Whether you’re a bold baking expert or a frustrated first-time baker, we’ve got the tips to get you prepared and organized so you can get in and out of the kitchen and right to enjoying your tasty treats even faster!
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Read up. Slow your hot, buttered roll! We know you’re excited to begin your baking adventure, but there are a few things you need to do beforehand that will help you save time when baking. First things first – read through your recipe fully before beginning. You wouldn’t want to be in a time crunch and realize you’re missing one of the main ingredients.
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Prep your ingredients. As we mentioned, some ingredients may call for early preparation, whether that means bringing eggs to room temperature, preparing dough the night before or any other special steps a recipe might take. After thoroughly reading your instructions, be sure to do any necessary preparation ahead of time so you aren’t standing around waiting for your butter to soften!
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Preheat the oven and wait. The importance of this step cannot be overstated when it comes to baking. Did you know that food bakes unevenly in an oven that isn’t fully heated? Be sure to build in an extra 10 to 15 minutes after the oven beeps before popping in your dish. This extra time allows the whole oven – metal grates and all – to reach the desired temperature, which can be crucial for baking. Chef’s note: Checking on your baked goods by opening the oven door frequently also has a negative effect on properly baking your food. Leave that door closed, relying on your oven’s window and light to give you the best guess for when it needs to be removed from the heat.
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Use parchment paper. Forget about trying to evenly coat your pans with oil and using every ounce of elbow grease to scrub it off afterward. Using parchment paper can make baking and cleanup a breeze! Just line your pan with this moisture- and grease-resistant paper and you’re set. Now, you won’t have to worry about scrapping cookies, making a mess or putting more wear and tear into your pans. Parchment paper can also help you save time with transport, since all you have to do is lift the paper after it cools and slide your baked goods onto the counter or platter!
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Weigh it. The precision of measuring your ingredients in cooking is nothing like it is in baking. While you can add a pinch of salt here and there to spice up a meal as needed, baking requires a high level of accuracy to ensure that all of the ingredients combine and rise properly. By weighing your ingredients rather than simply relying on measuring cups, you can avoid wasting time at the end trying to cover up lumps in your cake (or crying over a #cakefail). In case you’re new to measuring with a scale, click here to use an online converter to help you keep your measurements precise.
These are just some of the many ways we have learned over the years to save time when baking. Got more tips up your sleeve? Tell us about them in the comments below!