Any baker who just started will ask, where do I start and what are the skills that I need to excel as a novice baker? There have been one too many people who think that baking is as easy as pie where you just watch a YouTube video and voila you get your soufflé or ratatouille in one go.
But, many fail to realize that it’s not as easy as that. Baking is a skill and an art that requires patience, practice, and the right set of skills. People have baked for many years and there are still inconsistencies in having your perfect fluffy soufflé. There are even times that even cooking a sunny-side egg is difficult. Moreover, be sure you have all the baking tools you need before proceeding.
Know this, after reading this article, you will be pursuing a limitless journey of fulfillment in your quest to be the perfect baker or bake the most perfect cake you have always wanted to make. Here are the skills for you to reference:
- Attention to detail
- Creativity with flavor
- Patience
- Adaptability
- Superb hand-eye coordination
Attention To Detail
Being detail-oriented is essential when it comes to baking. Every little step must be done precisely as stated in the recipe or else a disaster will strike very soon. So, either you start watching from YouTube or any other baking guide sites. Be sure to check every gram, every time to make sure you get everything right. From weighing out your ingredients correctly to measuring the proper temperature of an oven, attention to detail is key.
Of course, we are not expecting you to get everything perfect for your first try, but knowing the fundamental approach of attention to detail can make you perfect the recipe that you always want to make a quicker process.
How about we make a real-life example in our ‘soufflé‘ again? Imagine yourself getting everything right but then oh wait, you missed an ingredient or two or turn the heater up too high. What would happen to it? If you are thinking what I am also thinking then you’ll know that either your souffle taste is not on par with your standard or the aesthetic appeals of your souffle will go way down to what you are expecting.
Creativity with flavor
Remember what we said before that baking is an art form. If you can’t remember, check back up because as it turns out, it is an art form. Every person’s cake is different and having creativity with flavor is the defining trait all bakers should have. Whether it tastes bad or good, is a matter of every person’s taste. There’s a saying that ‘Beauty Is In The Eyes Of The Beholder’ and the tongue is no different.
For example, adding a drop or two of vanilla extract can make all the difference in a chocolate chip cookie. Or perhaps you want to add some raspberry puree and some almond slivers to your cake batter for something different. It’s all up to you!
If they were no creativity with flavors, then food will all taste the same. Food that tastes the same is the definition of what we call boring in a colorless world. So, try to experiment because who knows, you might bake your signature cake or truffles.
Patience
This is pretty significant in everything you do and not just baking. As the saying goes ‘Rome Wasn’t Built In A Day’ and that rings true for you just as well. Don’t expect to bake your perfect Apple Pie or Red Velvet Cake in a single try because chances are you will encounter some mistakes in it. If you didn’t, then dare I say you might be a protégé in baking and you quickly participate in any pastry competition near you.
Back to the point, patience is key to mastering your skill as a baker. Take your time and keep learning to perfection. When you perfected one pastry there will always be countless more to perfect or even improve on as a whole.
Adaptability
This is where the fun begins as a baker. Be adaptable under any circumstances and that includes either your overseas or as I said in a pastry competition as well. You won’t always have your baking ingredients on hand and that’s where your skill as a baker comes to fruition.
With the recent pandemic, we have limited items to restock for our kitchen and so try and think of some ways to make that pastry that you have made a dozen times by now again but with limited ingredients to spare. Chances are, you might not replicate your intended pastry but you will discover that you can make it with this limited number of ingredients in your hand.
Superb Hand-Eye Coordination
Out of all these skills, each one will contribute to hand-eye coordination the most. Bakers can make magnificent shapes of pastries such as either the famous croissant or even a simple apple pie. To even make a croissant, you need weeks or months to even perfect the shape of how you mold its identity to your own. A simple apple pie would even require your time to make each of its crust and shape appealing to your own.
As you bake further down the line, you will see a steady rate of improvement from all your hard work. Even if your head has memorized all the recipes and all the steps to making that particular pastry, there will always be the important factor that, do you have the muscle memory or hand-eye coordination to be exact to make it what you want it to look.
Baking Is a Journey
In summary, baking is a journey of trial and error, but more importantly, it’s an exploration that requires patience and dedication to hone your craft. The more you practice, the better the results will be. As you continue to bake and improve your techniques, your creations will become a reflection of yourself in which each bite becomes a sensory experience that is unique and special.
