Know when or when not to open the oven door while baking
Do not open the oven for at least the first half of the baking time, as the cold air will interfere with the rising of dough/cake.
Kneading Bread or Pizza Dough
Use your hand to scrape the dough onto the work surface With lightly floured hands, scrape the dough into a ball Take the dough and push it forward and turn it back upon itself Turn the dough evey time you push it for about 5-10 minutes Until the texture of the dough becomes really springy and you have a smooth, soft dough
How to get your bread to expand
After dough rises, grease a sharp knife and slash the top 3 to 4 times. This will allow the bread to expand quickly and avoids “blow outs” when bubbles from under the crust.
How to know when your bread is baked
You’ll know your loaf is cooked if you tap the bottom of the loaf and it sounds hollow. If you’re still not sure, check to see if the loaf shrinks away from the side of the tin – then it’s cooked.
How to keep your bread fresh
Once the bread is cool, wrap in plastic freezer/food bag. This will soften the crust and preserve a moist crumb. - Using butter or oil in a recipe makes bread fresher for longer.
How to measure golden syrup
To measure golden sryrup accurately warm a spoon in hot water, dry then use it to measure out the syrup. You will find the syrup slips off the spoon!
How to use Royal Icing
It is important to beat the icing for 5 minutes as this will make the icing strong.
Prevent Curdling
When adding egg to a creamed butter and sugar cake mix add a little of the flour to prevent curdling
Better batter
To make light crisper batter add just under a teaspoonful of baking powder to the batter before you use it
General baking
Use the smallest baking tray possible when using the oven, it allows the heat to circulate more evenly
For fluffy meringues
Add a teaspoonful of cornflour to every 112g of sugar when making meringues, it stops them from turning into a sticky toffee consistency
cook meringues with a wooden board under the baking tray, it absorbes discolouring smoke and keeps them whiter.
Keep Biscuits Fresh
Put a few sugar lumps in the bottom of your biscuit tin. The lumps will absorb the moisture and keep the biscuits fresh.
Keep Cake Fresh
Sprinkle homemade cakes with sugar while they are still hot. This keeps them fresh longer.
For an extra light and fluffy finish to any creamed sponge cake recipe
Just substitute one ounce of the self raising or 'sponge' flour with an ounce of cornflour. Beautiful results.
When adding golden syrup to mixtures
Heating the spoon in a mug of boiling water makes the golden syrup fall neatly off the spoon.
How to check if your cake is ready
Great way of checking if your cakes are ready is to dip a cocktail stick into the middle. Usual rules apply - gooey stick means it's not quite done, once it comes out clean they're ready! Cheap and convenient!
