The Myths vs. Reality of a Career in a Bakery and Confectionary
Do you have a passion for baking? Do you find the aroma of freshly baked pastries, cookies, cakes and other sweet treats to be a pleasant sensation for your taste buds? You must have thought about becoming a baker at least once. Most of us have considered this. It is possible to make a career out of Bakery & Confectionery. However, many people cannot pursue their passion for baking and make a career because of the myths surrounding it.
We will debunk 6 myths about the certificate course in bakery and confectionery syllabus and show you the truth behind this profession.
Bakery & Confectionery courses: Reality vs. Expectation
1. Myth: Baking is all about decorating the cakes
Realism: Cake decoration is only a part of baking. Baking is more than just that. Baking is about balancing the right temperature, ingredients and blending. This is dry cooking that uses radiant heat in the oven. A baker must be creative and know how to measure ingredients, blend and ferment them, and make the icing.
2. Myth: It is too expensive to study for a diploma in bakery & confectionery
This is one of many myths that discourage thousands of students from taking a patisserie or confectionery course. The cost of patisserie or confectionery courses is manageable. Many colleges offer confectionery and patisserie courses in India. Students studying baking and pastry arts can also apply for student loans, grants, or scholarships.
You can also look for work-study, bakery and confectionery course syllabus and paid internships while studying patisserie or confectionery. This will help you manage your finances and give you an advantage when you are looking for candidates.
3. Myth: Bakers can be women, and baking is for women
Strange. Baking is a skill that can be learned by anyone, regardless of gender. This misconception is rooted in the fact that women are the bakers at home. Take the United States as an example. 44% of American bakers are men, and 52% are women. Men are breaking the myth that baking is only for women, and they are reaching important milestones in the baking business. Famous men and bakers include Paul Hollywood, John Whaite and Henry Jones.
4. Myth: A professional degree in bakery & confectionary is not necessary
This is the most dangerous one. Students tend to skip professional patisserie courses and jump straight into professional baking. They don’t realize that a baking school will teach you skills in 3–4 years, which self-learning cannot. Self-learning can lead to mistakes that you have to correct for many years. Here’s what a professional, in-depth confectionery and patisserie course will teach:
- Properly running a kitchen
- Hygiene and food safety
- Other baking methods
- Basics of measurement and weighing
- Professional grooming
- Communication skills that are effective and team management
- The baking industry has many new developments, such as vegan and gluten-free cakes.
Some believe baking is following a recipe. A recipe is, however, a set of instructions. You must change or remove an ingredient from a recipe to replace its role. You can learn about the roles of ingredients only in a professional course.
5. Myth: You can learn everything on Youtube
Random throws like Youtube are great, but why would you want to learn from a professional? Is it worth spending so much time and capital on a confectionery and patisserie course?
They are the worst. Yes. It can be very frustrating to try and learn everything by yourself without the guidance and mentorship you need. There will be a lot of confusion as you don’t know the “ins and outs” and “where to next.” Every detail is considered when planning a course in patisserie or confectionery.
6. Myth: To be a successful baker, you need a lot of money
“A beautifully equipped kitchen and a lot of capital are not the key ingredients to your success. Your willingness to work hard is.”
You don’t have to be a millionaire to pursue your dreams. You can start your own business with very few resources.
We have already talked about internships and scholarships. There are many options for your bakery business. Focusing on quality baking and beautiful presentation will make you a winner. You don’t need to invest in expensive tools. Instead, focus on making sure that your customers love your product.
ITM Group of Institutions — Make Your Dreams Come True
ITM is now the second-most popular name in India for courses in hotel management. Our diploma program in patisserie & confectionery allows you to learn management and entrepreneurship at all levels.