The verb “bake” refers to the process of cooking food using dry heat, typically in an oven. This method of preparation involves exposing food to a consistent, high temperature, which enables it to cook evenly throughout. Baking is commonly used for preparing a variety of items including bread, cakes, pastries, and other desserts, as well as certain savory dishes like casseroles and baked potatoes. The term can also extend to the act of hardening or drying out a substance through exposure to heat, as in the baking of clay or ceramics.