Baking isn’t just recipes. It’s techniques, gadgets, and little shortcuts and hacks to make your life easier and to make your baked goods even more delicious. From bread to pastries to baked desserts, having some insider tips and tricks up your sleeve can turn a so-so experience into a great one. Here are some essentials to keep in mind.
Baking Supplies
I will always say the more tools you have the better. But I am going to list some of the essentials that I use on a daily basis. You are going to need mixing bowls, measuring cups and spoons, oven thermometer, baking pans and sheets, mixing spoons, silicone spatulas, whisks, and a dough scraper. You are going to need a good set of mixing bowls to measure and mix your ingredients in. You will also need measuring cups and spoons to measure your ingredients. I say it’s very important to have a good oven thermometer to check your oven temperature so that you don’t under or over bake your goods. I have to say, good quality baking pans and sheets are a must. You need good mixing spoons, silicone spatulas, whisks, and dough scrapers to help mix your batter and dough.
Some Important Notes on Baking
Even the most basic recipes can fall apart when these basics are skipped. Always preheat your oven to make sure it’s at the right temperature. It’s also crucial to make sure your ingredients are at room temperature. Butter, eggs, and milk are easier to mix when they’re not straight out of the fridge and will yield a much smoother batter. Try to follow a recipe as written the first time you try it. This will help you learn proportions, cooking time, and techniques. Try not to rely on baking time. Instead, test to see if things are done by sight, feel, or inserting a toothpick.
Baking Hacks
Some minor tweaks in our baking process can help us with both speed and results. Chilling or freezing the dough and butter before baking will help with spreading and the final texture of cookies or pastries. Using parchment paper or a silicone mat in baking sheets will prevent our items from sticking and will help with even browning. Checking the dough for bread to see if it’s elastic will confirm that it is developing enough gluten, and adding spices or flavorings such as extracts or zest at the right time will give the final product more flavor and aroma. Rotating pans while baking will offset any hot spots in the oven, and cooling on a wire rack will keep our baked goods from having a soggy bottom while preserving the final texture.
Equipment for the Home Baker Who’s Serious about Her Craft
When you progress, there are other items that are very helpful. Stand mixers shorten the time to mix and knead dough, beat egg whites, or cream butter and sugar. Digital scales are perfect for measuring ingredients, especially for bread and pastry recipes. Bench scrapers help you to shape the dough, cut pieces of dough, and scrape your work surface. Pastry bags and tips make it easier to decorate cakes, cookies, or pastries. Dutch ovens or baking stones in your oven give you the perfect environment for artisan breads. Heat is distributed evenly, and your bread crust will be crispy.
A Well-Organized Baking Environment
You can’t be an efficient baker if your space and ingredients are a mess. Store commonly used ingredients and tools where you can easily reach them. Make sure to label your ingredients and store them appropriately. Keep your workspace clean, it makes everything more enjoyable and less stressful. Measure out your ingredients, pre-heat the oven, and set your pans out before you begin mixing. This makes the process go much more smoothly for new and experienced bakers alike.
Finding Your Inner Strength and Inspiration
The techniques, methods, and gadgets are not the end game. It is with every bake that you learn more about how ingredients interact with each other, how your oven cooks, and what exactly the right amount of time is. As you become more confident, you will learn how to modify recipes, how to fix mistakes, and how to create things on your own. Practice, along with a few techniques, methods, and gadgets, makes baking easier and more fun. It helps you create professional looking breads, pastries, and desserts at home, and it is an investment in the future.
