Does It Matter?

Sometimes people ask me if certain cooking steps matter. Most of the time the answer is yes.

Does it matter if I bring ingredients to room temperature? Yes. Ingredients that are too cold will usually not mix well with the other ingredients. They will also bring the overall temperature of the batter (or whatever) down, which can alter cooking time. If you forgot to let the butter sit out, spend a few minutes whipping it with an electric mixer. The friction will warm it up. Eggs can be placed in a bowl of warm tap water until you need them.

Does it matter if I sift? Sometimes. Most brand name flour is pre-sifted. In your average cookie or quick bread, sifting it again won’t make that much difference. Simply use a whisk to mix the flour with the other dry ingredients before adding them to the batter. For cakes it can make a big difference. Un-sifted dry ingredients can make your cake heavy instead of light and airy.

Does it matter if I preheat my oven? Yes. This is especially true of things like cakes and cookies. Allow about 10 minutes for most newer ovens to reach the set temperature. Don’t always believe your oven. My oven will indicate that it is pre-heated while it’s still about 25º cooler than what I’ve set. Use an oven thermometer if you’re unsure.

For the most part the steps in a recipe are there because they ensure the best results.

Rae Bates is an Independent Consultant and Team Leader with The Pampered Chef. She welcomes questions about food, nutrition, and entertaining, as well as suggestions for future blogs.