Cooking a lamb roast or chicken casserole comes easy for most of us, but dipping our fingers in the baking arena is a different story. We’re sure many burned chocolate chip cookies and deflated creme brulees have been enough to dissuade any gal from ever trying her hand with flour. Despite how daunting it can seem, baking can be a successful endeavor. We just need a little help to start. Contributor, Avni Patankar show us what essential baking tools every beginner needs in their kitchen, including a few foolproof tips.
The Essentials
- Spatula
- Measuring cups
- Spoons
- Hand/Electric Mixer
- Mixing bowls
Where to buy: Any baking /cooking store (Sur La Table, Williams Sonoma, etc) or General stores (Target, Walmart, and other similar places)
Tips When baking:
If a recipe lists the temperature we need to bake and how long to bake it, try to follow it as precise as possible. But also know that conventional ovens can differ so it will take a batch or two to know exactly what works best for you. Patience is key.
Suggestion:
- As for timing, if the recipes says 15-20 minutes, I recommend setting a timer for about 17 minutes that way it’s right in the middle of 15-20 minutes.
It won’t be long until we can intuitively know when our creation is done. But for now, the fork method is a reliable way to test out if a dish is ready.
Suggestion:
- Stick a fork or toothpick in the dish (in middle is best) and see if It comes out clean. If so, it’s ready! Otherwise, otherwise cook it for maybe another 2-5 minutes depending on how uncooked it looks (check in between times) until the fork or toothpick comes out clean. I recommend doing this with cakes in particular.
Cakes can be easy or hard depending on how we tackle them. For example, a recipe can normally call for us to bake at 350 degrees, but sometimes baking it at a slightly lower temperature can ensure success.
Suggestion:
- Baking at 325 degrees instead of at 350 while still following the required minutes on the reccipe can decrease the chances of overcooking. Sure, we might have to bake it a bit longer until it’s completely ready, but a nice golden cake is infinitely more appealing than a burnt one.
