For people who are just new to baking will find that it is indeed a very complicated process. So, here a few guidelines and tips that can be very useful when it comes to baking for beginners.

Before you begin follow these steps. These will help you to avert any disaster that may occur while baking. Before you start make sure that you go through the recipe thoroughly. This makes sure that you have all the required ingredients at hand before you start. It is important that you use only fresh supplies. The next important step is to have the oven preheated to the required temperature for perfect baking. Liquids which are used in the recipe need to be measured accurately by placing them at eye level. Dry ingredients need to be measured by using a flat knife to level them. It is important that you bake with extreme care as it can cause the recipe to be ruined when done in a hurry.

There are different kinds of flour which are not entirely the same. When making yeast breads it is important to use wheat flour. For yeast loaves use bread flour and the same when used in yeast bread will make it a heavy cake instead. Cake flour on the other hand is very fine. You can use all purpose flour for any type of baking. Bleached and unbleached flours can also be used. Flour can be stored in an airtight container away from moisture and direct sunlight for up to six months.

You cannot interchange baking powder with baking soda. The ingredients of baking powder include baking soda and an acid that causes the flour to leaven and rise when mixed with wet ingredients and baked. Baking soda on the other hand constitutes sodium bicarbonate. When mixed with an acidic ingredient like yogurt, molasses or buttermilk causes the flour to rise making it light and spongy.

Here are some tips while handling chocolate while cooking. First you must be aware that there are various types of chocolate that can be used for cooking. Unsweetened chocolate is chocolate liquor which contains fifty percent coca butter without any sugar. Depending upon the various amounts of sugar which is added to the coca butter, you will get the various varieties like bittersweet, semi sweet, and dark chocolate. Milk chocolate on the other hand is made up of dried milk powder, cocoa butter and sugar while white chocolate is made from cocoa butter instead of chocolate liquor. To make unsweetened cocoa you will need to use chocolate liquor in which 75 percent cocoa butter has been removed and then dried and made into a paste. It is easy to burn the chocolate while melting so it has to be done over a small flame. The various methods which can be used for melting chocolate are the double boiler method, direct heat method or simply use the microwave oven