Can you use more than one oven shelf when baking?

[maggiethecat]

I have a fan assisted oven which is quite good and am tempted to use both shelves when baking to maximise output (thinking specifically of things like muffin trays and sponge tins).

Will this affect the result? do I have to vary oven temp?

I baked muffins last week, two trays

When I took t he top tray out (usual temp and time) i whipped the bottom tray up a shelf and left for ane xtra 5-10 mins

TBH they were a bit crap, they didn't rise as well as the top muffins

I have a fan oven and bizarrely the bottom shelf is always ready first! IME two shelves isn't great for things that rise but fine for biscuits.

If the shelves are racks, not solid, then you can use them at the same time - with some careful planning.

You will probably find that the top item cooks first, and will need to take the it out and move the bottom one up.

Large things that need to rise, like sponge cakes, are not likely to work well because the bottom one may be at the stage where moving it may cause it to collapse. Small, quick-cooking things sould be fine (cupcakes, biscuits etc). Breads should also be OK.

Things that don't need to rise at all (ie not bakery stuff, but roasting etc) will be fine, and can even be cooked on solid trays, rather than the racks. Biscuits would probably also be fine on solid trays.

I often use both shelves and it is fine. Sometimes the tray on the bottom needs a couple more minutes on top once the top has been taken out, but generally they cook fine together.

I always do - I usually have to swivel muffin trays halfway anyway (back left cooks fastest, freaky old oven) so swap the top and bottom ones over then.

oh and this is on solid trays - I have silicone muffin moulds and they need to be on a solid tray, so I have big ones that fit the shelf grooves on the oven sides.