What is the term used for preparing an oven to a specific temperature before cooking?

The term "preheat" refers to the process of heating an oven to a desired temperature before cooking begins. This step is crucial because it ensures that the food is cooked evenly and properly from the start. Various recipes often specify preheating because certain cooking methods and baked goods rely on the oven being at the correct temperature to achieve the intended texture and flavor. Preheating helps ingredients react appropriately, such as allowing baked items to rise correctly. The other terms, while they describe processes related to cooking, do not specifically refer to preparing an oven for cooking. "Warm up" is more general, "cook" refers to the act of preparing food, and "simmer" describes a cooking technique involving a low heat for liquids. Hence, "preheat" is the accurate term for this process.