This is imperative, as otherwise the juices of the food being cooked may
cause the seam to open, and distribute its contents over the oven. Once
placed in position, roasts and entrees on the lower shelf, about an inch
from the oven floor, fish on the middle shelf, and pastry on the top
where heat is most intense,--do not move or open the bags until the
schedule time of their cooking is accomplished. In placing the article
to be cooked, take care that the bag does not touch the sides of the
oven and that it is not too close to the flames. When the time limit of
cooking has expired, take up the bag from the shelf by drawing _with_
the wires, not across them, which is apt to tear the bag made tender by
charring. Slip on to the lid of a pot or flat tin held just beneath the
grid and thence to the heated platter. To secure the gravy, stick a
pinhole in the bottom of the bag and allow it to drain on to the
platter, or serving dish. Rip open the bag from the top and throw the
charred fragments away at once. If to be served hot, arrange at once on
a heated platter or other dish, with its appropriate garnish.
POINTERS FOR PAPER BAG COOKERY.
I. In the case of a coal-heated oven with solid shelves a wire broiler
or "grid" should be substituted as the heat must be allowed to circulate
on all sides of the bag.
II. The size of the oven makes no difference but it _must be kept
clean_.
III. In the case of a fowl or joint see that there are no rough edges or
bones protruding that will be likely to pierce the bag.
IV. Do not season the article to be cooked too highly as none of the
seasonings are dissipated during the cooking as is usually the case in
ordinary boiling or roasting.
V. For cooking fruit, grease the outside of the bag.
VI. In removing the bag from the oven, draw with the wires, not across
them.
VII. To brown things at the last of the cooking, if necessary, puncture
a few holes in the top of the bag.
VIII. If a bag breaks in the cooking, as it sometimes will if the heat
is too intense, do not try to remove the article being cooked from the
bag, but slip the whole into a new well-greased bag. The use of two bags
is better than one when things require long cooking or for meats with
much fat or juicy dishes. While it may cost a bit more, it will save
much anxiety lest the bag burst.
IX. To avoid having any chance drippings soil the oven floor, slip a
thin tin baking sheet or shallow dripper under the broiler, letting it
rest flat on the bottom of the oven. Put in a little hot water and this
steam will keep the bag moist and do much to discourage its breaking.
Indeed, in baking any kind of fruit cake, which requires slow cooking,
quite a little water in the drip-pan underneath is advisable.
X. In baking pastry and cake, a few tiny holes should be made in the
upper side of the bag before putting in the oven. This will brown the
surface of the cake delicately.
XI. Do not let the bag touch the sides of the oven or the gas flames.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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