Baking
My favourite hobby 👩🏾🍳 🍰
Baking is a cooking technique that uses dry heat, usually in an oven, but it can also be done in hot ashes or on heated stones. While bread is the most commonly baked item, many other foods can be prepared this way. Heat is gradually transferred from the outer surface of items like cakes, cookies, and bread to their center, typically at temperatures above 300°F. This dry heat process enhances the flavor of foods through caramelization and browning, creating a firm, dry crust with a soft interior as it transforms batters and doughs into finished baked goods. Baking can also be combined with grilling to create a hybrid barbecue method, using both techniques either together or sequentially. The masonry oven used in baking shares similarities with the smoke pit used in barbecuing.
Besides bread, baking is also used to make cakes, pastries, pies, tarts, quiches, cookies, scones, crackers, pretzels, and other treats. Traditionally, baking was done at home for daily meals and in bakeries or restaurants for local communities. With industrialization, the baking process became automated in large factories. Despite advancements, baking remains a crucial skill, especially given the economic and cultural importance of baked goods like bread. A professional who specializes in preparing baked goods is known as a baker.