When you bake, your food is cooked in the oven by hot, moving air. Meat, chicken, fish, vegetables, fruit, grains, and legumes (peas and dried beans) can all be baked. This is a healthy way to prepare food because you don't need to add fat, such as oil or butter, to most foods when you bake them. Recipes for baked goods like cakes and breads do call for some fat. back to top

Baking tips

• Follow the recipe and preheat the oven so it's at the right temperature when you are ready to put the food in.
• To keep meats, vegetables, and fruit moist, cover the pan, wrap them in foil, or baste them while cooking (spoon liquid, like cooking juices or water, over the food). Be sure to protect your hands from burns by wearing oven mitts.
• Keep some space between baking items so the hot air can reach all sides. This helps food cook evenly. back to top