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How Baking Works: Exploring the Fundamentals of Baking Science
 
 
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How Baking Works: Exploring the Fundamentals of Baking Science (Paperback)

~ Paula I. Figoni (Author)
4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)


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8 new from $48.20 15 used from $27.50

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  Paperback $28.08 $28.08 $26.00
  Paperback, September 29, 2003 -- $48.20 $27.50

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Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Accessible coverage of the science of baking
Underlying the artistic considerations involved in baking is science, and no other text offers as in-depth coverage of the "whys" of baking as How Baking Works. By helping bakers and pastry chefs better understand the major ingredient groups and reactions ingredients undergo during basic baking techniques, this insightful book is an essential key to mastering skills, effectively adapting to today's quickly evolving trends, and understanding a wide array of ingredients from different cultures.
In a clear, easy-to-understand format, How Baking Works explains how sweeteners, fats, leavening agents, and other ingredients work, as well as how to apply scientific knowledge to answer such questions as: By doubling the sugar in a pound cake, how does that affect the appearance, flavor, and texture of the end product? Each chapter concludes with helpful review exercises and lab experiments, making this book an engaging learning tool.
Complete with dozens of informative illustrations, How Baking Works is a versatile instructional book for students in culinary and baking programs and professional bakers and pastry chefs.


From the Back Cover

Accessible coverage of the science of baking

Underlying the artistic considerations involved in baking is science, and no other text offers as in-depth coverage of the "whys" of baking as How Baking Works. By helping bakers and pastry chefs better understand the major ingredient groups and reactions ingredients undergo during basic baking techniques, this insightful book is an essential key to mastering skills, effectively adapting to todays quickly evolving trends, and understanding a wide array of ingredients from different cultures.

In a clear, easy-to-understand format, How Baking Works explains how sweeteners, fats, leavening agents, and other ingredients work, as well as how to apply scientific knowledge to answer such questions as: By doubling the sugar in a pound cake, how does that affect the appearance, flavor, and texture of the end product? Each chapter concludes with helpful review exercises and lab experiments, making this book an engaging learning tool.

Complete with dozens of informative illustrations, How Baking Works is a versatile instructional book for students in culinary and baking programs and professional bakers and pastry chefs.


Product Details

  • Paperback: 368 pages
  • Publisher: Wiley (September 29, 2003)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0471268569
  • ISBN-13: 978-0471268567
  • Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.9 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
  • Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: #662,373 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

More About the Author

Paula Figoni
Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Visit Amazon's Paula Figoni Page

Look Inside This Book
Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index

What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

How Baking Works: Exploring the Fundamentals of Baking Science
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How Baking Works: Exploring the Fundamentals of Baking Science 4.9 out of 5 stars (11)
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Customer Reviews

11 Reviews
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Average Customer Review
4.9 out of 5 stars (11 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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48 of 48 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Very useful and clear work, November 24, 2004
By Elliot J. Marks (Paris, France) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
Like most young people who bake today at home, I did not grow up learning from my mother or grandmother what happened when I added more flour or orange juice to a cake recipe. Without this knowledge, changes to recipes produce difficult-to-predict results. Though Ms. Figoni writes more for the professional pastry chef, her clear explanations of the chemistry of baking should enlighten the home baker as well.

I have used this book recently as I have tried to modify my American recipes while living in France. Before coming to France, I always followed my recipes exactly with pleasing results, but that is impossible in a different country, as various products are not always available. While for my regular cooking, this has rarely proved to be a problem, in pastries and breads, there is a complicated chemistry (particularly with products that rise) which can simply fail. Ms. Figoni's book has proven to be extremely useful in trying to deal with differently milled flour, finding baking powder (knowing the chemical composition helped), and understanding substitutions of ingredients. More importantly, reading the book has given me a more profound understanding of baking, allowing me to improve recipes systematically rather than rather at random.
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38 of 38 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A "must" for everyone who bakes!!!!, December 26, 2003
By Megan M. Vahedi (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews
Truly a scientific vision on everything that you ever need to know about baking. The information covered in each chapter are essential knowledge for everyone, whether an experienced bake or someone who is just getting started. I have been baking for many years, but after reading this book, everything seems to make a lot more sense to me. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in baking whether professionally or just for fun.....
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32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Easy text book style reading, October 6, 2004
By Spiked Confections (Washougal, WA) - See all my reviews
This book is more like a text book with the questions at the end of each chapter and experiments to try. I got this book to actually learn from it and try and avoid the high cost of culinary school. I read each chapter, answered the questions and did the experiments. The book is a great way to go if you really want to learn about what goes into baking great tasting breads and pastries.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book for bakers who like to experiment or create
While not easy to read, this book is worth the effort if you like tinkering with baking recipes or creating your own. Read more
Published 6 months ago by TooManyHobbies

5.0 out of 5 stars Knowing Why Things Work
When I first got this book, I thought, "Uh, oh. This is more than I want to know." Turns out, though, that I keep going back to the book because the ins and outs of baking are... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Book Lover

5.0 out of 5 stars A Nessesity for any one aspiring to bake
This is an exceptional book. Loaded with both technical, and information geared to make you understand the world of flours. Read more
Published 8 months ago by R. Martin

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book - How Baking Works
I am a culinary student majoring in Breads and Pastries. This book is the required textbook for the course I am taking. Read more
Published 16 months ago by R. Ferrara

4.0 out of 5 stars Good, but basic
I feel like there is a good bredth of basic information given in this book, but if you are looking for in-depth science this is not the book for you. Read more
Published 16 months ago by science girl stone

5.0 out of 5 stars For those who want to know
For many years home bakers have been producing baked goods for their family. Most have little knowledge of the science and "why" that is going on. Read more
Published 21 months ago by J. Esfeld

5.0 out of 5 stars Great! Just Great!!!
I'm very well impressed with this work. Here are some of the things I have learnt so far:

-The most fundamental secret that makes professional bakers an entirely... Read more
Published 21 months ago by Daniel

5.0 out of 5 stars Baking
This book is great. We use it in my culinary arts course in college.
Published on August 29, 2007 by Kimberly J. Miranda

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