Which cooking method uses dry heat in an oven?

Baking is the method that utilizes dry heat in an oven to cook food. This process involves surrounding the food with hot, dry air, which allows for an even cooking that helps develop texture, flavor, and color. Baking is commonly used for items such as bread, pastries, cakes, and casseroles, where the dry heat facilitates the Maillard reaction, enhancing flavors and giving a golden-brown crust.

Other cooking methods, like boiling and steaming, involve using moisture to cook food rather than dry heat. Boiling involves submerging food in water or broth, while steaming uses moisture from boiling water to cook food. Frying, on the other hand, typically uses hot oil in a skillet or deep fryer, which also does not involve an oven or dry heat in the way baking does. Thus, baking stands out as the method specifically defined by the use of dry heat within an oven.