After spending a year working back-of-house at a bakery, I picked up a few tips and tricks that I still use in my own kitchen. By no means are they hard and fast rules, but I do think they help create a less stressful kitchen experience, which is why I wanted to share them with you!
Don’t take things too seriously
Far easier said than done, especially if you’re a little hard on yourself by nature. We used to have a saying back in the bakery that was shared with me on my very first day and has stuck with me: “They’re just donuts.” Cooking is supposed to be enjoyable, so if you find yourself getting worked up about something, remind yourself that it’s just cooking. Take a deep breath, remember why you started, and get back to enjoying the moment!
Read the entire recipe before starting
This is a crucial commandment for success! There might be a curveball thrown in half way through the recipe and if you didn’t read it before starting, I guarantee something will run amiss. You know what’s a great way not to be thrown off by a curve ball? READING THE RECIPE AHEAD OF TIME. You have all of the instructions in front of you! No need to be caught off guard by something.
Prep your ingredients
Honestly, this is a game changer and so simple! The best way to get stressed out while cooking or baking is to be pulling out and measuring ingredients as you need them and on the fly. Do your best to get all or most of your ingredients measured out before you actually start the cooking/baking process and it’ll be smooth sailing.
Clean as you go
I’ll admit that for me this means putting dishes in the sink after I’ve used them (see the next commandment as a follow up). Find what works for you and by the time you’ve completed a recipe, you’ll feel much more accomplished with a clutter-free workspace in front of you.
Use bake time to tidy up your kitchen
Just because you put the dishes in the sink doesn’t mean they’re allowed to sit there forever (although I have been guilty of that…). I’ve found the best time to do the dishes and wipe down the counters is while things are either chilling in the fridge or baking in the oven. This way you’re including cleanup in the baking process and you won’t need to do any cleaning once things come out of the oven, leaving you more time to enjoy the fruits of your labors!
Trust yourself and be confident
Easily the most important commandment. Building trust and self-confidence takes time, I’ll admit. But once you’ve got it going on? Keep cookin’! Eventually you learn what you can’t get away with (swapping baking soda for baking powder? Not recommended…) and what you can (don’t have heavy cream to thicken up a sauce? Throw a bit of cream cheese and water in there and let the whole thing simmer down!). Odds are, you’ve been eating food your whole life. Trust your gut and know you are completely capable of making something amazing!