Can’t Cook Won’t Cook

Great British Bake-Off
photo courtesy:  bbc.co.uk

With shows like The Great British Bake-Off inspiring teenagers and adults all over the country to break out their baking trays, home-cooking has seen an explosion of interest and popularity. Many people are intimidated by cooking shows however, believing that they will be unable to create the television’s marvelous cakes and pastries in their own kitchen.

From cookbooks to podcasts, there are a number of ways people can kick-start their amateur baking – some chefs even make house calls for one-to-one tuition. Although stocking your kitchen with the latest cooking appliances and ingredients can be detrimental to your wallet, it doesn’t cost anything at all to learn the basics. Unless you’re a Michelin professional, part-time bakers bake for enjoyment, so you have to be willing to get a bit messy with your mixing if you’re going to succeed. Here are a few simple steps to get you ready and raring to go.  

Plan Ahead

The best bakers have their finished cake or loaf set in their mind before they even hit the shops for their ingredients, so preparation is key if you want to get the best out of your pastry. If you are unorganised with your baking, then you’ll likely find that your creations will come out the oven burnt, not set, and generally messy. In other words, plan, plan, plan!

Perfect Your Technique, Not Your Recipe

There’s no point in having the best recipe if you don’t know the technicalities of baking, so you’re going to have to brush up on your oven manual if you want to produce the best brownies. From roasting to braising, steaming to sautéing, you’ll be able to be more creative with your mixtures if you know how they will bake in your oven. There are a variety of ovens on the market if you aren’t happy with your current appliance, so visit rangecookers.co.uk for the latest cookers.

Only Use The Best Ingredients

If you’re just starting out in baking, then you’re going to need all the help you can get. Only the best ingredients produce the best products, so don’t slack when it comes to your mixtures. From premium chocolate to organic fruit, your family and friends will be able to taste the difference in your cakes if you use cheap, low quality ingredients.

Tools

Don’t let your baking (and your hands) down by using blunt, old and stale tools. From chopping boards to knives, you’ll want the best equipment at your disposal, and apart from standing the test of time, the best tools will also be the safest.

Senses

Baking isn’t just about using the right ingredients, it’s about preference. Make sure you use your senses when creating your cakes and pastries, and get your hands stuck into the mixtures. If your dough doesn’t feel soft enough, or your brownies don’t smell nutty-enough, then make sure you tweak your recipes - don’t settle for second best. Baking is a trial and error process, and shows like The Great British Bake-Off have proved that even amateurs can conjure up some wonderful nibbles, but only when combining all of their senses.