Oven experts reveal 3 common mistakes that could be ruining your dinner

Using an oven isn't something most people expect to be doing wrong, but surprisingly, the majority do make small, easily overlooked mistakes that could be contributing to disappointing dinners.

The good news is that the fixes aren't complicated. In fact, a few simple changes can make a huge difference to how your meals turn out. So, before rushing to buy a new oven or investing in the latest high-end model, take a step back, and you might find that with a few small tweaks and a better understanding, your meals will improve dramatically.

Not preheating the oven was the first common mistake that oven experts revealed to Ideal Home. It's something that many people don't think to do unless they're baking, but actually preheating the oven has crucial benefits.

Amanda Lorenzini, oven expert at AO, said: "Preheating your oven ensures your food cooks evenly and to the correct texture. If you put food in early, then your oven hasn't reached a stable temperature, which can lead to undercooked food in the middle or burnt bits on the edges."

So instead of popping in your dish as soon as the oven light switches on, give it a bit of time to heat up, you'll be sure to thank yourself for it after.

According to experts, many people are not using the oven racks correctly, and where you place a tray in the oven makes a significant difference.

Experts at Hisence advised placing "foods that need an extra blast of direct heat" on the top shelf. This might include tasks such as melting cheese on a dish or crisping bacon.

They added: "Using the top shelf of your oven is a go-to for quick, high-intensity heat and that perfect surface finish."

The middle rack is typically considered as the oven's 'sweet spot' since it is the centre of the heat circulation.

The experts explained: "The middle rack is ideal for roasting vegetables, baking cakes, and cooking casseroles evenly. When in doubt, use the middle shelf as it's where most recipes are designed to cook perfectly."

Finally, the lower rack is where you want to place pizzas, bread, and pastries. It's the secret to getting the perfect golden base and crust. According to the pros, "if you've ever struggled with soggy bottoms, this is where you've been going wrong."

While this might be an obvious one, it is one that many are guilty of, especially when there's a big dinner party in the works or you have a small oven to work with. However, by forcing in as many trays and dishes as you can, you're only making things harder for yourself.

Dean Harper, chef and founder of Harper Fine Dining, said: "Overcrowding the oven by packing trays and dishes too tightly keeps air from circulating properly, causing some areas to cook faster than others.

"If you're roasting vegetables or baking multiple trays, leave a bit of space around each item for the heat to move freely."