Basic Baking Principles

When you consider that most bakery products are made of the same few ingredients—flour, shortening, sugar, eggs, water or milk, and leavenings—you should have no difficulty understanding the importance of accuracy in the bakeshop, as slight variations in proportions or procedures can mean great differences in the final product. To achieve the desired results, it is not only important to weigh all ingredients accurately, as discussed in chapter 2. It is also important to understand all the complex reactions that take place during mixing and baking, so you can control these processes.