You probably use many of these techniques already without realizing it. A light, quick touch with your finger will help you determine whether meat or biscuits are brown. Touch can also tell you when pie crust or pizza dough is smooth, or if cake frosting covers the entire cake. You can also tell when a bowl is scraped clean. With the right techniques baking that pastry is, well, as easy as pie.
Lets start with getting pans in and out of a hot oven.
Using mitt potholders, follow the sides of the oven until you find the oven rack. Pull the rack out slightly and locate the pan using the oven mitt. To test for doneness, use a spatula or wooden spoon to locate the food in the pan. Slide your hand down the utensil until you reach the food. A cookie that is done will feel firm around the edges, a cake will spring back when touched in the center, and a fork will slide easily in and out of meat that is done.