Hello Everyone, this is the part one of the topic about Mise en Place. After reading this post you should be able to demonstrate organizational skills that will help you to bake successfully. Have fun reading!.
Organizational Skills is really needed for baking. Being ready to bake involves organizational skills that includes many activities like preparing the ingredients, tools and equipment that are needed for baking and preheating ovens. These activities are referred to our topic today. Mise en place is a french word phrase that means "everything is in place" or "getting everything ready and in its place."
There are six main organizational skills that are needed for baking:
- Reading the recipe carefully
- Identifying tools and/or equipment needed
- Gathering all necessary ingredients, tools and equipment close to the work area
- Preparing the pans
- Measuring properly
- Practicing good sanitation
Reading the Recipe Carefully
Reading the recipe carefully is the first skill of a successful baker. As mundane as this sounds, many people just scan the recipe and did not pick up on special ingredients, tools needed, or methods used. If the baker ready haphazardly, the recipe may not turn exactly or as expected because the baker did not have the necessary ingredients, tools, or skills to prepare it. Recipes are important because it gives specific ingredients in exact amounts and some professional bakers refer to them as formula.
Another reason for reading the recipe is to identify the mixing method that is used. There are infinite numbers of mixing methods. Once the baker is already know the mixing methods, identifying the method or the specific way of combining various ingredients lights the path to successful baking.
The last reason for reading the recipe carefully is to allow the baker to envision what each stage looks like and then ultimately the baker will picture the final product. Visioning the image of the recipe is no different than an athlete who is mentally going through various movements or plays before a game.
Identifying Tools and/or Equipment Needed
After the recipe is read, the baker should be making a mental notes as to which tools and equipment will be needed for this task. If a specific tool is not available, can another one be substituted without jeopardizing the recipe?.
Example: if a shortcake recipe is being prepared and a pastry blender is needed but not available, what could be used instead? Cutting the fat into the dough with a fork and knife would work well as would pulsing the ingredients a few times in a food processor.
Some bakers try to make substitutions but it won't work.
Example: A sponge cake relies on air to leaven the cake states to fold the beaten egg whites into a batter with a rubber spatula but a whisk is used instead. The result will be the cake may not rise because the air bubbles were lost when the whites were mixed into a rough manner with a whisk and not gently folded in.
Gathering All Necessary Ingredients, Tools, and Equipment Close to the Work Area
Once the baker is ready to bake, all ingredients, tools and equipment must be gathered and brought close to the work area, If these items are not gathered, then too much time will spent on running around the kitchen like opening the drawers, refrigerators, and freezers just to get ingredients and tools. This could be disaster to the recipe.
Example: Some of the ingredients for the cake batter are being mixed in an electric mixer but the liquid ingredients were not measured before starting the recipe, the batter may end up over mixed while the ingredients are being gathered, resulting in a tough cake or measuring error, Measuring the ingredients can also lead to mistakes and baked goods that do not come out as expected.
What if a recipe called for egg whites to be warmed before being beaten, For example, by placing a bowl of whites into a larger bowl of warm water for 1 hour? If this step was forgotten or rushed, the whites may not beat up as high.
What if a recipe required butter to be softened and creamed with sugar, but the baker did not soften the butter before preparing the recipe? The mistakes of inefficiency can slow down the work of the baker.
Oven is one of the equipment needed for baking. Pre-heating the oven should be dome 10-15 minutes before using it.
Reference : About Professional Baking by Gail Sokol (Philippine Edition)
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