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How Long To Bake

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red potatoThe best amount of time to bake small potatoes is 40 to 45 minutes in a 425-degree oven. Like when you’re making bigger baked potatoes, you’ll want to roast your mini potatoes until they’re crispy on the outside and soft all the way through the centers. It’s easy enough to know when they’re done: Just poke a few of the biggest ones with a knife to see if it slides in easily. The result is a delicious and simple side dish that’s great with almost any main course!

chicken wingsThe best bake time for chicken drumsticks is 35 to 45 minutes at 425 degrees. Baked chicken drumsticks are a perfect go-to option when you need to whip up a meal on the fly: They’re easy to prep, the time to bake drumsticks is minimal, and they’re delicious! You can also explore a wide range of flavoring options, from marinades to sauces (especially barbecue or Buffalo) to dry seasoning blends, to give your drumsticks a unique flair. You’ll know your drumsticks are done when the juices run clear, or you can use a meat thermometer: 165 is the temperature you’re looking for.

Pork chopThe best bake time for thin pork chops is around 15 to 20 minutes in a 375-degree oven. You’ll want to keep a very close eye on your pork chops to make sure that they don’t overcook: The thinner the pieces are, the more likely it is that they’ll turn out dry and tough. If your pork chops are thick enough to get a meat thermometer into, you’ll be looking for them to reach an internal temperature of 145 degrees; if you have trouble taking their temperature, you may need to cut one open and look inside to see if it’s done.

nachosYou can expect the bake time for nachos to be about 5 to 10 minutes at 400 degrees: Since the ingredients that go into nachos are pre-cooked, you’re really just looking to make sure that everything is hot and that the cheese is melted. Nachos are a great choice for almost any gathering, whether you’re hosting a birthday party or just having a few friends over to watch the game. It’s also really easy to make nachos at home in your own oven! You’ll want to start by cooking your protein, whether it’s seasoned beef, chicken, or pork. Then, layer your chips, meat, cheese, and any other toppings you like; popular additions include beans, jalapeno peppers, and/or chopped onions. Once the nachos are done baking, you can top them with sour cream, salsa, guacamole, or all three!

LasagnaUsing oven-ready lasagna noodles can be a real time-saver: It only takes about a half-hour for your lasagna to be done, with no pre-boiling required! You’ll want to cover your assembled lasagna with foil and bake it in a 350-degree oven for 30 minutes. Then, uncover the dish and pop it under the broiler for a minute or two, just until the cheese on top is lightly browned.

The key to a shorter lasagna bake time with uncooked noodles is how the no-boil noodles are made: They’re actually pre-cooked and then dehydrated before they’re packaged. This means that you don’t need to spend time boiling them before you assemble your lasagna, but it also means that it’s important not to make the sauce you use too dry: The noodles will suck up some of the water in the dish while they’re in the oven.

baked rollsThe typical bake time for rolls is 20 to 25 minutes at a temperature of 375 degrees. This assumes that you’re making dinner rolls from scratch: If you’re heating up brown-and-serve rolls from the store, it should only take around 10 minutes. Either way, you’ll know that they’re done when their crust has achieved a golden-brown hue. You’ll also be able to smell them as they reach warm, fluffy perfection: Freshly baked dinner rolls have an inviting aroma that’s sure to draw the whole family into the kitchen!

cupcakesThe bake time for mini cupcakes will be a bit shorter than for full-sized cupcakes, typically around 10 to 15 minutes at 350 degrees. Make sure to keep a close eye on them and start checking them at the 10-minute mark to avoid overbaking. To test mini cupcakes for doneness, stick a toothpick into the center of one: If the toothpick comes out clean, your cupcakes are done. Then, you can let them cool, add frosting, and enjoy your sweet little treats!

cakeDo cupcakes take less time to bake than a cake? Yes, but not by as much as you might think. The bake time for cupcakes is between 15 and 25 minutes at 350 degrees, while a full cake will take between 25 and 35 minutes. Whether you decide to make cupcakes, a layer cake, or a sheet cake, you’ll be able to test them for doneness in the same way: Just stick a toothpick into the center of the cake (or into the center of a cupcake that’s toward the middle of your cupcake pan) and pull it back out. If the toothpick comes out clean, your cake is ready to come out of the oven.

Chicken breastHow long to bake chicken when it’s frozen will depend on the size of the pieces you’re cooking. In general, plan on baking your chicken for about 50% longer than it would take if it were thawed. For example, since the average chicken breast takes 20 to 30 minutes to bake in a 350-degree oven, frozen chicken breasts should take between 30 and 45 minutes.

Here are a few tips for cooking chicken from frozen to meet the guidelines for cooking chicken safely:

  • Make sure that the chicken is in separate pieces, not frozen together in one big chunk.
  • Don’t cook frozen chicken in the microwave or in a slow cooker. It won’t cook quickly and evenly enough to prevent bacterial growth.

soft cookiesAs you might guess, the secret to soft, chewy cookies is partly in the bake time. Bake your cookies at 350 degrees for only about 8 to 10 minutes; when the edges and bottoms are just barely golden, pull them out of the oven. This technique works for most recipes, including our favorite chocolate chip cookies. Once you pull them out of the oven, remember that they’ll continue to cook a bit on the hot pan; the longer you leave them on the pan, the less likely it is that the finished cookies will be chewy.