No one becomes a baker overnight! Learning different baking techniques is an essential part of the journey. To become a seasoned baker, practicing patience and staying consistent is important. Yet, understanding the different baking methods also helps to achieve the desired results.
From folding in smooth batters to whisking egg whites, these five baking methods are a must. As we have seen rapid growth in developing new cooking techniques, the only thing that stays the same is the passion for baking. In the industry, there are two types of bakers: commercial ones and individual sellers.
Individual sellers are non-commercial ones who practice baking methods for their pleasure. On the other hand, commercial sellers sell goods to generate daily income. In both cases, learning different baking methods helps to achieve the targeted results and taste, of course.
Here is our comprehensive guide to five basic baking methods. Every baker should analyze the methods below before entering the world of baking.
The Five Basic Baking Methods
With the rising growth in social media, everyone wants to bake cookies to post snaps on their social platforms. A majority of newbie bakers have seen interest in baking just to post pictures to gather more attention. Yet, this is also a good way to show your baking skills to the world. With the rising growth of e-commerce businesses, many women started their online stores to sell baked goods. If you’re the one who is just starting a new bakery, then these baking methods can make the process good for you.
Creaming Technique
This is one of the most accomplished methods of baking. In this method, we add sugar to butter and beat until the mixture loses its color and increases in volume. The texture of the mixture becomes softer after continuous beating.
While beating, you can notice air cells in the mixture. These air cells make the batter softer and increase its volume. After beating sugar and butter, ensure to add eggs one by one. This ensures thorough mixing to provide a smooth batter without any egg parts left.
Once you’ve added the eggs, you can add other ingredients to give it a nice mix. This may look complicated, but we have to do this to avoid bulky egg parts.
Hope Bell, the owner of Chummys Bakery, said, “If a baker skips or avoids this step, the result will be dry or hard-baked goods.” That’s why it is important for beginners to adopt this method, especially when baking cakes.
Mix It Together
This baking method is the fastest. It requires mixing all the ingredients at once. This method can save a lot of time while baking large batches, as you don’t need to complete each step separately. Yet, it is also the quickest and easiest method of baking.
Making the batter may seem like a simple task, but it requires a lot of care and attention. If you are not focused during this step, you may end up with a poorly made batter. Any lumps in the batter or a dry and hard consistency can result in cakes that lack taste. So, it’s crucial to ensure that the batter is smooth and well-mixed to achieve perfect cakes.
To avoid wasting your time and effort, it is best to apply this method when baking cupcakes. As cupcake ingredients take more time to make individually, you can approach this way to save both time and energy.
Melting, Mixing, And Baking
Beating a cake batter can sometimes be a challenge. Yet, there is always a solution to every problem. Melting and mixing the ingredients can solve this issue. This method helps to combine the other ingredients, so the batter mixes smoothly without any lumps or inconsistencies.
To save preparation time and effort when beating the batter, it is common practice to melt butter separately, add eggs, and then other dry ingredients. After adding the dry ingredients, mix the batter well, but do not overmix it, as this can cause cracks in the cakes.
Many beginner bakers struggle with mixing ingredients such as butter. To help with this, a chemical agent like baking soda can be helpful. This raises the cake and ensures that it bakes properly and rises as expected.
Whisking-Only Technique
The whisking or beating method is common for preparing sponge cakes and Pavlova. In sponge cakes, whipping sugar and butter together while adding eggs makes the cake rise.
This method doesn’t require you to use a chemical rising agent such as baking soda.
Rubbing-In Method
The rubbing-in method is a baking technique that involves blending butter with flour to create a crumbly mixture. You use your fingertips to rub the butter into the flour. Once you rub the butter, make sure to do it until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. This method is often used when a recipe calls for a flaky or crumbly texture in the final product.
This recipe appears to be simple, but there are a few tips and tricks to make it easier and more precise. You might find it simpler to cut cold butter, which can freeze beforehand. Make sure to only use your fingertips when combining the butter.
Conclusion
The five basic baking methods are good enough to turn beginners into professional ones. If you’re new to this field, then following these methods help you to become a successful baker. However, make sure to follow the path of your seniors to understand the depth of baking and its techniques. Hopefully, these baking methods help you to make your baking journey even more enjoyable and a hit, of course!
