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What Are The 7 Key Baking Ingredients?
While there are many baking ingredients based on a person’s preferences, the following 7 are considered the foundational ingredients for many baking goods.
· Flour for providing structure to the baked goods.
· Sugar which acts as a sweetener.
· Eggs that act as a leavening agent and also enrich the baked good.
· Butter or oil which adds flavor, and moisture, and also helps with browning.
· Milk or water which is instrumental in adding moisture as well as mixing the ingredients together.
· Baking powder or baking soda which helps with the rising of the baked goods as well as lightening their texture.
· Salt to balance out the sweetness as well as enhance the flavor of the baked good.
It is imperative to note that there are other ingredients that are used and the above-mentioned 7 are simply the key ingredients that all baked goods must have.
What is the difference between baking soda and baking powder?
Both baking soda and baking powder are leavening agents that give baked goods a rising effect. Here are the differences between baking soda and baking powder.
Chemical composition: Baking soda is made up of sodium, oxygen, hydrogen, and carbon. Baking soda is a pure base that needs to be mixed with acidic ingredients to produce carbon dioxide which brings about the rising effect while baking powder is made of baking soda, acid, and a starch such as cornstarch which makes it a complete leavening agent. Baking powder does not need acid to activate and help the baked products rise.
Uses: Baking soda is used in recipes that have acidic ingredients such as vinegar, buttermilk, or lemon juice while baking powder can be used in recipes that have acidic ingredients or not.
Are baking products healthy?
This depends on the type and brand of the baking product and the ingredients used to make it. Some baking products can be healthy while others can be unhealthy.
Here are healthy baking products.
Whole grain flour: Baking products made from whole grain flour such as oat flour, almond flour, and wheat flour are healthy and nutrient-dense.
Natural sweeteners: Baking products made from natural sweeteners such as honey, dates, and maple syrup are healthy and rich in nutrients.
Natural fats: Fats from avocado, coconut oil, and olive oil are healthy, therefore baking products made from these fats are better than using processed butter.
Unhealthy baking products have high levels of sugar and unhealthy fats. Here are some of the unhealthy baking products.
Processed butter and margarine: These products have saturated fats, which can increase cholesterol and the risk of heart disease.
Artificial sweeteners and sugars: This product has high sugar levels which may have negative health effects on the body.