How does working backwards from serving time help?

By setting your desired serving time and entering all cooking steps, the calculator tells you exactly when to start. This is especially useful for roast dinners where you need the meat, vegetables, and accompaniments to all be ready at the same time.

Should I include preheating time?

Yes, include oven preheating as your first step if relevant. Most ovens take 10-15 minutes to preheat. For very high temperatures or Aga-style ovens, the time may differ. Add it as step 1.

What about resting time for meat?

Always include resting time — it is part of the cooking process. Meat continues to cook during resting and the juices redistribute. Use the resting time field for this. During the rest, you can cook last-minute items like Yorkshire puddings.

Can I use this for baking?

Yes. For baking, steps might be: mixing time, proving/rising time, shaping time, second rise, and baking time. Each step can be entered separately to get a complete schedule.

How do I coordinate multiple dishes to finish at the same time?

Work backwards from your serving time. List each dish and its cooking time, then calculate the start time for each. Factor in resting time for meat and any last-minute tasks. Start with the dish that takes longest. Most vegetables and sides can be kept warm in a low oven (80 degrees C) for 15-20 minutes.

BakeCalcs

Cooking Timer Calculator

Calculate total and per-step cooking times to coordinate multiple dishes finishing together.

Serving Time (24-hour)

Hour

Minute

Cooking Steps (minutes each)

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Step 4

Step 5

Resting Time

How We Calculate This

This calculator works backwards from your desired serving time. It adds up all the cooking steps and resting time, then subtracts from the serving time to tell you when to start.

The Formula

Total time = Sum of all step durations + resting time
Start time = Serving time - Total time

Example: Sunday Roast

Step 1: Preheat oven — 15 min
Step 2: Roast chicken — 90 min
Step 3: Roast potatoes — 45 min
Step 4: Make gravy — 10 min
Resting: 15 min
Serving at 13:00 → Start at 10:05

Frequently Asked Questions

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Last updated: February 2026

All calculations are based on standard ratios and conversions. Results may vary with specific ingredients, equipment, and conditions.