The Great British Bake Off star Jürgen Krauss’s best baking tips and tricks from the Radio Times archive

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The iconic show “The Great British Baking Show” returns, boasting an exciting new group of bakers, each bringing their distinctive flair to the world of baking. Their goal is to win over judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith with their exceptional creations.

While watching Bake Off, viewers can’t help but feel a wave of nostalgia, as they reminisce about memorable episodes, participants, and characters – most notably, the beloved Jürgen Krauss.

2021 saw me, a dedicated Bake Off enthusiast, rallying behind Krauss with every bite and swirl of his bakes. When he was unexpectedly eliminated during the semifinals, it sent shockwaves through the community as more than 100 Ofcom complaints were lodged!

If you’re keen on enhancing your baking expertise or adding more panache to your culinary ventures, here are top tips from Jürgen Krauss that you might want to check out!

Pastry

To create a flawless water crust pastry according to the recipe, there are numerous reliable options available. For beginners, opt for ingredients that ensure a smooth texture and maintain the required moisture level in the pie. To avoid any potential mishaps during your first attempt at making pies, stick with proven safe ingredients.

Bread

Pay close attention to the dough instead of focusing on the timer. The dough is influenced by the temperature in your kitchen and your handling, so it’s more significant to gauge the rising based on the dough itself rather than relying on a one-hour guideline. I understand that publishers often include timing specifications, but those timings for bread making can vary greatly depending on your environment and how you knead the dough.

In my experience, overworking the dough using machinery can heat it up and reduce proving time significantly. By contrast, working it by hand tends to keep it cooler, which may extend the proofing process a bit. Similarly, I’ve found that if your kitchen temperature is around 90 degrees Fahrenheit, like many Irish kitchens I’ve come across, it might take about an hour longer for the dough to prove compared to a kitchen at 22 degrees.

Chocolate

Maintain your composure and stay mentally attentive. The crucial aspect here is monitoring the temperature closely. It’s ideal to use a high-quality, rapid-response thermometer or develop a keen sense for judging when chocolate achieves its optimal consistency, which can sometimes be challenging.

In professional kitchens that handle chocolate, the temperature should ideally be around 18 degrees Celsius. This keeps the chocolate from becoming too soft, allowing it to mold perfectly. If the temperature were higher, for instance 25°, the chocolate would become softer more quickly and stick to the molds, etc. Therefore, maintaining a cool temperature is crucial – not just in the kitchen but also in your mind as you work.

Cake

As a discerning movie-goer who values precision in my culinary endeavors, I can’t stress enough the importance of adhering strictly to the recipe when it comes to handling chocolate. Pay close attention to the temperature during the melting process; overheating will cause the chocolate to seize and lose its smooth consistency. This, in turn, impacts the quality of your butter mixture and ultimately affects the final volume of your creation.

“So treat all your ingredients with respect – I think that’s the main thing.”

Dessert

When it comes to sweets, my favorite things to prepare are Bavarian creams and various other cream-based treats. It’s crucial to pay attention to the consistency of these recipes and always adhere to the designated cooling periods.

As you cool and whisk eggs (and other substances), it’s essential to notice the changes in texture. When whipping eggs or butter, there might be a slight color shift or inconsistency that signals that your mixture has reached the optimal point for moving on to the next step.

That’s worth keeping in mind. However, what I find even more crucial is grasping the timing and the cooling process, as it influences the outcome – whether it results in slight graininess or if it remains fluid.

Parties

At home, I don’t usually make sausage rolls often. However, it’s crucial to begin baking with a high temperature initially to ensure the pastry sets properly and prevents the final product from being undercooked. Once you start baking, keep an eye on the temperature. If the baking time exceeds, simply lower the oven temperature slightly to prevent the filling from becoming too dry.

The Great British Bake Off returns to Channel 4 on Tuesday 16th September at 8pm.

Don’t forget to include The Great British Bake Off in your list of shows to watch on TopMob’s ‘What to Watch’ application. Download it today for personalized daily TV suggestions, special features, and more!

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2025-09-12 09:35