What Are Some Baking Techniques?
Baking is a fun and enjoyable activity to do with the family, but you need to know the basic cooking techniques before baking your own delicious recipes. The Internet is an excellent source for information and for baking techniques. If you search for “baking recipes” on Google you will find many sites that offer free tips and tricks for breads, cakes, cookies, and specialty items such as pies, cookbooks and more. Some sites offer membership for a monthly fee that will allow you access to a wide variety of baking information and recipes.
Online and Cooking Books
If you have difficulty finding online resources, then ask your local library for books on baking techniques. You may also find publications in your local grocery store or at bookstores. The United States Department of Labor even has several handbooks available which focus on basic cooking and baking skills. These are a good place to start if you are learning to bake for the first time or simply want to brush up your skills.
Basic Food Safety Practices
Familiarizing yourself with basic food safety practices is an important step when learning to bake. Use a sharp knife to cut all the ingredients for your food. Do not leave the cutting blade within reach of children. This is a common way that raw food is damaged and can cause serious illness or even death. Also, clean your baking pans regularly to prevent germs from setting in and make sure the water is not too hot when cleaning.
Baking Temperature
When making a cake or pie, the standard baking techniques are all the same, but when baking a fruit cake or a brownies recipe, you will need to add more sugar, baking powder or other baking ingredient. This can change the consistency of the finished product, so be certain to read all the directions before you begin. Be sure to keep the temperature steady for brownie or cake recipes and do not over-bake.
Healthier Fats Techniques
A popular new twist on baking healthy food is to make food without using any salt, butter or sugar. Using vegetable oils, such as olive or sunflower oil, instead adds flavor and nutrients while keeping the food healthier than traditional fried foods. This technique also uses healthier fats. Vegetable oils are a natural source of linoleic acid, which has been proven to help lower LDL cholesterol and raise HDL cholesterol levels.
The Volume Of Baked Food
It is important to know how much baked food you should have in a day. Baked foods must not be refrigerated after they are cooked if they are intended to last longer than one day. Baking techniques such as browning and baking apples in a dryer can help extend the shelf life of baked items. For breads, try to leave it out at room temperature for a few hours before baking. Be sure to place it on a cooling rack when not in use.
Add New Flavors
When you learn to bake healthy food, it is not hard to add new flavors to existing recipes. If you love chocolate, you could make a chocolate fudge pie. You can add nuts and raisins to pastas or other dishes. Adding lemon or lime juice to cookies or brownies gives them a sweet and tangy twist.
Healthy Ingredients
Healthy eating can be as fun and exciting as making your own cakes and cupcakes. Find recipes that you enjoy and experiment to find new ways to incorporate healthy ingredients. You will be surprised at the many ways you can add flavor and nutrients to your favorite recipes. Who knows, maybe you will even become a baking expert and start your own baking business.
Bakeware
Most baking stores have bakeware and baking utensils that will help you create yummy treats. Look for pans with thinner layers and replace conventional cooking oils with vegetable oils like olive oil and coconut oil. Baking soda can be used to increase the flavor of certain foods. It is also helpful for removing odors from food. All of these tools can help you make healthy food.
Give It Time
Do not let yourself be intimidated by the vast amount of baking techniques that you will need to master. You should not stop until you feel you have mastered all of them. Do not get discouraged if you cannot master a baking technique right away. Take your time and give it time.
After baking for a while, you may want to try something different. The whole family can enjoy some delicious food that they will surely enjoy. You may even develop your own baking techniques and create your own specialty recipes. You can create delectable treats that people will talk about for weeks to come.
