Will flavors meld if two things are in the oven at once such as peanut butter cookies and dinner?

It's highly unlikely that flavors will significantly meld between peanut butter cookies and dinner in the oven. Here's why:

* Distance and Airflow: The oven's airflow and the distance between the food items will prevent significant flavor transfer. Even if the smells mingle a little, the flavors themselves are unlikely to cross over.

* Oven Temperature: The oven's high temperature focuses on cooking the food, not mingling flavors. Flavors are typically developed through longer, slower cooking methods.

* Ingredients: The ingredients themselves are distinct and have different properties. Peanut butter cookies are primarily sweet, while dinner might contain savory ingredients. These distinct profiles are less likely to blend in the oven.

However, there are some scenarios where subtle flavor transfer *might* happen:

* Strong Odors: If you're baking something with a very strong odor, like garlic bread, some of the smell might transfer to nearby food in the oven.

* Long Baking Times: If you're baking something for an extended period, like a roast, a slight flavor transfer could happen to adjacent food.

Recommendation:

* Don't worry about flavor melding in most cases.

* If you are concerned, consider using separate oven racks or baking the items at different times.

* If you're baking something strongly scented, like garlic bread, consider adding an extra layer of protection, like covering the food with foil.

Let me know if you have any other cooking questions!