Why You Should Learn How To Bake

“While some individuals feel soothed when they bake, other baking enthusiasts experience the opposite feeling”

Baking is a labor-intensive yet rewarding task. You can create a platter of treats by mixing, folding, kneading and baking the appropriate ingredients. This is one of many reasons why you must learn how to bake.
Many of us think of baked goods in conjunction with tea or coffee. We remember our family, trips to the bakeshop and the city center. Some people see eating baked goods as a part of the holidays, family events and social gatherings. Because of this, baking has a place of fondness in their hearts and minds. One of the unpopular reasons why you should learn how to bake is to gain the mental and emotional benefits of the act.
Baking is a task that involves using your time and energy. Hence, it is minimally appealing. The thought of cleaning up the mess you could make while baking could make you reluctant to take out your baking tools. However, many people bake for reasons other than eating sweet treats. Some bake to feel in control, calm and even to feel achievement.

You may be one of many individuals who remember their childhood in the kitchen, baking with beloved family members. Actions and smells associated with baking help you create these memories. “I think of my childhood whenever I bake,” said Lynn, an international student. ‘Two days before Christmas, my grandma would stand at the Agar kneading her overnight bread dough by hand. While she was kneading, we (her grandchildren) would sit around the agar and reminisce about the events of the year. The next morning, the house smelled like toasted browned butter and the sweet fermented scent of freshly baked bread. On the eve of Christmas,  she would make a large quantity of sugar cookie dough which we then cut into different shapes and baked. The smells and motions while baking with my family has helped me create many precious memories”.

The steps involved in baking may seem tedious. Measuring ingredients, whipping a batter and chopping fruits may be time-consuming. But, a few people find it calming and therapeutic. It could be the repeated actions or the guarantee that by following the instructions, you will end up with a lovely treat that makes baking a rewarding endeavor. “I treat baking as my therapy” Anna said. “My job is nerve-wracking. After I get home, I prefer to bake as a way of unwinding. While I prefer to make simple recipes, I feel at peace when I am baking in my kitchen. When I have free time, I try to bake complex recipes and it works out half the time”.

While some individuals feel soothed when they bake, other baking enthusiasts experience the opposite feeling. Ina, a 20-year-old student said that she has mixed emotions when baking. “When I bake, I fear that my recipe will not turn out as it should. However, when the baked goods are out of the oven and it is eaten by family and friends, I feel accomplished”. She explained that the feeling of achievement makes her bake more and now, she is a confident baker.

A wide range of individuals enjoy the benefits of baking. Some psychologists agree that baking can help your mental health because it is a means of expression. The repeated actions in baking like kneading, stirring, and folding can help bakers feel soothed. Baking for other people can also make the baker happy because it entails making someone else happy. “Baking is how I show love and prove that I care. I am a mother and a busy accountant. I have little free time and, I prefer to spend that time baking for my family” said Emma. According to her, watching her kids and her husband eat her baked goods makes her enjoy baking.
Many people who struggle with depression and mental health issues use baking to focus and improve their mood. John Waite, Winner of “The Great British Bake Off” 2012,  has explained that he deals with Manic depression by baking. In an interview with BBC, he said that the activity helps him feel in control when he experiences manic depression.

The number of bakers in the United Kingdom is increasing gradually. Bonny Dello, a writer at “Simply Business” (an insurance website), explained that between 2012 and 2016, there was a 1500 percent increase in the number of bakers and cake decorators within the United Kingdom. This figure rose by 20 percent the next year and, the number of bakers in the United Kingdom may continue to experience a slow incline.
According to “The Grocer” (a British website dedicated to grocery-related news), the increase in bakers within the United Kingdom is because; “The Great British Bake Off” was created and aired. This reality baking TV show began airing in 2010 and, the show had an average of 2.77 million viewers that year. In August 2018, the baking reality TV show had an average of 9.30 million viewers within the United Kingdom. The available statistics prove that “The Great British Bake Off” has influenced more people to start baking.
“I enjoy watching The Great British Bake Off” Mide, a Ph.D. Student said. “I bake often, but I think I bake even more during the season of the show” Mide also explained that watching the show inspires her to use simple ingredients to create something decadent. Furthermore, She finds baking exhilarating.
Retailers of baking goods and equipment have also felt the impact of the rising number of bakers. Brands such as KitchenAid and Kenwood have recorded an increase in the sale of baking equipment during the season of “The Great British Bake Off”. In 2017, online stores enjoyed a 42 percent increase in visits to their kitchenware pages.
Baking is making a comeback and “The Great British Bake Off” is responsible for this. This may mean that more people are learning about the benefits of baking.