The Baker’s Dictionary: A Guide To Baking Terminology

When you first begin baking, you will come across a number of concepts that at first glance could seem like a confusing web of culinary jargon.

To produce delicious baked goods, every stage of the baking process is crucial, from the crucial aeration method to the construction of firm peaks. Understanding these terms will enable you to enter a world where precision and a passion for baking together, regardless of your level of baking experience. Discover these fascinating terms to elevate your baking abilities to a whole new level.

Aerate

Also known as aeration, this is the technique of enabling air to be mixed into materials to give them additional volume and/or lightness. Sifting flour, for instance, eliminates lumps and provides air, giving the flour and usually, the food item made with it a lighter texture and consistency. The volume can be increased by beating egg whites or by whipping butter, which both introduce air.

Bain-Marie

In the realm of cooking, a bain-marie (pronounced bane mah-REE) is just a fancy term for a hot water bath. It is frequently used to prepare delicate dishes like custards, producing a uniform cooking procedure by gently heating the food around it. The most popular use of a bain-marie is presumably in the setting for crème brûlées. This method aids in keeping the custard tops from cracking while keeping the interior soft.

Bread Flour

It is the flour used to make bread, as the name implies, and it is manufactured from hard spring wheat, which has 13-14 percent gluten. Yeast and high protein content are essential for bread flour because they provide the bread structure and contribute to its soft, thick texture.

The most common varieties of bread that use this flour are sourdough, bagels, pretzels, and even pizza dough. Since bread flour is higher in gluten, it doesn’t need as much kneading or stretching as compared to all-purpose flour to activate the protein, which is the only major difference between the flours while making bread.