Baking is an enjoyable hobby that many people love. However, no one ever started their baking journey as a wiz in the kitchen. Baking comes with a learning curve. If you’re just starting out, read our five tips every beginner baker needs to know for great information.
Stick to the Recipe
Sticking to the recipe is the most important rule for a beginner baker. At this point in your baking journey, avoid making adjustments to recipes or creating your own concoctions. It’s important to know the basics of baking before you venture off into complex projects. Dessert recipes are typically easy to follow, and you’ll have a perfect treat at the end.
Always Measure Your Ingredients
Always measure your ingredients. Baking is a science, and one wrong measurement can change the composition of your baked good. You can avoid incorrect measurements by using a scale or measuring cups. You can also save time by premeasuring all your ingredients before mixing your batters.
Invest in the Right Equipment
As a beginner, buying the right equipment will help you ease your way into baking. Tools such as hand mixers, cake tins, and scoopers will make your life easier. However, you don’t have to go and buy the whole baking tool section of your local store. If you’re wondering what items you need to purchase, look to this list of common baking tools:
- Electric hand mixer
- Rubber spatula
- Measuring cups
- Cake and cupcake tins
- Whisk
- Mixing bowls
Test Flavor Combinations
While baking, you’ll quickly come to recognize flavors that complement each other, such as vanilla and lemon, red velvet and cream cheese, and cinnamon and butter. Depending on your taste buds, you may find that you prefer some flavor combinations more than others. Don’t be afraid to test flavor combinations and make something you like. You can also research different flavorings and recipes. For example, French buttercream is one of the best types of frostings to make for chocolate cupcakes.
Never Mix a Hot Ingredient into a Batter
It’s important to understand that no baking recipe will call for a hot ingredient. Hot liquids can curdle dairy, scramble eggs, and activate certain ingredients in your batter. However, some recipes will call for warm ingredients. Therefore, it’s important to distinguish between the two: you can touch a warm ingredient for at least 6 seconds without burning yourself, but you cannot touch a hot ingredient without immediately burning yourself. A good rule to follow is to wait at least 10 minutes before performing a touch test on any heated ingredients.
Many people love baking because it allows them to create beautiful, tasty treats. In addition, baking is an amazing skill to have. If you’re a newcomer to baking, refer to our five tips every beginner baker needs to know for fantastic advice.