Anybody else a REALLY good cook, but a REALLY bad baker?

[Papa Deuce]

I consider myself to be an EXCELLENT cook. I can whip stuff up that tastes good without recipes... I make great BBQ... I'm really good at making stews and soups....

So, how come I can't bake ANYTHING well? I can't even make a simple Butter Cookie. I can't make a sugar cookie. No shot with a cake or pie.... Even breads I make in a bread machine are usually not very good.

( About the only thing I do bake well is cheesecake, so I guess I can bake "something" well, but that is it. )

What is the deal.

 

[Ran]

simple. cooking is an art, baking is a science

sane situation for me, I can bake I just don't like to. I don't use precise measurements when cooking, can't do that with baking

 

[scheddj]

simple. cooking is an art, baking is a science

That explains it then! I can bake but I cannot cook to save my life. I'm an engineer

 

[Papa Deuce]

simple. cooking is an art, baking is a science

sane situation for me, I can bake I just don't like to. I don't use precise measurements when cooking, can't do that with baking

Understood, but when baking I DO follow the recipes.

 

[SeeDisney]

YOu must be like Rachael Ray. I've heard her say those same words. She's a great cook but she doesn't bake.

 

[doxdogy]

Pie crust is the only thing in baking that continues to elude me. My mother made the best pie crust. Mine are horrible.

 

[Ran]

Pie crust is the only thing in baking that continues to elude me. My mother made the best pie crust. Mine are horrible.

chicken fat makes the bestest flakiest pie crust mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

 

[Teresa Pitman]

I'm a great baker but not a great cook. My best friend is the opposite - an absolutely amazing cook but not a good baker. When we get together - it's a feast!

Teresa

 

[EthansMom]

I'm with the good baker crowd... you want a tasty pie crust or soft, chewey sugar cookies, then I'm your gal. You want dinner pulled together from the remnants in the refrigerator and pantry, you'll have to talk to my DH.

IMO, pie crusts and sugar cookie cutouts are hard to do from just the recipe. You really need to have someone show you how to do it... how to feel if the pie crust needs more water or flour, how to tell if the sugar cookies are too thin... I don't think I'd stand a chance of being half the baker I am if I didn't pay attention when I was younger and my Mom was baking.

 

[MomofKatie]

I am a great cook, but just an OK baker. My mom is an AWESOME baker, but a TERRIBLE cook. I'm not sure why we are what we are- maybe it has to do with creativity?? I consider most baking to be a case of making sure you follow directions well and knowing how ingredients interact. Cooking, however, requires some ability to "think outside the box" and really be creative with ingredients and techniques.

 

[iggbees]

i'm a terrible cook and an excellent baker. i guess that comes from being a scientist. i know how to weigh out stuff to a t, but it's the dash of this dash of that that makes me so bad at cooking. i need that precision that measuring gives me. i'm so bad my boyfriend doesn't trust me with the stove.

the cons of being a good baker is that you eat a lot of unhealthy crap.

 

[John Smith1]

I can bake rings around people but cannot cook a LICK! My inner child wants to grow up to be a pastry chef!

 

[CajunDixie]

simple. cooking is an art, baking is a science

sane situation for me, I can bake I just don't like to. I don't use precise measurements when cooking, can't do that with baking

And to think I was a horrible science student but I'm a great baker!! As for "cooking" I do ok with simple recipes like the ones in Taste of Home.

 

[rascalmom]

I'm actually pretty good at both - my mom and grandmother were both great cooks & bakers....I luckily got to learn from them.

However, I can make the BIGGEST mess in the kitchen. It can take an entire crew to clean up after me. Once I get going, I don't stop....I usually end up with every measuring cup, spatula and cutting board, etc. in the house dirty before I am done.

I am best with cakes & cookies - still not in my Mom's league with the pies, so I leave those to her. I do know how - I just stress a bit too much with crusts. Cakes are more fun. Nothing but scratch in my house!

Christmas morning is a madhouse here - I am busy cooking (and making messes) while my family franticly tries to keep things running through the dishwasher before our guests arrive.

About time to start on my baking - anyone wanna come clean for me?

 

[EthansMom]

I'm actually pretty good at both - my mom and grandmother were both great cooks & bakers....I luckily got to learn from them.

However, I can make the BIGGEST mess in the kitchen. It can take an entire crew to clean up after me. Once I get going, I don't stop....I usually end up with every measuring cup, spatula and cutting board, etc. in the house dirty before I am done.

I am best with cakes & cookies - still not in my Mom's league with the pies, so I leave those to her. I do know how - I just stress a bit too much with crusts. Cakes are more fun. Nothing but scratch in my house!

Christmas morning is a madhouse here - I am busy cooking (and making messes) while my family franticly tries to keep things running through the dishwasher before our guests arrive.

About time to start on my baking - anyone wanna come clean for me?

There was a "Top Chef"-style show on PBS a year or two ago that DH and I were enjoying watching and one of the criteria that the judges discussed was how well they cleaned as they went.

It's taken me a long time to learn how to clean as I go and makes a world of difference in how I feel when I'm done cooking or baking. I think one of the hardest things about cooking meals (esp. large meals) for me is the timing of getting everything getting in, cooked properly, and then on the table while it's all still hto/warm.... I get all stressed out.

 

[rascalmom]

There was a "Top Chef"-style show on PBS a year or two ago that DH and I were enjoying watching and one of the criteria that the judges discussed was how well they cleaned as they went.

It's taken me a long time to learn how to clean as I go and makes a world of difference in how I feel when I'm done cooking or baking. I think one of the hardest things about cooking meals (esp. large meals) for me is the timing of getting everything getting in, cooked properly, and then on the table while it's all still hto/warm.... I get all stressed out.

Then I would SO fail a Top Chef competition!

I can get everything on the table hot & ready at the same time.....just don't look at the stacks of pots & pans in my sink! It used to be really bad....but I have a dd's 20 & 16. They are great with helping.

 

[I loveStitchnippyjon]

simple. cooking is an art, baking is a science

sane situation for me, I can bake I just don't like to. I don't use precise measurements when cooking, can't do that with baking

Hmmmmmm maybe not. I am a terrific cook, but can't bake anything edible to save my life.
I work as a scientist.

 

[pigletgirl]

My mom is the same way. I think it is because her patience level is so short.

 

[wvdisluv2]

My mom is the same way. I think it is because her patience level is so short.

That's me too!!!! I am THE "Lousy Baker" I'm not a "really good" cook, but I'm not bad