Expert: Elyse Grau - 1/31/2010

Question
QUESTION: i cant get my pound cake to brown right in my convection oven

what can i do please me.
         thank you

ANSWER: David:
I'm not really sure on the answer. Does it brown satisfactorily in a regular oven? Are you baking it at a lower temperature than called for (25 degrees lower than for a normal oven). Is it just the top that you are talking about?

If the answer is yes to all of the above, you might try baking it at a slightly lower temperature to give it more time for the browning reaction. The other thing you could try is to increase the amount of baking soda, or to add some baking soda to the recipe. If the recipe doesn't call for buttermilk or sour cream, you might want to substitute one of those for part of the milk to neutralize the soda, so you don't get the taste of it. Try 1/4 tsp. to start, with 1/2 cup of buttermilk or sour cream, or 1-2 Tbl of lemon juice.

If the problem is with the whole cake and not just the top, it might be your pan. If you are using shiny aluminum or stainless steel, try using a non-stick or something else with a dark interior.

Elyse
www.mygardentotable.com

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Sorry it took so long to get back to you. Please tell me in regard to my pound cake not get
A dark brown on the out side in my convection oven. I would like to know is there anything else I can do to get it dark brown like a pound cake should look. Also some times it sticks to the top of the pan when it finishes I put a little water in the oven when I bake. Please help   
         Thank you David

Answer
David:
You still didn't say if it is just the top that is not browning or the entire cake. When you say it sticks to the top of the pan, do you mean just the upper edge? Maybe your pan is too small for the recipe? What is the reason for the water in the oven?

Elyse