How will you discipline yourself to become a successful baker
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How will you discipline yourself to become a successful baker
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1. Organization
The most successful bakers in the industry know that the process of baking requires careful timing, so having your baking station prepared with everything you’ll need – including all the tools and pre-measured ingredients close at hand – is vital. In the industry, this is called “mise en place.”
If you have to pause in the baking process while you shave some chocolate or wait for butter to come up to room temperature, you’re probably changing the recipe slightly because the order and timing are so important.
There’s a great deal of science involved in baking – generally, it’s more precise than cooking in that regard. The order of the ingredients matters, so attention to detail and organization will make a big difference.
2. Communication
Like other cooks in the kitchen, bakers most often work in a fast-paced environment with other culinary professionals alongside them. Having a clear manner of communication so you can keep pace with your task is extremely important. This can mean quickly getting another cup of flour while you stick to your task, or asking a colleague to give you some space to roll out your dough so you can keep the process going smoothly.
3. Attention to Detail
As we mentioned, baking is a science that relies on precise measurements and temperature conditions. All ingredients must be weighed and measured accurately. A few extra grams or an oven that’s 25 degrees hotter than the recipe dictates and your baking will suffer. The best bakers in the world have a keen eye for detail while creating consistent pastry art.
4. Composure Under Pressure
Things can heat up in a busy commercial kitchen, and not just because the oven is firing at 500 degrees! Bakers, like all chefs and line cooks, need to stay calm and collected under pressure. If you allow yourself to get distracted or flustered by the overall atmosphere in a busy kitchen, you run the risk of making a mistake with your measurements. That will have negative consequences for you and, potentially, the whole line depending on what you’re preparing.
Keeping a clear head helps you prepare for the coming week, as well. Planning is an important aspect of good kitchen management, no matter what role you’re playing.
5. Curiosity and Creativity
Baking is an interesting combination of science and art. The best bakers in the world consistently create new crowd-pleasing pastries, as well as time-honored favorites.
You probably won’t come up with the next big pastry sensation on a whim…as you hone your baking skills it will take planning, trial and error, and detailed notes to perfect a new creation. Good bakers stick with the classics. Great bakers are curious and will experiment with different combinations – and accept the failed experiments as a learning experience.
6. Patience and Dedication
We can’t stress this enough: baking is a well-planned process and every step is important. Some of the most important steps – the ones that ‘make’ the pastry or dessert – are also the most time-consuming.
Sourdough takes half a day to rise properly, so if you get impatient and cut the time in half you’ll end up with a sourdough brick. And a dreamy, cloud-like meringue on top of a cake or cookie adds a beautiful, airy touch, but whisking those egg whites will take patience…and muscle…if you’re not using electric beaters.