So you’ve decided to take the big leap into cakes and confectionaries. Congratulations! We’re sure you’ll bake it in no time.
You know the craft is more than just the pretty pastries you see on Instagram and Pinterest though. Baking takes skill. There’s a lot of ratios, recipes, and techniques to take into account, but these actually make it all the more fun and fulfilling.
So before you don your apron and whip out that rolling pin, why not get some helpful tips first? These, mixed with some enthusiasm and a positive mindset, is a great recipe for any first baking project.
Don’t overwhelm yourself
We know how excited you are to be the next Martha Stewart, but as much as possible, you should try and start with simple dishes first. It’s important to feel comfortable when you first start to bake, so try something easy first like cake mixes.
Like any other skill, it takes time to learn how to bake. Just be patient; you’ll improve in no time. And who knows, you might be in need of deck ovens soon enough!
Read the recipe
Baking is a science, and it often doesn’t have room for creative liberties. In fact, it’s recommended that you stick to the recipe before you try and experiment (unless you’re confident enough, then by all means, go ahead).
It’s important to be precise when you bake, so make sure that you read the recipe before starting. And remember, there’s no need to memorize it! You just need to familiarize yourself with the steps so you can confidently proceed.
Learn how to measure
Speaking of precision, it’s very important that you use the correct measurements for your ingredients. Use a measuring cup or spoon for dry ingredients and a clear measuring cup for liquids.
You might also want to invest in a kitchen scale. Sometimes, a recipe may call for a specific number of grams for this and that, so a scale would be really handy.
Learn the basic techniques
If you read enough recipes, you’ll notice that some methods are being repeated over and over again. Aside from measuring ingredients, you’ll see a lot of steps that direct you to sift flour, cream butter, rub butter into flour, and even preheat the oven.
Try and learn these processes first, and you might find baking to be easier and more seamless.
Use fresh, quality ingredients
You might have followed the recipe to a tee, but your goods still won’t taste great if you used expired or low-quality ingredients. So make sure that the things you do use still haven’t gone past their best-before date. Take extra care with flour, nuts, baking powder, and baking soda, as they might go bad or lose their potency faster.
On a related note, consider if the recipe specifies a certain temperature as well. Most would recommend room-temperature ingredients, so make sure you make the necessary preparations. Don’t forget that you shouldn’t mix the ingredients of different temperatures as well. Don’t add hot things to cold things, and vice versa.
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