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Baking 101: Hacks Every Home Baker Should Know

Baking is an enjoyable hobby that many of us love, and it becomes even more delightful when the treats we create taste fantastic. Like any skill, baking takes practice and patience to perfect. Fortunately, plenty of hacks can assist you on your journey to becoming a master baker! Below, we detail four hacks every home baker should know to yield amazing results. 

Bake With Room Temperature Ingredients

Always use room-temperature ingredients unless the recipe specifically calls for chilled or heated items. A recipe requires ingredients to remain at a specific temperature to ensure everything combines properly when you start mixing. 

The ingredients might not blend well if they are too cold, leading to a denser texture in your finished product. On the other hand, your ingredients could cause premature rising or severe inconsistencies if the ingredients are too hot; mixing hot, melted butter with eggs could result in them starting to scramble.

Melt Your Chocolate

Melting chocolate is a common step in many recipes, but that doesn’t always mean it’s easy to do, and you may burn it by rushing the process. Start by chopping your chocolate bars into small, even pieces and placing them in a heatproof bowl. Next, gently stir the melting chocolate over a pot of simmering water until you get a smooth, even consistency. 

As you melt chocolate, avoid directly mixing it with water, which can lead to a lumpy texture. A key reason for this is that cocoa is hydrophobic, so when water gets into the mixture, it causes the cocoa particles to stick together and form clumps. 

Pro Tip

Accidents happen, so knowing what to do when your tempered chocolate has seized prevents wasted ingredients. Seized chocolate can become grainy, so you may not use it for the current baking project, but you could repurpose it for another treat, such as hot chocolate.

Use the Right Butter

The type of butter you use in your baking can significantly impact the flavor and texture of your finished product. Some recipes call for salted butter, while others use unsalted. Generally, you should use unsalted butter when the recipe calls for additional salt. 

For example, you would typically use unsalted butter if you are baking cookies, and the ingredients list calls for a ¼ teaspoon of salt. However, alternatives to traditional butter are available that you can use in your baking, such as coconut oil or margarine, depending on your dietary needs and the flavor profile you desire.

Choose Quality Ingredients & Equipment

The final hack every home baker should know is that the quality of your ingredients and baking tools can make a difference. Using real vanilla extract instead of its artificial counterpart can significantly elevate the taste of your baked goods. Likewise, you should buy tools such as:

• A kitchen scale

• Silicone baking mats

• An oven thermometer 

• A candy thermometer

You’ll achieve more consistent results by investing in quality baking essentials. Specific items, such as a kitchen scale, offer more precise measurements than measuring cups. Remember, baking is a skill, and the more you practice, the easier it is to whip up something delicious!