During the pandemic, many people discovered the delights of baking homemade goods. Because everyone is either bored from staying home all the time or stressing about the public health crisis, baking has become a national past-time. And until now, many people continue to bake to have something good and nutritious to eat or as a hobby.
There’s something pleasurable about baking. However, sometimes, it can be a disappointment. What if you make something that’s not as good as you thought it would be?
This article will teach you the top five reasons why your baked goods might be turning out terrible.
It Could Be the Fault of Your Oven
Ovens are not all the same. Some are calibrated incorrectly, which means that your baked goods might be burnt or undercooked. You also need to make sure in advance if your oven is in good condition.
To check if your oven is in good condition, you can preheat it and use a thermometer to measure if the interior of the appliance achieved the desired temperature. If not, there’s something wrong with it. It could also mean that the heating elements of your stove are faulty, which they’ll probably need to replace at some point. Before using an oven again, try lining the bottom tray with aluminum foil or investing in self-cleaning pans.
You also need to give your oven a deep cleansing every once in a while. It’s not always as easy as wiping the inner parts where food is placed. You might need experts in cleaning ovens to completely get rid of the smells, burnt pieces that hardened, stains, and other unwanted items that prevent your oven from turning up delicious baked goods.
You’re Using Bad Ingredients
The quality of ingredients affect the outcome of your baking greatly. Buying the wrong kind of ingredients makes it challenging to make certain baked goods.
It is important to use your senses when buying ingredients for baking. Make sure that the eggs you are using are not cracked and smelly because this often signifies that their quality is poor or that they’re already way past their expiry date. Check that your baking soda has expired because, even though leveners have long shelf-lives, at some point, they can go bad, especially when not properly stored.
Take note of signs like that before purchasing any kind of ingredient, particularly those for desserts because these can be hard to detect flaws in (unless poorly made). Always buy ingredients from reputable sellers at grocery stores instead of using handmade products brought by peddlers.
You’re Not Measuring Ingredients Correctly
Some recipes call for precise measurements while others depend on how much one wants to put in. But, unfortunately, even if the latter is true, it’s still best to have a good grip on measuring ingredients.
Most experienced bakers say that you should use standard measurements when baking at home. By using standard measurements, you’ll know what things are supposed to look like or how much of each ingredient goes into your baked goods. This way, it will be easier for you to adjust whenever something goes wrong without having to start over again because proper measurement ensures better results every time you bake.
You’re Not Using the Right Baking Pans
It can be annoying if your cake sticks to the bottom of the pan even though you’ve already let it cool down before loosening its edges with a knife. Make sure that whatever pan you are using is non-stick and greased with butter or oil.
You can also go for pans that are deeper as they tend to retain heat more efficiently than those shallow flat pans.
When it comes to baking, having the right kind of material is essential. Aluminum pans conduct heat better, which means that baked goods will cook faster and more evenly — promoting quality results on your end. On the other hand, glass materials reflect heat, so the result is often dense and coarse-textured cakes or cookies when using glass containers instead of metal.
The color of the pan also matters. Darker-colored pans, which absorb heat, causes the batter to set and brown quicker. Light-colored pans are often more expensive, but they might give you better results.
There are many reasons why your baked goods might be turning out terrible, but by understanding the root of the problem, you can start to fix it. By using standard measurements, buying quality ingredients, using non-stick and greased baking pans, and following directions correctly, you can produce better results in your home bakery!
