Yes, people commonly use ovens in their homes for cooking a wide range of dishes. Ovens offer several advantages over regular stovetop cooking, including:
Baking: Ovens are primarily used for baking, allowing you to prepare a variety of baked goods such as cakes, bread, cookies, pastries, and pies. The even heat distribution in an oven helps ensure consistent and controlled baking.
Roasting: Ovens are ideal for roasting meats, poultry, vegetables, and even fruits. Roasting in an oven helps achieve caramelization, tenderness, and a rich flavor profile.
Casseroles and baked dishes: Oven-friendly dishes like casseroles, lasagnas, gratins, and baked pasta dishes require extended cooking times and benefit from the gentle and even heat of an oven.
Slow cooking: Ovens can be used for slow cooking techniques, such as braising and stewing. These methods involve cooking food slowly at low temperatures for a long duration to develop rich flavors and tenderize tougher cuts of meat.
Broiling: Many ovens have a broiler function, which exposes food to direct heat from the top element. Broiling is great for achieving a golden-brown crust on dishes like steaks, fish fillets, and cheese-topped dishes.
Dehydrating and drying: Ovens can be used for dehydrating fruits, vegetables, or making homemade jerky. By using low temperatures and leaving the oven door slightly ajar, moisture is gradually removed, preserving the food's flavor and texture.
While stovetop cooking in regular hot pans is versatile and efficient for many cooking tasks, ovens provide a different set of capabilities and are particularly well-suited for the dishes mentioned above. The choice between using an oven or a regular hot pan depends on the specific recipe and the desired cooking technique.