here is a list of common mistakes when it comes to baking. Of course, as long as the cake tastes good, it does not really matter what it looks like. But below you can find our tips for how best to deal with collapsed or soggy cakes, caters, brittle crusts, strange colours, and the ultimate classic: “my cake won’t come out of the tin and I don’t want to eat it straight from the tin with a fork.”
Read MoreCommercials often use a combination of natural and pure when advertising certain products. This doesn’t really make much sense, though, because in chemistry it’s not actually possible for something to be both natural and pure. In nature, you don’t find pure substances, so how can something be both pure and natural? Let’s say it’s a marketing gimmick (or, to use a more accurate word, deception).
Read MoreToday: part three of The Chemistry of Baking. If someone had told me before that chemistry is actually a lot like baking a cake, I might have paid more attention in school. Today we will look at different kinds of leavening agents with the help of our favourite chemistry teacher, Johann. What exactly makes the dough rise? And what are all the chemicals doing during this process?
Read MoreEnergy is a strange concept. It sounds simple. You gain energy by something, and the something can cost you energy. You can get energy from eating food, for example, but at the same time a large dinner can also make you feel tired. Your energy bill all use kWh, at school you learn about joule, and you can track your calorie intact when you go on a diet. But what is energy exactly, and why does energy matter?
Read MoreThis second part of ‘The Chemistry of Baking’ is about milk. What is the function of milk? How does cow milk differ from alternatives, like almond milk? The answer “cow milk comes from a cow” doesn’t really quite cover it, I’m afraid. How do you substitute butter milk and what is the function of fat?
Read MoreHet is maar goed dat Johann de recepten ontwikkelt want ik ben niet cijfermatig aangelegd en ik hou al helemaal niet van precies werken. Naast het feit dat ik dus alleen verantwoordelijk ben voor het maken van de linzensoep (een recept wat zeer vergevingsgezind is) is het ook fijn dat Johann vanuit de scheikunde begrijpt wat alle ingrediënten doen. Deze kennis heb je nodig om 'anders' te kunnen bakken. Dus om een recept glutenvrij, vegan, lactosevrij, of ei-vrij te maken.
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