the writer of the article friend, roommate, significant other, etc. Not sure why so many people find the need to point it out (often to the point of angry rants, though luckily not in this post!)

Good idea about the cookie sheets. I'll probably use this for roasting veggies, but am not so sure it'd be a good idea for cookies (they might overbake or spread too much).