Ovens are an important part of most homes. From baking delicious treats to making pizzas and roasting dinners, there is very little that these versatile kitchen appliances can’t handle. But despite the latest technology, these gadgets are not foolproof and require a lot of care and attention to function optimally. Avoiding certain mistakes while using the oven can help one get great results when cooking and baking and make the gadget more durable. Forgetting to preheat the oven One of the biggest mistakes to avoid while using an oven is not letting it preheat.  Preheating is especially important when  one wants to bake  goods like cookies, cakes, or brownies.  This is because it  sets the oven temperature at optimal levels for the ingredients to rise and cook as desired.  Putting a cake in a cold oven could result in a deflated cake that looks  rather  unappetizing. Similarly, preheating the oven also sets the stage for cooking meats and other produce. The heat and steam inside the oven instigate the Maillard reaction that allows the meats to brown/roast well and enhance their flavor. As a rule of thumb,  it is a good idea to set  the oven to preheat at least 10 minutes before putting food in.