Is Baking a Science or an Art?
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| Photo by Tabitha Turner on Unsplash |
Baking is a Science
Why do people say baking is a science? As stated earlier, there is clearly science involved with baking. We see it as the heat cooks the dough. We see it when ingredients are mixed together to form a new byproduct. Beyond this, there are many science-based baking practices used to achieve the best results. This is all true of baking. However, we see many of the same cases in cooking as well. So why is baking considered a science and cooking an art?
To begin, let's look at how the word science is used in this context. I don't think people mean that baking should be done through rigorous steps of hypothesizing, testing, and experimenting to understand more about the nature and laws that govern baking. While undoubtedly, this is one way to approach baking, I believe that a definition provided by Merriam-Webster's online dictionary provides the best definition: "something (such as a sport or technique) that may be studied or learned like systematized knowledge"(1).
The main reason baking is considered a science is because it requires more exactness for perfection. With cooking, you can usually get away with eye measurements and guessing amounts and times. While you can do this with baking, following a recipe with exactness will ensure you achieve the desired results.
This fits with the definition of science provided earlier. It shows baking as something that someone can master as long as one studies the available knowledge on the subject. This may be true, but the question remains: does someone need systemized knowledge to be a good baker?
Baking is an Art
Before we dive into arguments that support the idea that baking is more of an art, let me clarify what I don't mean when I say, "baking is an art." What I don't mean is decorating your baked goods to make them look more aesthetically pleasing. Clearly, this is art, and I have seen some impressive artistic talent when it comes to decorating baked goods, but that's not what we will be talking about today. I want to explore whether or not the act and process of baking are arts.
Once again, let's begin by establishing how we are using the main word in question here. Art. How are we using the word in this context? The Cambridge English Dictionary provides an appropriate definition for our situation, "the making of objects, images, music, etc. that are beautiful or that express feelings"(2).
I suppose, with this definition in mind, one could attempt to quickly answer that baking is an art. I do feel, however, that there is more to it than a simple yes or no. A more appropriate answer to our question is that baking can be an art. For many, baking may be beautiful and allow them to express feelings. Even if you are using science to create beauty and express yourself, it doesn't make something any less of an art. However, just as one doesn't need a lot of technical know-how (or even follow a recipe) to be a good baker, not everyone will find that baking is beautiful or allows them to express their feelings.
Conclusion
So which one is it? Is baking an art, or is it a science? I don't think there is a universal answer to this question. I believe that for most people, it is a bit of both. I picture it as a giant pendulum; on each end, you have an extreme: an utterly scientific approach and a completely artistic approach to baking. You will rarely find someone who takes these extreme positions on the pendulum. Most individuals fall somewhere in the middle. Perhaps you tend to take a more artistic approach to baking but still like to follow recipes and add what you want. Maybe you are very systematic about how you bake, but you feel that baking allows you to express yourself in a unique way.
It doesn't matter which way you tend to lean more towards; both ways are good, and both ways are needed. We need people with the technical knowledge to allow us to continue to expand the limits of baking. We need artists in this world who can create beauty and put feeling into their baking. So the question we should ask isn't whether baking is an art or a science. Instead, we should ask, "What kind of baker am I?" Let us know what kind of baker you are in the comments!
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