Cooking and Baking: Important Differences
Many people tend to think of cooking and baking as the same process. However, when preparing food it is important to differentiate these terms as they require different ingredients, processes, and preparation techniques.
Baking requires different skills than other forms of cooking, and it is an extremely valuable skill to develop in the kitchen. Understanding what makes baking unique and how to master its fundamentals will open the door to an entirely new and totally rewarding kitchen skill that is healthy, versatile, and enjoyable.
Cooking generally refers to any process where heat is applied to food to make it edible or tastier. This includes frying food in a pan, grilling it, boiling it in water, or any other process with which we are familiar. Baking, however, is a particular type of cooking in which dry heat is applied to one’s food which normally is placed in an enclosed oven. The direct heat from the oven is what warms the food over time making it fit for consumption.
It is the constant application of dry heat that sets baking apart from other forms of cooking. It is this constant heat that causes the dough to firm up and become bread or a filet of salmon to become crispy and cooked through.
A large number of foods can be prepared through baking including cakes, cookies, pizzas, meat, fish, and vegetables. Since the main source of heat is dry, rather than the oil which is typically used in frying, baking is typically considered to be a highly healthy form of food preparation.
Baking as a Science
A common adage in the culinary world is that while other forms of cooking are an art, baking is a science. The underlying difference is that while cooking allows chefs to express themselves more freely throughout the entire food preparation process and generally grants a higher level of control, baking generally requires detailed knowledge of how much heat to exert over some time and requires the baker to leave the food in the oven with relatively few changes made once the food begins heating. Hence, getting things right from the beginning is an essential component of the baking process.
When baking with dough, ingredients such as baking soda and salt have a large impact on how the dough rises. In baked goods such as bread, cakes, and pancakes, following the same protocol and ensuring that the oven is kept to exactly the right temperature is critical in ensuring the desired outcome.
When baking, make sure to carefully research and measure the balance of ingredients and to understand the amount of heat needed to make the dish come out properly. With dishes such as cookies, cakes, and bread, the final product will often come out near-perfectly or be largely ruined with very little in between.
FAQs about Baking
Q. Are cooking and baking the same thing?
A. Baking is a specific form of cooking that involves the use of dry heat, usually in an enclosed oven. While cooking is considered to be more of an art, allowing for culinary improvisation along the way, baking is considered to be more of a science in which instructions are far less adaptable.
Q. What are Some Advantages of Cooking as Opposed to Baking?
A. Baking can often (though not always) be considered more healthy than cooking because the direct heat provided by the oven does not require oil or other fats as do methods such as frying.
Furthermore, baking can be easier and less time-intensive than forms of cooking that give you more control but require constant attention. Comparing, for example, baking a piece of salmon to frying it. While frying requires constantly checking the fish and flipping in the pan, the heat provided by the oven comes from all sides meaning that if you know the appropriate time and heat, you can simply pop the fish into the oven and take it out ready to eat minutes later.
Whether you wish to learn how to make bread, cake, or cookies or want a healthy way to cook a brisket, fish, or lasagna, baking is a versatile cooking method that is extremely useful to the home cook. However, a good deal of knowledge and planning may be required as getting the number of ingredients or the back time wrong can irreversibly ruin your creations, leaving you frustrated and discouraged.
A good plan going forward for those wishing to learn how to bake is, to begin with relatively simple dishes, chocolate chip cooking, a simple cake, or a piece of salmon before moving to more complex dishes which require letting the dough rise such as bread. Scaling up will allow for a healthy dose of trial and error while not overwhelming the beginning chef.