The pandemic brought a lot of changes, good and bad. It also brought out a lot of TikTok dance crazes and quarantine trends, one after the other. Minsan nga sabay sabay pa! While others do it out of boredom, some people actually found a new hobby or interest that they can enjoy in these difficult times. Isa na rito ang pagkahilig ng mga tao sa baking! From chunky chocolate chip cookies to cute minimalist cakes, you name it.

First things first: Learn how to read the recipe

Recipes exist for a reason. Ask any professional baker or pastry chef and this is probably number one on their rule book: follow the recipe. Contrary to culinary chefs (o kaya sa master chef nating lahat aka mga nanay) na may sariling timpla sa pagluluto, baking requires precise measurements and attention to detail. Ika nga, “baking is a science!”

Mula sa pagpapainit ng oven, gaano katagal ang paghalo ng batter hanggang sa dami ng baking powder na kailangan. It all counts! That’s what makes recipes so important. The good thing is, recipes are readily available everywhere. Since baking is a well-planned process, all you have to do is follow it and you’ll be fine… so will your cake or pastry be.

Okay, what should you be looking for in a recipe?

• Ingredient measurements
• Baking tools and equipment
• Baking methods and techniques

And how to use the basic tools and equipment

Baking can be expensive and difficult to learn… at first. Lalo na kung bago ka pa lang na nagsisimula, you’d probably realize na marami ka pang kailangan hanapin at bilhin na gamit sa kitchen. Baking pans, for one, apparently come in all shapes and sizes. (Hopefully, meron ka ng oven to begin with!)

While investing in baking tools and equipment can be quite costly, just imagine all the baked goods you’ll be able to do someday. Investment talaga! Ganun din ang pagkatuto mo sa tamang paggamit ng mga ito. Mabagal ka man sa simula, but learning how to use the right baking tools and equipment now will save you time, effort, and money in the future. Who knows, you can even bake for your family and friends or start a business!

Buying your own tools and equipment? Consider this your checklist:

• Measuring cups, spoons, and jugs
• Kitchen scale
• Whisks (lots of them)
• Silicone spatulas
• Flour sifter
• A set of mixing bowls
• Zester
• Baking pans and trays
• Baking mat and parchment paper
• Cooling rack

Familiarize yourself with the ingredients

What good are the tools and equipment without the ingredients to make your baked masterpiece? Kung tambay ka sa kusina, chances are you already have a head start of the common ingredients and the role they play in your baking. If not yet, okay lang din!

Getting started in baking, as with other hobbies, involves a lot of learning. And that makes the whole process more fun! As a learning activity, you can get a recipe, list down the ingredients, and look it up online. You’ll find ingredients na meron na sa kitchen while some items may require you a trip to the baking store but one thing is for sure: butter, eggs, flour, and sugar are your baking basics. Take note!

Going to the baking store? Stock up with these basic ingredients:

• All-Purpose Flour
• Baking Powder
• Sweetener (sugar, honey, syrup)
• Butter and oils
• Eggs
• Salt
• Milk
• Chocolate and cacao powder
• Spices and flavoring extracts
• Fruits

Pro-tip!

Kung hindi available sa local supermarket ang mga ingredients na hinahanap mo, check out online shopping platforms like Shopee or Lazada. Bonus pa kung may free shipping!

Work in the kitchen like a real pro

Baking is a fun and de-stressing activity. But it doesn’t mean it’s all good and easy! It requires good working ethics in the kitchen like organization, patience and dedication to name a few–especially if you want to continue baking kahit tapos na ang quarantine.

So kahit na hobby pa lang ang baking for you, do it like the real pros would! For starters, that means working efficiently, learning how to multitask, at ang pinaka importante sa lahat, practicing CLAYGO or keeping your workstation clean. And yes, all of these skills will help you bake your dream cake or pastry!

Want to be a real professional pastry chef?

Some people have always dreamt of becoming a pastry chef, others took this quarantine to realize they actually want to pursue baking as a career. Either way is fine!

Kung gusto mong mag-aral ng professional baking, schools like Magsaysay Center for Hospitality & Culinary Arts (MIHCA) offer a Professional Baking and Pastry Studies program that will train you with all the know-how of a professional pastry chef. Mula sa skills and techniques down to the values and disciplines na kailangan mo to thrive in the service industry. Not to mention that it will just take 7 months to complete! All you have to do is show up and bake your heart out. G ka na ba i-level ang baking skills mo?

But wait, there’s more! Kasama mo kami sa pag-abot ng baking career mo. Mas affordable na ang pag-aaral mo sa MIHCA with Bukas. When you apply for a tuition installment plan, you can pursue your baking career all while paying your tuition in affordable monthly payments. Oh diba, panalo! (‘Wag mo kami kalimutan kapag professional pastry chef ka na ha.)

Learn more about Bukas and how we make education affordable for thousands of Filipino students like you. Apply for a Bukas student loan in your upcoming enrollment, and join our growing community for more tips and advice about all things student life. A brighter future awaits. Sa'yo ang Bukas!