BAKED in Science

From regulation compliance to pushing for sustainability (https://bakerpedia.com/baking-for-a-sustainable-future/), today’s bakers have a lot on their plates outside of producing their delicious baked goods. Founded in 1932, the Baking Association of Canada (BAC) is a Canadian national baking industry association governed by the members. Over the decades, the BAC (https://www.baking.ca) has been h...

While commercial baking relies on skills, productivity, and innovation, networking is also an important part of this industry. That’s why attending industry events, like the American Society of Baking’s BakingTECH, are important for professional bakers. This conference, known to many as the Best Week in Baking, invites experts, industry leaders, and professionals from around the world to discuss t...

The baking industry is always evolving to meet consumer demands. This changing landscape may help drive innovation but can also pose challenges when it comes to maintaining quality and consistency. That’s why it’s important to keep tabs on the latest bakery trends (https://bakerpedia.com/trends-in-cake-mixes-bases-and-concentrates/), equipment, and ingredient solutions. In this episode of BAKED in...

Last year, BAKERpedia was on the show floor at iba 2023 (https://bakerpedia.com/iba/)! As the world’s leading trade fair for bakery, confectionery, and snacks, it is one of the best places to see the latest industry trends and innovations. Mark Floerke was there to report on bakery trends, equipment, and ingredient solutions, and share them back to our commercial baking community. In this episode...

This autumn BAKERpedia attended iba 2023 (https://bakerpedia.com/iba/) in Munich! iba is the world’s leading trade fair for bakery, confectionery, and snacks where the latest trends and innovations in the industry are presented. Usually, this trade show takes place every three years, however, due to the pandemic, it was postponed. From October 22 – 26, 2023 iba will open its doors once again and M...

Shelf life extension is a significant concern for bakers, and with the rise of the clean label bakery trend, many are searching for more natural methods. Introducing UV sanitizing (https://bakerpedia.com/food-safety/uv-sanitizing/), which can be used to kill bacteria, molds, yeasts, and viruses on bakery products and is as natural as sunlight. Ultraviolet rays encompass the invisible spectrum of n...

There’s nothing more frustrating than baked goods getting stuck in their pans, which is why release agents are so valuable for commercial bakers. In the baking industry, release agents (https://bakerpedia.com/processes/release-agent/) are used to help remove baked goods from baking pans, molds, tins, trays, conveyor belts, or packaging. With the industrialization of baked goods production also cam...

Shelf life extension is a complex issue that doesn’t have a simple solution, however, enzymes (https://bakerpedia.com/ingredients/enzyme/) can be a useful tool on the journey towards keeping baked goods fresher longer. In bakery systems, enzymes can be utilized as dough conditioners, fermentation enhancers, and anti-staling agents. The latter is particularly interesting for bakers interested in ex...

Getting your product to market has many steps, and a crucial one is developing a compliant nutrition facts label. Food labeling (https://bakerpedia.com/food-safety/food-labeling/) needs to be easily understood by consumers and must comply with federal regulations. Proper food labeling is vital to a product’s success, as products that do not comply or are in violation of the regulations may be subj...

Success in today’s baking industry calls for more than just making bread or cake. It requires a broad range of knowledge in fields like food science, engineering, R&D, and packaging—to name a few. Cross-training in these areas to expand skills allows bakers to take advantage of new opportunities and trends in the market. So what should you focus on in today’s world of food? To help share the big p...

Each year the baking industry gathers to learn, network, connect and explore at BakingTECH, a show hosted by the American Society of Baking (ASB). This year was marked by the introduction of new leadership, discussions on hot topics like AI, and making space for a new generation of bakers. In this special episode recorded live from the show, Dr. Lin of BAKERpedia sits down with Kristen Spriggs, th...

Being a skilled baker is a continuous process of refining your craft. It starts by mastering new techniques, comprehending the science behind it, or learning the skills to keep up with emerging trends. That’s why the team at BAKERpedia shares information: to empower, inspire change and improve food manufacturing processes. So how did we become the digital epicenter for baking? From a 200-page reso...

As food science and technology continue to advance, so do opportunities to elevate nutrition and quality of life for communities. One impactful example of this is indigenizing food science, the process of integrating traditional food knowledge and nutrition into modern food systems, helping preserve cultural heritage and promote economic development. When put into practice, this can help indigenou...

Creativity has always been a fundamental part of food. The industry is constantly looking for ways to build something groundbreaking and eye-catching from simple ingredients. What’s interesting is when new technology comes into the mix. Say for instance, 3D printing customized strawberries filled with chocolate ganache. In this BAKED in Science episode, Mark Floerke sits down with Meagan Bozeman,...

Developing products for the healthy food market has become so much more than adjusting fat or sugar levels. The rising demand for high protein, high fiber, plant-based, egg-free, or gluten-free baked goods is causing bakers to rethink whole formulas and find new functional, nutritional ingredients. A Master Baker and innovative developer, Chadwick White is no stranger to this space. Initially an a...

The baking industry gathered from around the world at IBIE 2022 to talk shop and explore the latest trends and innovations. Since this baking expo only happens every three years, there’s always plenty to catch up on and discover. While we can’t capture everything we saw in just one podcast (check out our IBIE hub for that: https://bakerpedia.com/ibie/), BAKED in Science host Mark Floerke shares a...

A sixth-generation master baker, competitor and jury member for international baking competitions, business owner, consultant, professor, and most recently, author—Jimmy Griffin has just about done it all in his baking career. He got his start working from a young age in his 125-year-old family bakery set in Dublin, Ireland. Now, he’s finding ways to pass his knowledge and craft down to younger ge...

There’s no shortage of new ideas and markets popping up in the food and baking industry. The question is, which ones will still be thriving in the years to come? To give a fresh and informed perspective on the industry, your BAKED in Science host Mark Floerke brings on guest Jerry Smiley. No stranger to the food industry, Jerry’s career includes brands such as Quaker Oats, Heinz, Sara Lee and Tech...

Bakers have a special knack of seeing opportunities instead of risks. It’s a gift that allows food to make an impact on the world, even if it just starts by helping one person. In this episode, your BAKED in Science host Mark Floerke interviews 81-year-old Marda Stoliar about her adventures baking around the world. Originally with a career in shoe design, her work took her to Europe. While there,...

Rich, complex flavors can truly set a baked good above the rest. And while familiar, traditional flavors can make customers fall in love with your brand, out-of-the-box profiles can take it to a whole new level! The possibilities are practically endless when it comes to flavors in baking. Typically, they are added to food to boost the aroma, taste and sensate components that make a food more desir...

Here to tackle the biggest issues and top questions in the baking industry is the BAKERin team (https://bakerpedia.com/bakerin/)! As part of BAKERpedia’s influencer program, these seasoned professionals share their knowledge and keep you up to date on the latest innovations. In this roundtable discussion, the group talks through some of the frequent problems they see in their respective fields, su...

What’s the latest trends and biggest topics in the baking industry right now? After a disruptive few years, with aftershocks still impacting businesses and consumers, there’s a lot to talk about. To give a fresh and informed perspective on the industry, your BAKED in Science host Mark Floerke brings on guest Jerry Smiley. No stranger to the food industry, Jerry’s career includes brands such as Qua...

As a baking professional, there’s always something you can do to further improve your craft. Whether it’s learning more techniques, understanding the science behind it, or learning new skills for popular trends, more knowledge is out there. At BAKERpedia, our goal has always been to share that knowledge with you. In this episode of BAKED in Science, host Mark Floerke is joined by Dr. Lin Carson wh...

Flour is at the heart of so many baked goods, so it’s no surprise that wheat is a passionate subject for many bakers and food professionals. For Claudia Carter, that passion has not only driven her career, but inspired her to share it with the next generation. In this episode of BAKED in Science, your host Mark Floerke is joined by Claudia Carter, the Executive Director of the California Wheat Com...

With all the changes to the baking industry over the last two years, how companies interacted with customers was a big one. Trade shows, face-to-face demonstrations, and lab visits were uncertainties or simply impossible. Here is how one ingredient supplier met these challenges head on. Your BAKED in Science host Mark Floerke invites Anne Hoest Stenbaek from Arla Foods Ingredients. With over 20 ye...