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Lop sided cupcakes


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Old 04-01-2013, 17:48
Andy Birkenhead
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Why do some - not all - of my cupcakes come out like this ?

[img=http://www3.picturepush.com/photo/a/11873876/640/Andy%27s-pics/ALIM0394.jpg]
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Old 04-01-2013, 18:42
Victoria Sponge
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Wow I wasn't expecting that! I thought you meant a little lopsided. Is your oven wonky?
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Old 04-01-2013, 18:59
martdcee
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yes i agree with above, i was shocked when i opened the picture. All i can say are the obvious things such as is your tray sitting flat?...and are you flatening out the batter in the cases before putting them in the oven?
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Old 04-01-2013, 19:18
Smokeychan1
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As it isn't all of them - which you might expect with an oven not sitting right - I wonder if the lop-sided ones come from the same spot in the oven every time. Perhaps a cold-spot or hot-spot is causing this effect.

But if you do own a level, I would certainly be checking the oven is sitting correctly and adjust the feet if it isn't.
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Old 04-01-2013, 19:25
fatsi
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So out of the batch you made how many were lop sided? And of the ones that were, were they all together or separate?
As you said not all of them were my guess would be possibly that the cake mixture wasn't mixed thoroughly enough or you have uneven heat which can cause them to rise haphazardly.

I would also check your oven and even oven shelves are level as others have said, however I'd have thought that all the cakes would be lop sided if this were the case.
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Old 04-01-2013, 19:34
Andy Birkenhead
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Out of a batch of 12, I think four come out lop sided
My oven is level and all the shelves, therefore, are also level.
I read somewhere that it helps if you put a baking tray on the shelf above, but it didn't help.
I'm not sure about 'hot spots'. How do I check for these ?
I'd rather not bake 24 cakes just so I get a batch of 16 good ones !
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Old 04-01-2013, 19:39
Coo Ling
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Out of a batch of 12, I think four come out lop sided
My oven is level and all the shelves, therefore, are also level.
I read somewhere that it helps if you put a baking tray on the shelf above, but it didn't help.
I'm not sure about 'hot spots'. How do I check for these ?
I'd rather not bake 24 cakes just so I get a batch of 16 good ones !
Why not bake 24, they're all edible aren't they?.

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Old 04-01-2013, 19:59
Andy Birkenhead
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Why not bake 24, they're all edible aren't they?.

Yes, they are - VERY edible !
This is what I do : I train (and teach) at a Karate Club. Every weekend I make 36 cupcakes. I give a box of 6 to a mate who gives me a lift to Karate. I take a box of 12 to give to members of my Karate club, in the hope that people will like them and order and buy some cakes from me.
The wife and I eat what's left
So I would rather make 36 perfect ones than have to make more than I need to.
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Old 04-01-2013, 20:10
Andy Birkenhead
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I've just counted them. Out of 36 cupcakes baked, 12 of them are lop - sided
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Old 04-01-2013, 20:34
Specktater
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I don't know of any tests for hot spots, but have had this problem! I find if I raise the temp slightly half way through, carefully open the door, turn the tray around and then reduce the temp back to original it solves it with no problems to the cakes. It's a bit of a faff, so I only bother if the cakes are 'for best'.

I've never used a completely even oven, I've found they all have their idiosyncrasies and the only way to counter is to know the oven well - keep an eye out for patterns of over/uneven cooking to spot your 'hot spots'.

PS. Can I have the link that you're using for your cookie monster cupcakes? They sound fantastic
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Old 04-01-2013, 20:50
Andy Birkenhead
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I don't know of any tests for hot spots, but have had this problem! I find if I raise the temp slightly half way through, carefully open the door, turn the tray around and then reduce the temp back to original it solves it with no problems to the cakes. It's a bit of a faff, so I only bother if the cakes are 'for best'.

I've never used a completely even oven, I've found they all have their idiosyncrasies and the only way to counter is to know the oven well - keep an eye out for patterns of over/uneven cooking to spot your 'hot spots'.

PS. Can I have the link that you're using for your cookie monster cupcakes? They sound fantastic
Certainly
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jT7WS0Q1lOM
How do you know I'm doing Cookie Monster cupcakes ? Are you stalking me ?
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Old 04-01-2013, 23:33
Victoria Sponge
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Andy, what temp are you baking the cakes?
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Old 05-01-2013, 08:57
fatsi
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Certainly
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jT7WS0Q1lOM
How do you know I'm doing Cookie Monster cupcakes ? Are you stalking me ?
Probably cos you told everyone

As for hot spots I guess you could try a oven thermometer and position it in different parts of the oven to see if the temp is evenly distributed. It will also tell you if your oven is actually at the correct temperature for example, if you turn the oven to 200 degrees the thermometer might read 20 degrees difference, that way you know to adjust your oven temp accordingly.
I did something similar on a gas cooker. If what I was baking/cooking said gas mark 5 I knew it needed to be on 6 to be at the right temp. I eventually bought a new cooker though
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Old 05-01-2013, 10:19
Andy Birkenhead
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Probably cos you told everyone
Did I ?
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Old 05-01-2013, 10:19
Andy Birkenhead
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Andy, what temp are you baking the cakes?
180 for 25 - 30 minutes
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Old 05-01-2013, 10:22
peaches41
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I would definitely use an oven thermometer, a good one will tell you the exact temperature.
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Old 05-01-2013, 10:48
fatsi
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Old 05-01-2013, 10:59
Victoria Sponge
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180 for 25 - 30 minutes
Woah! That is waaaay too hot and waaay too long! I am pretty sure that's where the problem lies.

Try 160 (or 150 for fan oven) for 20-22 mins.
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Old 05-01-2013, 14:23
Andy Birkenhead
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Woah! That is waaaay too hot and waaay too long! I am pretty sure that's where the problem lies.

Try 160 (or 150 for fan oven) for 20-22 mins.
Thanks, Victoria, I'll do that next time
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Old 05-01-2013, 14:25
Andy Birkenhead
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Oh right !
I lose track sometimes !
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Old 05-01-2013, 22:15
burnt toast
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My oven is hotter at the front than at the back so I will cook something like that in batches just at the front of the oven. You need to see where the good ones are sitting and cook them in bits just there.
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