Even though baking recipes are often tested and tried, some of them still flop. Usually, it’s a number of little things that all add up to an unsatisfactory result – such as flat, greasy cookies or a sunken cake. Luckily, there are several basic baking tips you can apply to increase the chances of perfect baking. Listed below are a few:
When cracking eggs, it’s best to do it when they’re cold. While a cold egg is ideal for cracking, doing it by tapping them on the side of a bowl will result in shattered pieces. To separate the yolks from the shell debris, strain them before cracking them. After separating the yolks, remove any loose bits with a spoon. Repeat for as many eggs as necessary. If the dough is still sticky, chill it first. Otherwise, it’ll absorb moisture from the cookies and turn hard, while cookies stay soft.
Preparing the ingredients before mixing them is also an important baking tip. It’s best to make sure all ingredients are at room temperature before baking. This will ensure a light, fluffy cake with a tender crumb. If the recipe doesn’t specify room temperature ingredients, use them unless specifically stated. Remember that good ingredients make great cakes. You’ll be surprised at how much difference it makes! And there are even more baking tips than that!
Besides keeping the temperature of your oven consistent, you can also check the progress of your baked goods by using an oven thermometer. Professional bakers use different kinds of baking pans to achieve the best results. If your oven is too hot, your baked goods will turn out too dry. Adding more flour to your batter could ruin your baked goods. Lastly, it’s best to use oven racks that have a light feature, since this will help you see the temperature more clearly.
Finally, always ensure that your baked goods are completely cooled before frosting. Over-baked goods may end up with a dry, crumbly texture, so make sure to keep the oven door closed. Also, it’s best to avoid rotating pans during baking. This may affect the baking process, but it doesn’t justify the lost heat. To avoid this, make sure that the baking sheet is clean before reuse. It’s helpful to line your baking sheet with parchment paper to avoid spills or crumbs.
When baking cakes and cookies, don’t forget to grease your pans. While baking in pans that don’t have nonstick coatings, you can keep your baked goods soft and moist by using sandwich bread. Similarly, you can sprinkle sugar on top of your baked goods to create a firm candied outer layer. When using the sugar, make sure to coat the sides of the pan well. If you don’t want to use nonstick coating, you can also spray baking spray on the inside of your pan.
