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If you are wanting to have a career in the food industry, like bakers, what are the first things to know to get started?

I really enjoy baking and would really like to learn in how you start that experience but have no idea how.

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Jason’s Answer

Hi EmmaSofhia, I am not a backer but a chef who's been working in commercial kitchens for over 40 years. The industry has changed a lot since I began , and i wish I could say for the better. Being a baker can be a very specialized trade with really crazy hours. If you put all your heart and dedication it's won't be too hard. A lot of places now have large manufacturers mass producing baked good to sell. You should start with going to a local backery and talk to a baker or pastry chef and ask as many questions about the difficulties and prospects of making a career out of it. If their answers are what you like then pursue your dreams. Figure out what kind of baking or pastry arts you want to do and then try to start with vocational school in high school and maybe part time job in a bakery. Then you will definitely know if its for you. Culinary school after high school is your best bet to get an all around training in the field. Make yourself standout in any way possible in the field you choose . Lastly just a reminder ,it's never easy in the beginning so have patients ,learn, absorb and learn from your mistakes. Good luck and practice on people you know ,they won't mind being your ginny pig.
Thank you comment icon I appreciate this, thank you for the advice. EmmaSofia
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Mike’s Answer

One of the best resources you have, in terms of cooking/baking, is the internet. Go online and google/youtube videos on cooking and baking...specifically things that sound good to you. My recommendation is to find a recipe for something simple that you think sounds good. Follow the directions exactly and then take note of what you liked and didn't like about it. Then the next day, make it again but this time change/add something to it and note how the final product changes. Was it better? Was it worse? Play around and tinker! This will allow you to find out how different prep and cook processes affect the final product as well as ingredients.

In my opinion (and I bake and cook a lot), preparing food should never be an exact science, but rather an expression of love and creativity.

Have fun!
Thank you comment icon I'm excited to put your great advice to good use! EmmaSofia
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Om’s Answer

Patience and continuous eager to learn new skills, ways of cooking.
Thank you comment icon Thank you, Om for the advice. EmmaSofia
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Kristen’s Answer

Hi EmmaSofia, understanding baking science is important if you want to go into baking. Sometimes things don't work out even though you followed a recipe, so it's important to understand ingredient function and the chemistry behind what you're doing. Baking and Pastry have a bad rap of requiring someone to be precise, and while that can be true, you can be wonderfully creative as long as you know what's going on in the product.
Pick up a few books like McGee's On Food and Cooking, Jeffrey Hammelman's Bread, Ewald Notter's Chocolate, Peter Grewling's Chocolates and Confections, and a professional textbook like On Baking or Professional Baking to get you started, then dig deeper as you practice. Always be hungry to learn new skills and perfect your craft.
Thank you comment icon Thanks, can't wait to put this advice into action! EmmaSofia
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Dave’s Answer

In the early 80s, I apprenticed for 2 yrs under a baker from Nice, FR and was a pastry chef at 26 yrs old. The hours are demanding, the work environment can be extremely stressful and physically taxing but the gratification I got from seeing everything disappear each day was all the fulfillment I needed.

My point is, you need to be 100% committed to the hours and put in the time to make it, plain and simple. Most people in their mid-20s are NOT working Fri and Sat nights and holidays but you will be. It comes with the territory.

Most people in the mid 20s will not be able to understand how this is more important than staying out late, calling off or why bedtime is 7 pm every night because you need to get up at 12:30 a.m. I did 7 days/week for 4 months because the French guy left.

Metallica wrote a song about this titled "Nothing Else Matters." That has to be your mindset when grappling with the notion of whether to pursue this field. I was 100% committed then. Are you?
Thank you comment icon Thanks for your encouragement! EmmaSofia
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Can I’s Answer

To start your baking career, begin by experimenting with simple recipes and tweaking them to understand how ingredients and techniques affect the outcome. Learning the science behind baking is key, so study books or online resources to deepen your knowledge. Most importantly, be patient and keep practicing!
Thank you comment icon Thank you, Can I for the advice. EmmaSofia
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