Baking is an art and a science rolled into one. Baking challenges us to combine precision with creativity, from creating the perfect airy loaf of sourdough to elegant chocolate desserts. However, becoming the best baker you can be requires these top four skills every baker should know, whether you work with chocolate, dough, or batter.
Measuring Ingredients
Precision is the backbone of baking, and it all starts with accurately measuring ingredients. Baking requires strict adherence to ratios, so using too much or too few ingredients can completely mess up your recipe.
Kitchen scales are a great tool for measuring ingredients by weight and are far more accurate than measuring cups. Another tip for measuring is to use the proper technique. Don’t just scoop dry ingredients and add them to your mixing bowl; scoop them and then level each ingredient with a knife to remove the excess.
Tempering Chocolate
Tempering chocolate may not seem necessary, but it creates the best chocolate for baking. Properly tempering chocolate creates that satisfying snap, a glossy finish, and stable texture perfect for dipped treats, molded chocolates, or even drizzled decorations.
Tempering chocolate may seem like a tricky task that only professional bakers can do, but you can also do it! It’s simpler than you think, and you can do it in many ways. Knowing how to temper chocolate in the microwave is a must for many home bakers who don’t have access to double boilers.
Bakers traditionally temper chocolate on the stove. They start by melting 2/3 of high-quality chocolate over a double boiler. Then, add in the last 1/3 at the right temperature. Tempering chocolate is a simple process that just takes practice to get the hang of.
Kneading Dough
Knowing how to properly knead dough is a fundamental skill, whether you’re baking crusty bread, sweet rolls, or pizza dough. Kneading requires time, energy, and an understanding of what you are baking.
Press the dough forward with the heel of your hand before folding it back onto itself if you are hand kneading. Then, turn it and repeat the first steps. Stretch a small piece of dough to determine whether it is done. If it forms a translucent sheet without tearing, you’re good to go!
Creating Pastry Dough
Making pastry dough is deceptively simple, but requires care to get the perfect flakiness. Making pastry dough from scratch is a skill every aspiring baker needs.
Dough is best kept cold, so be sure to use cold butter and chilled water and avoid overworking the dough so it stays firm. A good way to know the dough is done is to see if the consistency resembles breadcrumbs. After making the dough, let it rest, and you’ll have a great dough to bake anything from buttery pie crusts to flaky tart shells.
Great baking starts with mastering the basics. These top four skills are ones every baker should know, and now you can get started being the best baker possible! Along with honing your skills, make sure you have patience, excitement, and joy so baking never gets dull!
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