Just like you and me, most people enjoy baked foods. Preparing baked foods can be daunting when you do not know the essential facts about baking. Go through the tips below to prepare your favorite dishes perfectly and enjoy a happy time with your friends and family.
1. Reading a Recipe
If you’re going to bake something, be sure you’ve read the recipe thoroughly. Read the recipe from beginning to end to make sure you understand each step, as one incorrect step can make your dish taste bland or force you to start over.
For example, while reading, know the difference between 1 cup walnuts, chopped and 1 cup chopped walnuts as the measurement depends on it. If you are told “1 cup walnuts, chopped,” that means you have to measure out a cup of walnuts first and then chop them. If the recipe says the latter, start chopping first and then measure to reach a cup.
Do not skip any step even if it does not seem important. Like, while egg washing makes your dish more appealing, it might not be necessary in some cases. Still, try not to avoid it if a recipe says so to get the best result. If this term is new to you, check out online recipes to learn about Egg Wash and how to do it properly.
2. Knowing the Oven
Ovens are like snowflakes. You will find every single one works differently. They do different things to the food at different times. They might distribute heat unevenly. Or, the temperature gauge might be inaccurate. Know about your oven thoroughly before stepping forward with your recipe. Learn the hot spots, temperature variance, as well as rack placement of your oven to bake your food perfectly.
3. Baking Powder and Baking Soda
Baking soda is an ingredient that releases CO2, after encountering acids, in your mixture and creates air bubbles in the batter for a fluffy texture. So you will need acids that are in vinegar, lemon juice, and buttermilk while baking anything using it.
On the other hand, baking powder is an ingredient that is made from baking soda along with two or three ingredients that also react with it during cooking. As it is already a powdered acid, you can use any liquid to dissolve the powders. It is typically a double-acting ingredient. It continuously releases gas throughout cooking. You will find it a more reliable leavening agent while baking.
4. Using Butter and Oil
When reading a recipe you will notice that it has defined the temperature that your butter should have: soft (room temperature), cold, or melted. This is very important to increase the success rate of your baking adventures as using different temperatures will give you different results.
You may use oil as a substitute in certain recipes that ask for melted butter. But, when you see a room or cold temperature, adding oil instead of butter can make the final product less perfect. So, be aware of these facts to make your dish taste the best.
5. Knowing the Flours
When buying ingredients, you will find a well-stocked baking aisle that has an overwhelming number of flours. You have to pick the right one from wholewheat, pastry, corn, almond, and all-purpose. These flours are used for different purposes. Pick the bread flour to bake the bread. It has higher protein levels that provide more structure, lift, and air pockets to your bread.
On the contrary, cake flour will have lower protein. It is much softer and will make your product delicate and offer you a tender crumb. All-purpose flour is somewhere in between these two, and you will find it very versatile. You won’t need baking powder or salt if you use self-rising flour because they’re already mixed in. It is popular for making biscuits as well as dumplings for a quicker process.
6. Egg Whites and Egg Yolks
Eggs are a wonderful ingredient as you can use them in various food items, especially in deserts. It is a versatile weapon for the baker’s arsenal. You can use it in several baking processes. For instance, egg white is popular for whipping up into foam as its protein helps in building structures.
When it is baked, these structures will be set in place holding a perfect shape. This helps make meringues and causes soufflés to rise. It is also a reason why you love to use egg whites in many recipes to aerate as well as lightning the batter.
7. Baking Cakes
To make a perfect cake, try maintaining the tips below:
- Softening Butter and Melting the Chocolate: To avoid the batter curdling, keep it at room temperature. You can speed up the process of melting by grating a stick into the bowl. To melt the chocolate, use a bain-marie. Fill half a saucepan with water and bring to a simmer while placing the bowl of chocolate on top.
- Sifting the Flour and Baking the Cake: To get a light sponge you need to sift your flour at least three times. Lift the flour higher above the bowl to aerate it more. Try to use a metal spoon instead of a wooden one to avoid losing the mixture’s air.
- Checking It Is Cooked: While baking, during the first half, never open the oven door. To prevent over-browning, use a foil loosely to cover it. Insert a skewer to test if the cake is done cooking. A clean one indicates that your cake is ready.
- Cooling and Icing the Cake: Make sure to leave cakes in the pan at least for 5 minutes before you turn them onto a wire rack for cooling. You can turn it out when the cake becomes springy to touch and the sides are separating nicely from the tin. Take a sheet of baking paper and a wire rack for icing. Elevate the cake to stop the icing from piling around the bottom. Use a slight warm icing over the cool cake to get a smooth finish.
To Conclude
For better baking, you need to know all the basics mentioned here. Going through these guidelines above will make everything easier for you during baking, and you will feel more comfortable in your kitchen.
