Tips for baking and cooking at high altitude
Baking and cooking at high altitude can be tricky, but with a few adjustments you can use your Whirlpool® Wall Oven to create your family’s favorite recipes. Use this guide to learn more about how high altitudes affect cooking and how to adjust recipes to work at different elevations so you can make the most of your time in the kitchen.
Does high altitude really affect baking?
Yes, high altitude does affect baking and cooking. This is because the higher you are in elevation, the lower the air pressure is. Low air pressure can cause raised batters to deflate or moist dishes to dry out as liquids evaporate more quickly at high altitudes.
When baking in select Whirlpool® Convection Ovens, Convection Conversion automatically adjusts cook times and temps so you can easily get the right convection cooking temperature. Your Whirlpool® oven automatically converts traditional recipes for convection cooking, adjusting cooking times and temperatures for you.
What is considered high altitude for baking?
Most people think of high altitude as being 8,000 ft. above sea level or higher. For baking purposes, high altitude is considered to be 3,500 ft. or more above sea level. At this elevation the air pressure is lower and the air is thinner, which can affect how your food cooks.
Ovens from Whirlpool brand can help you get dinner on the table, no matter what altitude you’re cooking in. You can get evenly distributed hot air with True Convection Cooking, which cooks foods faster1 with the addition of a third element plus a fan that distributes hot air evenly over, under and around food so dinner is ready right on time.
How do I adjust recipes for high altitude?
You can cook and bake in high altitude areas by making a few alterations to your recipe, like changing the oven temperature, baking time and amount of ingredients used like leavening, flour, sugar and liquids. Only make one adjustment at a time so you don’t throw off the entire recipe.
Your Whirlpool® Wall Oven or Range can still help you get dinner on the table in high altitudes when you use the right techniques. Read on below to learn how to adjust your baking recipes for high altitude.
1. Oven temperatures
One way to adjust for high altitudes is to increase the heat in your oven when baking. Increase the oven temperature by 15–25ºF when you are 3,500+ ft above sea level. For example, if you are 8,500 ft. above sea level and a recipe calls for you to preheat your oven to 350ºF, you would adjust the temperature to 375º F.
With Whirlpool® Ovens, you can adjust temperatures and get the right settings every time with Scan-to-Cook Technology. Scan a frozen food barcode with your smartphone or tablet and send recommended or customized cooking instructions straight to your oven or microwave for dinner done the way your family wants it.2
2. Baking time
If you are baking in a high altitude area, you may need to adjust the baking time for your recipe. This is because the air pressure is lower and the air is thinner at high altitudes, which can affect how your food cooks. You can do this by subtracting 5–8 minutes per 30 minutes bake time for every 1,000 ft you are above 3,500 ft.
3. Leavening agents
When baking at high altitudes, you may need to use less leavening agent in your recipe. This is because the air pressure is lower and the air is thinner, which can cause baked goods to rise too much or too fast. For every 1 teaspoon of leavening agent, decrease by 1/8 of a teaspoon to keep baked goods from rising too much.
4. Flour
You may need to use more flour when baking at high altitudes. Since the air is thinner at higher altitudes, your baked goods may need more structural stability. To adjust the recipe for higher elevation, you can add 1–2 tablespoons of flour per cup for every 1,000 ft. you are above 3,500 ft.
5. Sugar
Another factor you may want to adjust in your recipe is the sugar measurement. When baking at a high elevation, you can reduce the sugar by 1 tablespoon per cup for every 1,000 ft. you are above 3,500 ft.
6. Liquids
You may need to use more liquid when cooking or baking at a high altitude because the air is thinner and causes moisture to evaporate more quickly. To account for this, you can add 1–2 tablespoons of liquid per cup for every 1,000 ft. you are above 3,500 ft. You can also try using an extra-large egg in place of a regular egg, as this will add both liquid and fat to your recipe.
Shop Whirlpool® Wall Ovens
Explore Whirlpool® Wall Ovens to find the right model for your kitchen. Whether you need a Double Oven to bake multiple dishes for large gatherings or a Single Oven to prepare daily meals for your family, Whirlpool brand has the options to fit your needs.
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1. Compared to a traditional thermal-bake cycle on the same model.
2. Select frozen foods only. Appliance must be set to remote enable. WiFi & App Required. Features subject to change. Details and privacy info at whirlpool.com/connect.
