Banking and cooking are methods we commonly use to prepare food, but what is the difference between these two food preparation methods?
Generally, there are types of foods that only can be baked. For example, cakes, bread, pies, cookies, doughnuts, etc.
Whether it’s cooking or baking, the objective remains to make a tasty meal. However, these two food preparation methods differ in the food made, the ingredients used, tools and equipment required in the process.
Both cooked and baked food taste good provided they are prepared with the right ingredients. People will enjoy a tasty meal whether it’s cooked or baked, but there are those who prefer cooked foods over baked foods and vice versa.
Let’s explore the difference between cooking vs baking.
What Is Cooking?
Cooking is the preparation of food by using heat. Generally, most meals are prepared by cooking, especially in foods prepared in restaurants.
Cooking requires heat in order to manipulate the chemical properties of the ingredients. We cook just anywhere there is a need to cook a meal. Whether it’s at home or when camping for fun, you can cook once you have your pot and what to cook.
We cook food for the purpose of making it taste better for eating. It’s unwise to eat uncooked foods. Uncooked foods are filled with bacteria and microorganisms that we are not supposed to consume.
Cooking has been a method of preparing food for ages. Early humans learned that applying heat to meat and vegetables makes them safe and easy to eat. Adding ingredients while cooking a meal gives it a more delicious taste.
Today, there are various methods of food preparation and new methods of cooking are introduced as the days go by. Eggs, fruits, vegetables, spices, herbs, fungi (mushrooms and yeast), meat, water, and salt are some of the ingredients used in cooking.
Generally, the chemical composition of the ingredient may change when exposed to heat. The heat also causes the texture of flavours to change. They may become soft and tender because of exposure to heat.
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What Is Baking?
Baking is a method of preparing food by using dry heat. It’s the process of cooking something in an oven.
Baking requires a constant flow of heat, which alters the chemical composition of some of the cooking food. When baking a loaf of bread for example, the dough becomes firmer and darker because of the steady heat going through it.
This food preparation method is used to make cakes, cupcakes, muffins, cookies, biscuits, pies, pizzas, tarts, etc.
Additionally, baking can also be used in cooking meat and vegetables.
Cooking vs Baking: History of Cooking and Baking
Compared to baking, cooking dates back up to over a million years ago. It’s believed that the early humans started cooking about 1.8 million years ago.
On the other hand, baking dates back to some 6,500 years ago. It’s said to be a new concept compared to cooking.
Ancient Egyptians were the first people to build an enclosed oven before others began attempting to create one. The Europeans also began building ovens to bake food.
Cooking vs Baking: Differences between Cooking and Baking
Cooking and baking are food preparation methods that involves different process of making a meal. Just like every food preparation method, baking and cooking require heat.
These two food preparation methods differ in the food they make, the ingredients used, and the tools and equipment required in the process. Let’s look at the key differences between cooking and baking.
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Products
Baking is a unique method of preparing food by using dry heat. When you place any food in the oven, you are baking that food. There are types of food that can only be baked: for example cakes, cupcakes, pies, pizza, muffins biscuits, cookies, etc.
Baking is a method of cooking by using dry heat and specific measurements of ingredients. Flour, eggs, sugar, water, and butter are usually the main ingredients for making a dough.
Many of the baked foods you can think of contain some of these ingredients. The heat in the oven and leavening agents within the dough make it rise.
This gives cakes, breads, pies, muffins, and cupcakes their signature rise.
Baking Requires an Oven
Whenever we talk about baking, it usually involves. Of course, the ingredients are sugar, butter, eggs, water, and leavening agents.
Both baking and cooking require heat but for a food to be considered baked, it must heated with consistent dry heat. The steady heat flow from the oven will alter the chemical composition of the texture and the ingredient’s flavours.
Cooking does not require the type of heat from an oven, so you can use an oven to cook any food. But you can use an oven to roast vegetables or bake chickens.
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Appliance, Equipment, and Tools
Cooking is more flexible since one can cook with a pot and add ingredients to the meal without considering specific measurements. Unlike cooking, baking considers measuring of ingredients.
If you are in a chef’s kitchen, you will find utensils like pots, pans, grills, peelers, etc. but when you visit a baker, you will find measuring cups or a scale, a stand or hand mixer, a spatula, a whisk, and most importantly, an oven.
Now the equipment you will find depends on the baker’s speciality in baking. For instance, a cake baker will have several cake or muffin pans. But if it were to be a bread maker, expect proofing baskets, hook attachments for the stand mixer, and rolling pins.
Additionally, cake bakers also use rolling pins.
Baking is Precise and Cooking is Flexible
Generally, cooking is referred to by most people as an art, while baking is referred to as a science.
Now, this is a thing because cooking involves more creativity. Today’s chefs are encouraged to be creative and improvise. A chef who has the skill to create a unique recipe and cook food without following an already existing recipe is considered a master chef.
With this type of cooking skill, a master chef shows class over an amateur chef.
While cooking encourages creativity, baking follows a certain set of rules. It relies on perception to make the best meals.
If there is a slight change in temperature, quantity, time or humidity, it may alter the dish.
Cooking vs Baking: Differences between Cooking and Baking
| Cooking | Baking |
| Cooking is the preparation of food by using heat. | Baking is a method of preparing food by using dry heat. It’s the process of cooking something in an oven. |
| It’s believed that the early human started cooking about 1.8 million years ago. | Baking dates back to some 6,500 years ago. |
| Cooking utilizes equipment and tools such as pots, knives, tongs, a grill, pans, etc. | Utilizes tools and equipment such as measuring cups or a scale, a stand or hand mixer, a spatula, a whisk, and most importantly, an oven. |
| Cooking is referred to by most people as an art. | Baking is generally referred to as science. |
Also Read: Cookies vs Biscuits: Difference and Comparison
Conclusion
Cooking has been a method of preparing food for ages. Early humans learned that applying heat to meat and vegetables makes them safe and easy to eat. Adding ingredients while cooking a meal gives it a more delicious taste.
Baking requires a constant flow of heat, which alters the chemical composition of some of the cooking food.
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References
- Thechefandthedish: The Differences Between Cooking and Baking
- Foodsguy: Baking Vs Cooking – What’s The Difference?
- Bakinghow: Baking vs Cooking: What’s The Difference?
- Differencewiki: Cooking vs. Baking
