How to Read Recipes
Cooking and Baking are two different culinary skills, as we have stated often. When it comes to reading a baking recipe you have to know what you are doing. Step by step. Unlike cooking when it comes to baking following the recipe step by step is a guaranteed success.
Learn how to properly read the recipe first.
Let’s say you have a recipe in hand.
Let’s go step by step:
• Respect the Order
Did you know that a recipe’s ingredient list is usually set up by order of use?
• The Comma
The comma is everything when it comes to baking measurements. Every cut, chop, or dice instruction after a comma in an ingredient list is to be done after the ingredient is measured.
For example: 4 ounces bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped.
This means use a four ounce bars of chocolate, which it’s already measure hence the weight. Then you chop it. Place it in a bowl and follow the rest of the instructions. The recipe instructions does not mean chop a bunch of chocolate and measure out 4 ounces.
Student Question: Aren’t ounces the same before and after?
Where this gets tricky: 1 cup sifted flour vs 1 cup flour, sifted.
Respect the comma.
NOTE: The absence of a comma is also important.
For example: 1 cup chopped walnuts.
This means get some walnuts. Chop them. Measure the chopped walnuts in a 1-cup measuring cup so you can add them to whatever you’re creating. One cup of chopped walnuts is very different that one cup of walnuts, chopped.
• Pack, Soften and Preheat
- Recipe lists often request that brown sugar be ‘packed’. Take the back of a spoon and firmly press the sugar into the measuring cup. Add more sugar and pack until sugar is flush with the top of the measuring cup.
- Soften butter by allowing it to rest at room temperature for about 1 hour. Don’t cheat yourself or the butter by not allowing the butter to soften before combining it with sugar and eggs. Just DON’T.
- Preheat the oven. Don’t just set it at 350 degrees. A lot of people do this. Go according to the temperature provided by the recipe. Certain bake goods do not do great at high temperature just like others don’t do well at low temps!
• Is it done?
When do you know if a recipe is done? In the recipe instructions doneness is usually described by a time range and visual characteristics.
Example: Bake brownies for 30 to 33 minutes, or until the top is dull and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
The time and description should give you confidence by providing you with as estimated time and appearance. Trust the process and trust yourself.