To think that old wives tale about ovens on Christmas Day is true

[Newbameforanewdecade]

On Christmas Day my roast potatoes took .... nigh on two hours to roast... on full heat etc.

Everyone just said “oh the powder dips on Christmas Day”. I’ve never heard this before (have cooked for 16 with no issues but have just moved home).

Is it really at thing or an old wives tale? Am starting to believe it

Sorry, but anyone without a gas oven is a loser in life’s lottery

I agree, @Hirsutefirs, but I haven't had an oven at all since the Friday before Christmas! Gas double oven, obsolete at 21 years old and the parts are unobtainable. The replacement is coming on Friday.

There now only seems to be one model of built-in gas double oven on the market, made by the same firm but branded Belling or Stoves. And they have electric grills.

Take good care of your gas oven, they seem to be an endangered species!

we have found that gas pressure is lower and our gas cooker takes longer to cook things on Sundays and particularly at Christmas

This has happened to me, but only once. Christmas day, 8 for lunch, turkey should have been ready at 2.30 to serve at 3.

The fucker wasn't done till 6pm and we were all pissed by then!

Agree re goose fat not being hot enough- my roast potatoes failed to crisp the one time I tried it. I gather coconut fat is the way to go but It's extortionate.

Lots of 'old wives takes' were true and this was one of them.

In the 70's, the gas pressure used to drop at 5pm as well, because that was the standard time to be cooking.