How to participate in West Point training and learn West Point production in West Point Teacher Training School? Here are some suggestions made by Xiaobian for baking enthusiasts:
1. Master four key aspects of West Point training and learning.
Observing the teacher's demonstration operation is the first priority in learning West Point production in West Point Training School, and the knowledge of ingredient formula is the second (though very important). When the teacher explains the demonstration, he must observe it carefully, take notes, master the production process and essentials, and make a video if possible to facilitate repeated observation in the future.
The production of West Point generally includes the stages of dough ingredient preparation, dough forming and dough ripening. Some of them are basically operated by hand, such as dough forming and decoration, and some need to use equipment (such as mixers, proofing boxes and ovens).
(1) Manual operation
This is the most important thing, mainly hand-mixing, dough processing and shaping (including mold forming), decoration and decoration.
A dough mixing operation, the teacher shows you, only takes a few minutes, you basically know how to do it and can master the essentials; If you go to study by yourself, you may have to look at many sub-diagrams and spend a long time to learn. One dough mixing operation is explained by more than 50 diagrams in a bread baking textbook, which is scary enough. Since you spend money to study at school, you should firmly seize this opportunity of hands-on teaching.
There are many basic techniques for kneading dough, such as folding, pushing and kneading, copying and mixing, etc. There are many ways to process dough, such as rolling, cutting, kneading, cutting, pressing, rolling, folding, rubbing, rounding, dividing, filling and so on.
How is the dough of a French muffin made?
How is a pumpkin pie shaped by pie mold?
How is a braided bread turned over, divided, rounded, rolled, rolled, twisted and woven?
How is a curry beef Corner oiled, rolled and folded?
And so on, and so on, are the focus of observation. There are many details in each operation method, and the teacher will show you the correct way and explain the typical mistakes that should be avoided. Everyone should take notes and remember them firmly, so that you will take fewer detours in the process of learning to make West Point.
Through the primary and intermediate West Point training, you can master the operation of nearly 70 or 80 typical West Point varieties, and it is no stranger to get other people's recipes in the future.
(2) the use of equipment
For example, when mixing dough batter with a blender, you should carefully observe the order of feeding, the control of water temperature and oil temperature, the control of mixing speed and the control of mixing time;
For example, the temperature, humidity and proofing time are the most important things when the bread dough is proofed with a proofing box. For example, baking dough in an oven, the most important thing is to control the temperature and time of the oven.
Of course, there are many details, all of which depend on your careful observation and careful listening.
(3) the completion standard of each operation
For example, what kind of dough is made up, what is the standard for the success of dough mixing, and what is the quality standard for the success of bread making. It is very important to know the completion standard of each operation. Only when you know the standard can you know what are the shortcomings of your own operation and how to improve it. Some people make soft bread, which looks good on the surface. In fact, there are many problems, such as not soft enough, rough texture, big holes in it, etc. He feels good and doesn't think about improvement. How can he make progress?
(4) Listen carefully to the teacher's comments (including those to others)
When studying at West Point, you should make a demonstration variety of teachers on the spot, and the teachers will guide you. After making the finished products, the teachers will also analyze the advantages and disadvantages for you. Compared with self-study of West Point at home, learning West Point production at school has an obvious advantage: it can solve a lot of problems at one time, so we must seize the opportunity. Because it is a collective study, when a variety is made, everyone may encounter different problems, so there will be a lot of problems. For example, when making Qifeng cake, some people have problems that sink after being baked, some people have problems that have big bubbles, and some people have problems that the skin is too old and thick, so the teacher will explain them to you at one time. If you teach yourself, if you practice a variety less, you may not encounter so many problems in your life; Moreover, every time you make this variety, there may be different problems (which may discourage you); Every time you encounter a problem, you have to look through the books to find the reasons and solutions, which takes more time than studying in school.
Therefore, when teachers give guidance and comments, please be sure to listen carefully, including comments on other people's finished products, and it is best to write down all common problems and solutions, which are very practical experiences; Try to avoid these mistakes when you make West Point in the future; You don't have to make mistakes every time before you know what to do. Learn from others' mistakes, and I believe your road to learning at West Point will be smoother and smoother.
2. How to practice making West Point?
(1) The production of West Point can only be mastered through repeated practice. I believe everyone knows this, so I don't need to elaborate. How is it possible that some people don't make a variety for ten days and a half months and want to improve their baking level quickly?
(2) Through practice, we should know how to find our own shortcomings, and then we can make continuous progress after correcting them. It is suggested to write down all the problems encountered. Even when baking master made mistakes, that's how they became baking master.
Why do I always get along with each other?
Why can't my dough be round?
Why is it so difficult to shape the dough I stir?
Why is my bread ugly in color, too big, rough in taste and so many holes in it?
Why do my cookies do well in school, but when they are cooked at home, they are unevenly colored, burnt outside and raw inside?
These problems, some of which are ingredients, some of which are equipment and some of which are operation problems, can only be found and solved through their own continuous actual production. In the process of solving the problem, you will unconsciously learn a lot of knowledge and practical skills of West Point formula ingredients by consulting teachers or looking for information on the Internet by reading books, and gradually become a baking master. This is also the reason why Xiao Bian advocates focusing on learning the basic operation methods first, instead of focusing on the formula from the beginning.
(3) The varieties to be practiced are not limited to those taught by the school, but you can also find the formula by yourself from other channels (it is best to find the classic formula of baking master, and don't just find some formulas. It's hard to find the reason when something goes wrong in production, because you can't figure out whether it's the formula itself or your own operation), or you can change the formula yourself (this WeChat official account (West Point Training Knowledge Extension) has collected a lot of West Point formulas). In this way, not only will your operation become more and more skilled, but your knowledge of raw materials, recipes and equipment will also become more and more abundant, and you will gradually become a master. You can write your own recipes, design and create West Point.
3. Communicate more and ask questions frequently.
(1) If you make something yourself, don't be afraid to show it to others, let some people taste and comment on it. The reason to show it to people is to find problems, find solutions, or find advantages and carry them forward in the future; The reason why more people should comment is to try to hear comprehensive and pertinent suggestions. It is possible that you have done a good job yourself, because only one person tastes it, and he has some taste preferences and will say that you have not done well.
(2) Since we have studied in the training school and there are so many teachers and classmates to communicate with, we should make good use of them and ask more questions. The ancients said, "Listening to your words is better than reading for ten years". Although it's not so exaggerated, sometimes there are problems in the production of West Point, and I have been thinking hard for a long time, but I can't find the reason. Maybe my classmate's words will make you feel enlightened.
4. Read more books and read more professional websites.
I won't explain this point. Books, websites, and apps are not recommended. I have searched a lot of recommended articles online, and I suggest reading more classic works by masters.
These are my humble opinions on baking enthusiasts learning to make West Point, hoping to help you learn to make West Point.