Author Topic: What's the difference between roasting and baking?
Terminius_Est 
Title: Moon River
Posts: 40,732
Registered: Feb 27, '02
Extended Info (if available)
Real Post Cnt: 40,160
User ID: 651,096
Subject: What's the difference between roasting and baking?
My convection oven has convection bake and convection roast but aren't they essentially the same thing? confused

 

-----signature-----
There is no emotion, there is peace. There is no ignorance, there is knowledge.
There is no passion, there is serenity. There is no chaos, there is harmony.
There is no death, there is the FORCE.
Sci/Fi Bookshelf http://tinyurl.com/2z8u9h
Link to this post
Silverwuf 
Title: Have trike will babble
Posts: 32,958
Registered: Jul 5, '01
Extended Info (if available)
Real Post Cnt: 32,296
User ID: 225,902
Subject: What's the difference between roasting and baking?
I found this which supports what I suspected - roasting is higher temps and baking is lower temps, one with moisture, the other not so much.

http://www.ochef.com/1403.htm

Why Do Some Ovens Have Roast and Bake Settings?

If there is not a difference between roasting and baking, why do ovens have a baking setting and a roasting setting?

There are HUGE differences between roasting and baking. It's just that no one pays attention to them anymore. And really, no one can keep the stories straight anyway.

Our understanding is that roasting implied direct exposure to an open flame, while with baking the heat was indirect. Our dictionary says roasting involves no moisture and baking is to cook by dry heat – no great help there….

Madeleine Kamman, who is pretty sure of herself (even in her non-native tongue), essentially agrees with us, saying that roasting "in the old days" meant cooking meat on a spit over the "dancing flames of the hearth," while baking meant cooking meat in the dying heat of the bread baking oven.

Nowadays, she says, roasting or baking is a function of temperature. If you want succulent meat, you roast at 400°F (205°C) or above, and if you want good, "average tasting meat" and a good gravy, you bake at 325°F (160°C). The cut of meat you choose, however, plays a role in whether you decide to roast or bake. Better, tender cuts can be roasted, while lesser (but still good) cuts should be baked. (Still lesser cuts must be braised.)

Sharon Tyler Herbst agrees with the general temperature distinction between roasting and baking, but says that roasting also implies the use of some fat, either integral to the food, as duck fat, or added, as for roast potatoes.

All of this fascinating information gets you no closer to the answer to your question, however, does it?

Fancy modern ovens – especially convection ovens – do sometimes have both roast and bake settings. Which you choose determines whether only the bottom heating element turns on, whether the bottom and top both turn on, and/or whether the convection element turns on in connection with the bottom or top elements. We also find "convection roast" and "convection bake" settings in some ovens. Unfortunately, we have not found any consistency from manufacturer to manufacturer in what these settings mean.

In at least one Maytag convection oven we checked, they ask you to use the bake setting "for baking and roasting." The convection bake setting automatically lowers the temperature you set by 25°F, and the convection roast setting asks you to check your food when 75% of the anticipated time has elapsed. There is no additional heating element associated with the convection fan (and therefore some would disdain this as not a "true" or "European" or "true European" convection oven). As far as we can tell, Maytag's conventional ovens only have a bake setting, which, of course, is used "for baking and roasting."

Electrolux ovens do not have bake and roast settings, but they have bake, convection bake, and convection roast. Convection bake uses the lower heating element and the fan in the center of the back of the oven to circulate the heated air. Convection roast uses heat from the lower element and the central convection element, again using the fan to circulate the heated air.

In Bosch's conventional ovens, baking means that both the upper and lower elements will cycle on to maintain the set temperature. Roasting uses both the upper and lower elements to maintain the oven temperature, but uses more intense heat from the upper element to apply more browning to the exterior of the food while "the inside remains especially moist." In its convection ovens, the same elements are used in the same proportions, but the fan circulates the air, although the heating element behind the back wall of the oven is not activated.

General Electric's most basic electric ovens only have a bake function for "baking or roasting." The company's fanciest Monogram convection wall oven has a bake setting, as well as convection bake and convection roast, both of which use the convection heating element and fan. According to a GE spokeswoman, the two different settings use different heating elements and/or fan cycling algorithms that are optimized for their target foods. Their take on the baking/roasting question has less to do with temperature and more to do with the type of food being cooked. Cookies, breads, cakes, pies, casseroles, etc. are baked, while meats are roasted (the exception being ham, which is almost always referred to as baked rather than roast ham).

Kitchenaid electric convection ovens make the curious distinction that you do not have to preheat the oven for roasting, "unless recommended in the recipe." (Can anyone show us a recipe that does not specify preheating the oven?) Beyond that, they cycle the top and bottom elements on and off to maintain temperature when you are "baking and roasting." In convection baking, the fan is used and all three elements are used to preheat the oven, but only the bottom and convection heating elements are used once the initial temperature has been reached. In convection roasting, all three elements and the fan are used throughout the cooking process.

This all relates to ovens that are currently on the market. It is possible that older ovens and other brands also have both settings. Whether they mean anything or not is anybody's guess.

You can see that accuracy in the semantic use of the words "roast" and "bake" has little meaning and consistency – and certainly no advocates – anymore. Even sticklers such as us have caught ourselves saying one when we meant the other. Sadly, this battle has been lost.

 

-----signature-----
Women who behave themselves rarely make history.
My Give-A-Damn's Busted.
http://www.thewufs.com/2003venture/motortrike.htm
Link to this post
Terminius_Est 
Title: Moon River
Posts: 40,732
Registered: Feb 27, '02
Extended Info (if available)
Real Post Cnt: 40,160
User ID: 651,096
Subject: What's the difference between roasting and baking?
Interesting. I have a GE oven. I'll try convection roast next time I really want to roast something.

I've started roasting veggies, just love em cooked that way.

 

-----signature-----
There is no emotion, there is peace. There is no ignorance, there is knowledge.
There is no passion, there is serenity. There is no chaos, there is harmony.
There is no death, there is the FORCE.
Sci/Fi Bookshelf http://tinyurl.com/2z8u9h
Link to this post
Lynea 
Title: Dances with Trolls
Posts: 82,344
Registered: Jul 26, '01
Extended Info (if available)
Real Post Cnt: 80,243
User ID: 280,742
Subject: What's the difference between roasting and baking?
Silver already answered your question, but heat and moisture are basically the difference.

Roasted vegetables are the best.  They get such great flavor from roasting.

 

-----signature-----
http://www.thebreastcancersite.com/
"It's crazy that the board newbies think I am a Liberal and B_T is a neo-con." - Gustaive_MT
"God left a very clear instruction to Adam. The ****head couldn't even follow that." - -Abednego-
Link to this post
shaggynuts24 
Posts: 16,788
Registered: May 30, '06
Extended Info (if available)
Real Post Cnt: 16,773
User ID: 1,143,256
Subject: What's the difference between roasting and baking?

roasted chicken breasts

whole split chicken breasts
1/2 stick of butter
2 tablespoons creole seasoning


melt butter and mix with creole seasoning
put it in a turkey injector
inject your breasts with the mixture

bake at 450 for 35-40 minutes

 

-----signature-----
fat girls + skinny ankles = faulty construction -- Halloweve
The next burglar in my house will get an Awesome Auger to the face!!! -- CulenTrey
Being the coolest kid on the Asylum is like being the smartest kid with down syndrome. - DanBoone
Link to this post
Terminius_Est 
Title: Moon River
Posts: 40,732
Registered: Feb 27, '02
Extended Info (if available)
Real Post Cnt: 40,160
User ID: 651,096
Subject: What's the difference between roasting and baking?
You can roast chicken, rib eye, new york strip, t-bone steak.

What else? What cuts of pork are good for roasting?

 

-----signature-----
There is no emotion, there is peace. There is no ignorance, there is knowledge.
There is no passion, there is serenity. There is no chaos, there is harmony.
There is no death, there is the FORCE.
Sci/Fi Bookshelf http://tinyurl.com/2z8u9h
Link to this post
Silverwuf 
Title: Have trike will babble
Posts: 32,958
Registered: Jul 5, '01
Extended Info (if available)
Real Post Cnt: 32,296
User ID: 225,902
Subject: What's the difference between roasting and baking?
shaggynuts24 posted:

roasted chicken breasts

whole split chicken breasts
1/2 stick of butter
2 tablespoons creole seasoning


melt butter and mix with creole seasoning
put it in a turkey injector
inject your breasts with the mixture

bake at 450 for 35-40 minutes




Okay, that made me LOL!

 

-----signature-----
Women who behave themselves rarely make history.
My Give-A-Damn's Busted.
http://www.thewufs.com/2003venture/motortrike.htm
Link to this post
shaggynuts24 
Posts: 16,788
Registered: May 30, '06
Extended Info (if available)
Real Post Cnt: 16,773
User ID: 1,143,256
Subject: What's the difference between roasting and baking?
Silverwuf posted:
shaggynuts24 posted:

roasted chicken breasts

whole split chicken breasts
1/2 stick of butter
2 tablespoons creole seasoning


melt butter and mix with creole seasoning
put it in a turkey injector
inject your breasts with the mixture

bake at 450 for 35-40 minutes




Okay, that made me LOL!



/bow

i try wink

 

-----signature-----
fat girls + skinny ankles = faulty construction -- Halloweve
The next burglar in my house will get an Awesome Auger to the face!!! -- CulenTrey
Being the coolest kid on the Asylum is like being the smartest kid with down syndrome. - DanBoone
Link to this post
Lynea 
Title: Dances with Trolls
Posts: 82,344
Registered: Jul 26, '01
Extended Info (if available)
Real Post Cnt: 80,243
User ID: 280,742
Subject: What's the difference between roasting and baking?
I'm not an expert, but I was watching Alton Brown the other night and he was talking about pork.  He said it's very dry and he always brines it before cooking.  If that's really the case, I can't imagine roasting is a good option for pork.

I really have no idea, though.  This is just what I heard him say the other night.

 

-----signature-----
http://www.thebreastcancersite.com/
"It's crazy that the board newbies think I am a Liberal and B_T is a neo-con." - Gustaive_MT
"God left a very clear instruction to Adam. The ****head couldn't even follow that." - -Abednego-
Link to this post
Shenron_ 
Posts: 8,665
Registered: Dec 8, '02
Extended Info (if available)
Real Post Cnt: 6,513
User ID: 746,590
Subject: What's the difference between roasting and baking?
but roasting a pig on the spit is the best!

 

-----signature-----
(none)
Link to this post
Lynea 
Title: Dances with Trolls
Posts: 82,344
Registered: Jul 26, '01
Extended Info (if available)
Real Post Cnt: 80,243
User ID: 280,742
Subject: What's the difference between roasting and baking?
That's the whole pig, though, so there's a lot more fat than the stuff we buy already cut up.

I suppose you could roast a whole pork butt, since it still has a pretty high fat content.

Like I said, I'm not an expert.

 

-----signature-----
http://www.thebreastcancersite.com/
"It's crazy that the board newbies think I am a Liberal and B_T is a neo-con." - Gustaive_MT
"God left a very clear instruction to Adam. The ****head couldn't even follow that." - -Abednego-
Link to this post
Silverwuf 
Title: Have trike will babble
Posts: 32,958
Registered: Jul 5, '01
Extended Info (if available)
Real Post Cnt: 32,296
User ID: 225,902
Subject: What's the difference between roasting and baking?
We buy a half pig every year from one of my husband's farmer uncles and those pork roasts are some of THE BEST roasting there is. There is quite a bit more fat left on the butchered ones than store bought, I think.

Silver

 

-----signature-----
Women who behave themselves rarely make history.
My Give-A-Damn's Busted.
http://www.thewufs.com/2003venture/motortrike.htm
Link to this post
Terminius_Est 
Title: Moon River
Posts: 40,732
Registered: Feb 27, '02
Extended Info (if available)
Real Post Cnt: 40,160
User ID: 651,096
Subject: What's the difference between roasting and baking?
I tried biscuits on convection roast and they cooked too fast. Still was very good just didn't rise as well as they should have and were a tad black on the outside.

Interesting.

 

-----signature-----
There is no emotion, there is peace. There is no ignorance, there is knowledge.
There is no passion, there is serenity. There is no chaos, there is harmony.
There is no death, there is the FORCE.
Sci/Fi Bookshelf http://tinyurl.com/2z8u9h
Link to this post
Silverwuf 
Title: Have trike will babble
Posts: 32,958
Registered: Jul 5, '01
Extended Info (if available)
Real Post Cnt: 32,296
User ID: 225,902
Subject: What's the difference between roasting and baking?
I usually don't use convection for any baking because it cooks too fast.

Silver

 

-----signature-----
Women who behave themselves rarely make history.
My Give-A-Damn's Busted.
http://www.thewufs.com/2003venture/motortrike.htm
Link to this post
Lokkie_the_Fierce 
Posts: 53,284
Registered: Dec 12, '02
Extended Info (if available)
Real Post Cnt: 52,351
User ID: 748,022
Subject: What's the difference between roasting and baking?
One starts with an R and one starts with a B?

 

-----signature-----
WARLORD OF PI
Lokkie_the_Fierce (+3.14)
http://c.mymovies.dk/ryejay123
Link to this post
Lokkie_the_Fierce 
Posts: 53,284
Registered: Dec 12, '02
Extended Info (if available)
Real Post Cnt: 52,351
User ID: 748,022
Subject: What's the difference between roasting and baking?
Silverwuf posted:
I usually don't use convection for any baking because it cooks too fast.

Silver


About the only time i use the convection is for baking - I find things come out much better.

Cooking meats and stuff, not so much.

 

-----signature-----
WARLORD OF PI
Lokkie_the_Fierce (+3.14)
http://c.mymovies.dk/ryejay123
Link to this post
Gaevren 
Title: Wat do?
Posts: 18,183
Registered: Sep 15, '04
Extended Info (if available)
Real Post Cnt: 17,906
User ID: 967,012
Subject: What's the difference between roasting and baking?
Silverwuf posted:
I usually don't use convection for any baking because it cooks too fast.

Silver


The trick, I have discovered, is to reduce the temp by about 25 degrees on average, and reduce the cooking time by about 1/4. Or at least, start checking around that time, because it cooks things much faster...but much more evenly too, I think!

 

-----signature-----
There are no automatic doors, just very polite ninjas
Link to this post
Lokkie_the_Fierce 
Posts: 53,284
Registered: Dec 12, '02
Extended Info (if available)
Real Post Cnt: 52,351
User ID: 748,022
Subject: What's the difference between roasting and baking?
Ours auto-decreases the temp by 25F

And I agree - cooking time is cut as well. I mainly use it for biscuits and rolls and junk, so knock off anywhere btwn 3-5 minutes.

 

-----signature-----
WARLORD OF PI
Lokkie_the_Fierce (+3.14)
http://c.mymovies.dk/ryejay123
Link to this post
Shenron_ 
Posts: 8,665
Registered: Dec 8, '02
Extended Info (if available)
Real Post Cnt: 6,513
User ID: 746,590
Subject: What's the difference between roasting and baking?
my oven burns everything no matter the setting.

 

-----signature-----
(none)
Link to this post
BenitoSantiago 
Title: Assistant Master of the Universe.
Posts: 1,143
Registered: Jun 4, '04
Extended Info (if available)
Real Post Cnt: 779
User ID: 930,558
Subject: What's the difference between roasting and baking?
Sounds like operator error to me tongue

 

-----signature-----
sleep Dark Age of Camelot
Galahad/Alb: Knights Who Say Ni
Avrom : Arphaetus : Sallan : Eradic : Serososh
frustrated WAR - Monolith/Order: Knights Who Say Ni
US Navy flag
Link to this post

Valid XHTML 1.0 Transitional Powered by PHP