Ever hear that expression, "cooking with gas"? I've been cooking with gas in a literal sense all my adult life. Figuratively, of course, my "cooking with gas" (being efficient or enthusiastic) waxes and wanes. Lately, more waning than waxing, I'm afraid. Nevertheless, here in the Sweet Posy kitchen, we've been cooking with gas in a new stove the last week or so.
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| Shiny and new |
One recent morning, I opened the oven to put in a sheet of biscuits, and the oven was stone cold. Had I forgotten to turn it on? Nope. The burners still worked, but the oven ignitor or some such thing had gone out. Since the stove was just a couple months shy of twenty years old, we decided it made more sense to get a new one than repair it. We went online and found a Kenmore on sale that was well reviewed by Consumer Reports and that could be delivered in a mere four days. So in no time at all, two nice men showed up with a new stove, brought it in, hooked it up, and hauled away our old GE Profile.
Here's where things get tricky. The new stove has a luxurious self-cleaning convection oven -- a first for me, both the self-cleaning and the convection. I am excited to try both, but first, I have to figure out how to use the gosh-darned digital timer! I have baked three things in the new stove so far, and I have only gotten the timer to work once. Each time, I look carefully in the manual, then I somehow freak out and press Cook Time in addition to Timer. Or I hit Stop and turn off the whole oven when I only want to stop the timer. Or I think I know what I'm doing (famous last words) and I advance the timer past nine minutes and then it goes back to one instead of up to ten. I have resorted to using my microwave timer, which is also digital, but despite that, somehow I can make it work. I'm sure I'll figure it out eventually.
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| The tricky control panel: How can it be so confusing? I guess I'm just better with knobs. |
What I like about the new stove is that, first of all, it's so clean! That's always a plus. Second, baked goods are turning out really well so far. Today, for example, I made almond poppy seed bread (earlier post about that recipe is here) to take to a friend as a housewarming gift. I have occasionally had trouble with the bottoms and sides of the almond breads/cakes turning out a bit overcooked. But today's loaves turned out with gorgeous golden sides.
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| Perfect! No overbrowning. |
All in all, I'm pleased with the stove. If I ever figure out that timer, I'll really be cooking with gas.
*UPDATE: Whoo hoo! I just set the timer! Writing this post and publicly shaming myself was obviously the trick!
*UPDATE: Whoo hoo! I just set the timer! Writing this post and publicly shaming myself was obviously the trick!
*Further Update: I think I might have turned off the whole oven when I set that timer. Went back and my meatballs were still cold. Hmmm.
Yes, there's always a learning curve with new appliances. And I find that sometimes they are not better. For example, my new washing machine does not have a timer and I miss it dearly. I couldn't find one in the appliance store with a timer and was told washers don't include timers anymore. Or at least not the ones my local dealer carries.
ReplyDeleteI don't believe I've ever had a timer on a washing machine, only on a dryer. Our new-ish washer's lid locks any time it is running, not just when it is spinning. That's been an irritating feature. Change is hard!
DeleteThat bread turned out beautifully. Glad the new stove cooks so evenly. Best wishes with the timer. I hate to get accustomed to something new!!!
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the timer! I've had mine for 7 years and I still manage to turn off the whole oven instead of just the timer. I just go with the microwave or the old fashioned turning kind now.
ReplyDeleteGreat to see you are back blogging again!
ReplyDeleteI have a timer on my cooker.....used it about once and still use my old kitchen timer.....difficult to break old habits!! That bread looks delicious...a lovely colour!
Many thanks for your kind comment on my latest post.
keep well
Amanda :-)
Glad you got the timer working! lol I can't cook/bake without mine anymore!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the NEW stove... Those timers are tricky --and they seem to be different in EVERY single thing you BUY.... (Think they do that to confuse us ---which works!!!! ha)
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Betsy
I still have to get the manual out to set my auto timer and I've had the oven for 13 years!
ReplyDeleteThe stir-fries taste particularly great when making in a gas stove.That poppy seed bread has turned out perfect! Good luck with timer!
ReplyDeleteAngie
Me encanta su pan alto,Feliz Pascua,abrazos
ReplyDeleteThis must be a magic stove, the bread looks very delicious! Good luck with the timer
ReplyDeleteI prefer cooking with gas!!! :D
ReplyDeleteYou gotta love a new oven! It looks a lot like mine. We just bought this one a couple years ago. I'd be so lost without my gas oven. Before Brian and I got married I had an electric oven in my apartment. I caught two of them on fire! I was able to get them both out by cutting the power and using a fire extinguisher. The owner of the building probably hated me. All I did was bake cookies and muffins.
ReplyDeleteHow lovely to have a new oven. I don't know why everything has to be digital - it can be so problematic. I had a dishwasher with an electronic panel and because it stayed warm, cockroaches were drawn to it and they broke it so twice I had to have the panel replaced at $300 a pop. (We moved house to get away from those cockroaches; they were out of control no matter what I did). Anyway, I'm glad you're getting the hang of the new timer and I'm glad it's so clean and you're getting good results with your cooking xx
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