15 Things People Do While Waiting for the Oven to Preheat That Totally Waste Time and Calories
There you are, apron on, recipe ready, and the oven is… still preheating. It’s the culinary equivalent of your computer updating at 99%.
But instead of just staring into the fiery abyss, why not put those precious minutes to good use, or at least have some fun?
Wipe down the microwave interior (because who knows when it last got cleaned)
Take a peek inside your microwave. You might find last week’s popcorn bits clinging to the walls like they pay rent.
Grab a damp cloth or some soapy water, and give those splatters the boot. Don’t forget to remove the turntable and clean underneath it, unless you enjoy the mystery of “What’s That Smell?”
If you’re feeling extra, steam it with a bowl of water and vinegar. The steam will loosen all that crusty gunk, making it easier to wipe clean without turning it into an arm workout.
Organize that junk drawer of mysterious cables and old receipts
You know the one—where cables tangle up like they’re auditioning for a spaghetti western, and receipts multiply like rabbits.
Pull everything out and prepare to question your life choices as you find chargers for gadgets you don’t even own anymore.
Sort those cables by type or purpose, and toss the ones that look like they belong in a museum. Fold up those receipts before they take over your drawer like tiny paper invaders.
Give the drawer a quick wipe, then put everything back neatly. By the time your oven beeps, you’re officially a mini-organizing champ.
Dance like nobody’s watching—because obviously, the oven door is closed
This is your moment. The oven can’t judge your moves, and neither can your cat.
Start with a little shimmy while you tap your fingers on the counter. Next thing you know, you’re throwing in a spin or a funky finger wave.
If your phone’s nearby, record your kitchen dance party for future blackmail material. You might even invent the next viral TikTok move—“The Preheat Shuffle.”
Someone’s got to make sure that dough is up to snuff, right? Take a sample. Is it sweet enough? Too salty? Accidentally added cumin instead of cinnamon?
Make those crucial adjustments, then taste again. This is your dough’s audition, and you’re Simon Cowell.
It’s quality control, not snacking. You’re basically a hero.
Practice your chef’s kiss for when the dish is done
You don’t want to fumble the chef’s kiss when your masterpiece comes out. Pinch your fingers together, kiss them, and flick your hand away with a dramatic “mwah.”
Practice in front of the mirror. Bonus points for adding a little Italian flair.
Just don’t get so into it that you knock your spice jars over. The chef’s kiss is an art, not a contact sport.
Shuffle your fridge magnets into a more ‘aesthetic’ formation
Give your fridge a mini makeover. Rearrange those magnets like you’re curating the Louvre of takeout menus and vacation souvenirs.
Group them by color, theme, or just create a smiley face to greet you every time you open the door.
It’s oddly satisfying, and your fridge will go from “college dorm” to “fridge goals” in minutes.
Snag a sneaky sip of that wine (hey, it’s multitasking)
Pour yourself a glass of wine. You’re not just waiting—you’re pre-celebrating your future culinary triumph.
Hold the glass with one hand while checking your recipe with the other. If anyone asks, it’s called “flavor research.”
Just don’t get too cozy or you might forget to actually put the food in.
Check the smoke detector batteries (because why not?)
Press that little test button and make sure your smoke detector is still on the job. If it doesn’t beep, swap the batteries before dinner turns into a fire drill.
Do it now, and you’ll avoid the midnight ladder tango. Plus, you get to feel like a responsible adult for at least three minutes.
Attempt a Jedi mind trick to speed up the heating process
Stand in front of the oven and say, “You will reach 350 degrees now.” It probably won’t listen, but hey, you never know.
Pretend you have Jedi powers. If anyone catches you, just say you’re training for the next Star Wars sequel.
Belief is half the battle. The other half is not burning dinner.
Rearrange spice jars by color spectrum—because neatness counts
Turn your spice rack into a rainbow. Line up all those jars by color—it’s like a tiny, edible pride parade in your kitchen.
Suddenly, finding paprika feels like a treasure hunt and your kitchen looks Pinterest-worthy.
Just don’t start alphabetizing by Latin names unless you’re really committed to the bit.
Give your oven mitts a pep talk—they do a heroic job
Give those oven mitts some love. They save your hands from fiery doom every single time.
Maybe even whisper, “You’ve got this,” before pulling out that tray. If nothing else, it’ll make you feel like a kitchen superhero.
Flip kitchen towels into perfect triangles like origami
Grab a kitchen towel and fold it into a triangle. It’s like origami, but with less risk of paper cuts and more risk of being judged by your dog.
Fold, smooth, and admire your handiwork. If you finish before the oven beeps, consider yourself the towel-folding champion of your kitchen.
Who knew waiting for the oven could be so productive—and so weirdly entertaining?
Sketch a grocery list that includes more snacks than essentials
Picture this: you’re standing in the kitchen, oven preheating at the speed of a lazy sloth, and your stomach’s already asking for a snack.
Time to make a grocery list that’s basically a snack attack on paper.
Think popcorn that you’ll “totally share,” nuts that are healthy until you eat the whole bag, and colorful berries that make you feel like you’re winning at life.
Don’t skip yogurt or crunchy veggies—mainly because they let you feel responsible while still crunching away.
Those fun-sized snack packs? Throw them in your cart and pretend you got them for “portion control.”
Sure, you need essentials like bread and milk, but let’s be honest, you’re really here for the snacks.
If your grocery list looks like it came from a party planner with no adult supervision, you’re doing it right.
Oven still not preheated? Perfect excuse to grab your phone and become a food influencer for the next five minutes.
Snap a food selfie of whatever you’re about to cook—or just the snacks you’re eating while you wait.
Slap on a filter, maybe add a sparkle or a funny sticker, and watch your snack become a social media icon.
Nobody needs to know you ate half of it before the picture.
Find that one angle where your food looks like it belongs in a magazine, or at least doesn’t look like it was dropped.
Natural light is your friend, unless your kitchen light makes everything look like a crime scene.
Sit back and let the “Yum!” and “Teach me your snack ways!” comments roll in.
Who knew waiting for the oven could make you internet famous?
Test the cabinet doors to find the squeakiest one and fix it
Waiting for your oven to heat up? Time to channel your inner detective and hunt down the loudest cabinet door in your kitchen.
Open and close every cabinet door like you’re auditioning for a slapstick comedy. That squeak is lurking somewhere, just waiting to ruin your next midnight snack run.
Once you catch the culprit, it’s showtime. Grab whatever oil you have handy—cooking spray, olive oil, or whatever makes you feel fancy.
Dab a little on the hinges and swing that door like you’re starring in a kitchen musical. If your door suddenly goes silent, congratulations, you’re basically a home improvement wizard.
Still hearing a ruckus? Check the screws. Sometimes they’re loose and just need a gentle tightening—no need to call in a professional or your overly enthusiastic neighbor.
Who knew fixing a squeaky cabinet could feel so satisfying? Now, if only fixing dinner was this easy.
