⚙ Preheating the Oven: How to Do It and How Long It Takes

Preheating the Oven takes 12 min most of the time.

Put things in the oven only once it's reached temperature, after the heating light has gone off: an oven that hasn't reached temperature changes baking times, and the bake burns outside or stays underbaked.

Time by Dish

Dish	Usual time
One-bowl oil cake	12 min
Roast Chicken	12 min
Butter Cookies	12 min
Oven-roasted fish	12 min
Oven-roasted vegetables	12 min
Savory pie in pastry	12 min
Crustless savory pie	12 min
Pan loaf	12 min
Melted chocolate cake	12 min
Pizza	12 min
Buns	12 min
Quiche (savory tart in shortcrust)	12 min

Examples from the Recipes

Preheat the oven to 200°C (390°F). Slice the baguette on the diagonal into 1 cm slices, arrange on a baking sheet, brush with the olive oil and bake 7–8 minutes, until the edges turn golden · 8 min · Beef Tartare on Baguette Crostini
Preheat the oven to 170°C (340°F) and grease Round pan and flour it · 12 min · Ricotta Lemon Cake
Preheat the oven to 175°C (345°F) and line Round pan with parchment paper · 12 min · Mocha Cake
Preheat the oven to 180°C (355°F) and grease Round pan of 22 cm · 12 min · Fig and Walnut Cake with Honey
Preheat the oven to 175°C (345°F) and grease a round pan 24 cm in diameter · 12 min · Victoria Sponge
Preheat the oven to 250°C (480°F), with a cast-iron pot inside, 45 minutes · 45 min · Two Rustic Whole Wheat Sourdough Loaves

Tips

A home oven doesn't reach the heat of a professional pizza oven, but you can get close: preheat the oven to its maximum temperature (250°C (480°F)+) with a pizza stone or an upside-down baking sheet inside for at least 45 minutes before baking.
Roasting is what gives the stock its dark color and deep meaty flavor.
Crumpled parchment paper fits easily into the pan, and its high edges hold the cake as it rises in the high heat.