Basic Steps In Baking

1. Read the recipe carefully to know if you have all the ingredients and utensils needed and to know if you could understand the entire procedure.
2. Check if you have all the necessary ingredients then gather them together.
3. Prepare all the utensils you will need for measuring, mixing and baking.
4. Preheat oven. Set the oven knob at desired temperature. Hang an oven thermometer on the center rack. When the thermometer registers the same temperature as the oven knob then the oven is ready for use.
5. Prepare the pan or pans needed, making sure you use the correct pan size. If it needs greasing, brush the bottom of the pan with a little shortening. For baking purposes, do not use butter or margarine for greasing because these burn easily and will produce a very brown crust.
6. Measure the ingredients using correct utensils in the amount required in the recipe.
7. Mix the batter or dough. When filling pans, make sure you do not overfill. Fill about 2/3 full to give an allowance for the rising.
8. Bake in a preheated oven. Put the pan at the center rack.
9. Test for doneness. For butter cakes, prick at the center of the cake with a toothpick. If it comes out clean, then, it is done. For chiffon or sponge cakes, press lightly with the fingers. If it springs back, it means it is done. Pies and pastries are done when the crusts have turned golden brown, crisp and flaky.
10. Cool the baked products. For butter cakes, put the pan on a wire rack and leave to cool for 10 minutes. Afterwards, invert the pan to remove the cake and cool it completely. For chiffon or sponge cakes, invert the pans at once and cool on racks.
11. After the cakes have cooled, they can aleady be assembled and decorated.