If you use your oven on a regular or semi-regular basis, here’s one (inexpensive) kitchen gadget you should invest in the next time you’re at Bed Bath and Beyond or the next time you place an Amazon order—an oven thermometer

Using an oven thermometer can help you determine whether your oven runs hotter or cooler than the dial shows. I’m in a rental apartment with appliances that were likely never considered to be state of the art, and through using an oven thermometer I found that my oven runs about 20 to 25 degrees Fahrenheit cooler than the dial temperature. Now that I’ve figured that out I can adjust the temperature or cooking time appropriately so my cookies turn out perfect instead of undercooked.

Find out an easy way to test to see how consistent your oven temperature is. And check out oven thermometers at Bed Bath & Beyond and Amazon.