Baking Tips from Personal Chef Roberto Simmons
Have you ever tried to bake a beautiful and delicious treat, and had something go catastrophically wrong? Maybe you didn’t put the lid on the blender before starting it, or maybe your cupcakes didn’t set up the way you’d hoped they would. Whatever the case, we’ve all been there. Unfortunately, we can't all be expert chefs, but with a few tips Wichita-based Personal Chef Roberto Simmons, we can avoid common baking mistakes and become better bakers.
1. Use Room Temperature Ingredients
Most people have a tendency to grab-and-go when baking. That is to say, they grab the necessary ingredients from the refrigerator and cabinet, measure them out and immediately begin mixing them. Though this practice is time efficient, it could be hurting the quality of your baked goods.
Instead, Chef Roberto recommends using room temperature ingredients. When eggs, milk and butter are mixed at room temperature, they form a paste that traps air. When baking occurs, the air will then expand, resulting in a lighter and fluffier baked treat!
2. Rotate Halfway Through Baking
If you haven’t guessed already, rotating your pans halfway through the baking process will yield a final product that is evenly cooked. Some ovens have hot and cool spots in them, and by rotating your pan, you can account for this and ensure that your kitchen creation bakes evenly. If you are using multiple racks in your oven, this is a good time to rotate from top to bottom, as well.
3. Invest in Quality Bakeware
The old saying “you get what you pay for” applies to many things, but is really rings true when it comes to bakeware. Your food will cook through, and more evenly when using premium bakeware, and it is much less likely to stick to a high-quality pan than a cheaper alternative. Higher quality bakeware also offers more durability, lasting longer than cheaper alternatives. It’s also easier to clean, and I don’t know about you, but I’ll take all the help I can get when it comes to doing the dishes.
4. Butter and Flour Pan Generously
If you’ve ever baked a beautiful cake, only to have it stick to the pan and crumble into ugly, broken pieces, let me just say I am so, so sorry. This is a truly disheartening experience and I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy. In order to bypass this tragedy, be sure to add plenty of butter and flour to the pan prior to adding your batter. This will prevent sticking, and your beautifully baked treat should slide right out!
5. Weigh Ingredients
Measuring ingredients with a scale instead of with measuring cups is beneficial for several reasons. First and foremost, it’s more accurate, and this will ensure more consistent success when baking. It’s also faster than filling a measuring cup and scraping off the excess for each ingredient.
Weighing dough and batter can also help to ensure that each of the cookies or cupcakes in your batch end up the same size as the rest, so no more fighting for the biggest cookie!
Chef Roberto
Chef Roberto Simmons
Chef Roberto grew up in Texas, where he developed a passion for southwestern cuisine. Now his personal chef services bring that flavor to Wichita. Whether you’re looking for a caterer, to have a meal delivered, or to have a meal cooked right in your home, Chef Roberto Simmons is a great option.
Chef Roberto offers:
- Meal Planning & Preparation
- Meal Delivery
- Complete Grocery shopping
- and more!
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