OVEN TEMPERATURES IN USA - IN DANGER OF POISONING SOMEONE!

[syd]

Help, we've just moved to LA and I've got this huge Frigidaire cooker which I couldn't even work out how to get on in the first few days! Anyway now I've got over the jetlag can anyone tell me what the temperatures relate to as there's no instruction manual or anything here. It goes up to 500 and down to 170 but I've just no idea what that equates to. I cooked a chicken last night, started at the highest, turned it down, wasn't sure that it wasn't cooking too fast so then left it in for hours just to make sure I didn't kill anyone. I sound like such an idiot don't I! Help please someone.....

Conversions

I have some ancient recipie books that still have it in farenheit.

Well.... you know how 200 C works for most things here in the UK ('cept when you want it quick and hot for things like pizza, or roast potatoes and then you turn it up to 250) 350 F is somewhat equivalent in my experience. Useful for most things. Purely and deeply unscientific, you do understand..
(btw, rather of your huge frigidaire cooker (and undoubtably your efficient American washing machine, and your proper non-dribble shower, etc)

You could always do an internet search for conversion tables from centigrade to farenheit? I think it's roughly double for C to F. But as the previous poster said, 350 degrees works for most things, chickens etc and 400 for pizzas etc. Good luck!

Ah, I need to get some sleep. I see that skribble has already helped you with this. I actually did notice that she had provided you with a link, but I was wondering why she was directing you to 'conversations' . Just a quick glance of course! Apologies skribble for repeating your advice.

350F is 180 - I cook almost everything on 350!

Another tip - broil means grill. 425 for oven fries, 360 for fish, 375 for bread. Search on the internet and you should be able to download a manual for your particular cooker. I did for mine. Best tip is buy a thermometer that you skewer into what you're cooking. They work like a dream and normally as the oven is next to the huge fridge, you can stick them on the fridge. They're not expensive either, good hardware stores sell them.

Thanks so much everyone - will do a search, get a thermometer and write down those temps - managed to get as far as broiling last night - just went for high as grilling at least isn't rocket science!

Oh so thats what broiled means - we have been wondering.

So, LATyke how is life in sunny Torrance?

Hello syd - ended up in redondo. Where did you end up ? Good to hear you arrived safely. I've only just worked out my cooker too! and I've been here for weeks. Have the kids started school yet?

We're next door in Manhattan Beach so we should try and hook up. DD, 7, started school on tuesday. Having problems finding somewhere for DS, nearly 5, bad timing coming here half way through the year. Hey ho. Had my fill of nursery visits particularly as I'm used to him being at school full time in England and he's missing his sister. How old are yours? And how are you finding it all? We've only been here 2 weeks so on the one hand amazed how much we've got sorted, but on the other hand it's hard. And what's the weather doing - sure that's not what I signed up for!

We're in north redondo - so manhatten is our local beach - we tend to take the kids on saturday or sunday to cycle. It does seem a bit bizarre that it's frosty in the mornings then nice and warm in the afternoons.

Ds is 5 and in Kinde and ds is 7 and in grade 2. We had to give up on living in torrance as we couldn't get them into school together. So we found a school with places and then found a house. Not what I was expecting as we were still in the hotel the week before christmas.

Good to hear you have settled in so quickly, it is lovely here isn't it. Got to go having tea with the neighbours in 5 mins!

Hi syd - I just remembered that I replied to this thread on my way out to tea. Sorry my reply was a bit rushed. Its sad that you can't get your DS into Kinde, they get used to having school friends don't they. dd is part time which is better than nothing but she gets loads of homework as does ds. They never got homework in the UK.
You sound like you've got yourself v organised already, I still have to work out the washing machine! I don't think I've managed to get anything clean yet. I haven't worked out where to put the washing powder and am just throwing powder on top of the clothes. Do you have one of the top loading washers and has yours got any instructions.

Maybe we should all meet up and play crazy golf or something! Or take bikes and scooters onto the strand. Hope you've conquered the cooker.

Sorry I haven't replied - just seems to have been one of those weeks! I've been buying liquid stuff for the machine - it broke down when we first moved in so we got a new one although the instructions aren't much better. It says to put the liquid iin the bottom and the clothes on top. Any softener goes in a dispenser in the top where you open the lid although i haven't tried that.

Let's meet up - crazy golf would suit mine perfectly and me providing I can get a coffee (!) - so how are you fixed over the next few weekends?

Oops sorry forgot about this thread again - I've got no idea how to arrange for a meet up. I can give you my email address. I don't really understand what cat is????? The only crazy golf I know of is mulligans in Torrance/ lomita - or do you know another one.

got to go someone is howling and whatever happened it doesn't sound pretty.

I'll cat you - I think MN then contacts you to see if you'll accept an email from me or something like that. Anyway we'll see what happens.

I'll get DH to ask the oracle in the office about crazy golf - would be good to give the babes something to do and although the kids bikes arrive tomorrow - thank goodness - we don't have ours sorted yet.

Ok, We should be around on sunday, Saturday we are thinking of going down to Laguna beach, if the weather is OK. Anyway.......

Dh doesn't know of any other Crazy golfs apart from Mulligans. its a bit of a drive and the dcs always want to go into the amusements afterwards. Or maybe if thats too far we could attempt the frizbee golf at Polliwog!!!

Someone was telling me yesterday that Polliwog has a large sunken galleon in it - we only made it as far as the slide the one day we went. Shall we make life simple and meet up there and everyone can have a kick about and whatever and then we can always come back here for a drink... let me know what you think - I'll check in later!

Wow a sunken galleon. - mmm there are two play areas aren't there? do you mean the one by the duck pond area - or am I thinking of a different park. Pick a time and a place to meet and hopefully we will see you then.

I've just checked with DD - she went on a school outing yesterday and they had lunch in the park! So let's aim to meet at the 2 big slides near the duck pond which according to her are fantastic!

Anyway, we'll be obvious as DS has a fixation with his England shirt and will be charging around like a lunatic as, for once, his father isn't working!

It's the Mumsnet equivalent of a blind date - I'll be carrying a red carnation - except I haven't seen any over here! About 2.30 suit you - any probs my mob is local code 266 7452.

We just got back from a whale watching trip which was great. a must do , if you haven't already. I will let DS wear his england shirt too - 2:30 sounds great. see you then. (I will also be wearing the invisible red carnation.)

just a thought, but would you like me to give you a call tomorrow to introduce us tykes, before we meetup.