3 Common Mistakes When Baking

If you need some help to become a baking expert, this post by Great Harvest Bread Company in Newtonville can give you tips to correct the 3 most common mistakes when baking.

With so much time inside this last year, people have turned to activities they can do safely indoors and many have discovered the joy of a freshly baked loaf of bread or the heartwarming feeling of having cookies on the counter. Baking is one of the most versatile and entertaining activities you can do in your kitchen, but it can be discouraging to put so much effort into it and have it come out less than perfect. In this post, we’ll go over three of the most common mistakes that people make when baking, from having your cake rise too much, or not rise enough, to how to prevent your loaves and cakes from sticking to the pan, and we’ll give you some tips and tricks to prevent them just in time for summer gatherings.

Are you craving delicious, freshly-made bread in Newtonville? Call Great Harvest Bread Co. at 617-928-1162 today to learn about their menu!

Your nearest Great Harvest Bread Co. always has the best freshly made bread in Newtonville. Ask about the menu and services offered in the Newtonville, MA area. Call 617-928-1162 today for more information!

Your Cake Didn’t Rise or Rose Too Much

Having your cakes not rise or rise too much are two of the most common challenges for beginner and experienced bakers alike. It could mean that you’re baking in a different oven than your usual one, or it can mean that your oven needs calibration. But it could also mean some issues with your ingredients. Here are some quick tips to fix it and ensure that your next baking experience goes better.

Your Cake Didn’t Rise

First things first, check your ingredients. Are your baking powder and baking soda expired? If this is the case, then it’s an easy fix for your next bake. It’s essential to keep track of expiration dates on these ingredients because they’ll lose their effects if they’re not fresh. These ingredients, mixed with others like eggs and mixing the batter, which adds in air, are leavening agents, which help create the bubbles that make the batter rise. Another good practice is to make sure all your ingredients are at the same temperature. When eggs, milk, or butter are just out of the fridge, it not only makes it harder to mix, but it will affect your overall batter temperature, and eggs as a leavening agent lose effectiveness when cold. Quick tip: For too-cold eggs, pull them out of the fridge and put them in warm water for about 10 minutes before mixing them into your batter.

Your nearest Great Harvest Bread Co. always has the best freshly made bread in Newtonville. Ask about the menu and services offered in the Newtonville, MA area. Call 617-928-1162 today for more information!

Your Cake Rose Too Much, Then Collapsed

So, your cake rose too much? Well, there are a few reasons this might’ve happened. One of the most common ones is that your oven was too hot when the cake went in. If this is the case, your cake rose too much in the first few minutes of baking and then collapsed because it wasn’t set. An oven being too hot can cause other problems, like uneven baking or a dry cake, which is less than ideal. Suppose you struggle with getting the right temperature on your oven, or your oven just isn’t reliable enough. In that case, it’s a good idea to purchase an oven thermometer which you can find in most baking supplies stores or online. Pro tip: Cake will always rise a bit in the pan, so make sure to not overfill it so it doesn’t spill. Make sure to only fill about ¾ of your mold with batter and you’ll avoid spills. Lastly, it’s important not to overmix your batter. Recipes usually say to mix until just incorporated, meaning that when your dry ingredients disappear into your wet ones, it’s time to stop. One of the side effects of overmixing is adding too much air into your batter, which will cause it to rise too much in the oven, and sink once you take it out.

Cakes Always Get Stuck in the Pan

Finally, there’s the all-too-common issue of your cakes, loaves, or muffins getting stuck to the pan. Lucky for you, this is an easy fix, and it only takes a couple of extra minutes: greasing your pan. If you don’t mind messes, you can use the old and proven method of greasing your pan with butter and then dusting it with flour. The non-messy way is to use baking or quick-release spray, sold in most supermarkets or baking stores.

Visit your nearest Great Harvest Bread Co. bakery and take home some delicious freshly made bread in Newtonville. For more information about the menu and services, call 617-928-1162 today!