Helpful Tips for Baking in High Elevation Areas

Living in a high-altitude area that is well above sea level can be a great thing for an outdoor enthusiast, but for someone who frequently bakes, it can be a curse. Most recipes for baking are written for people who live at sea level, so if you live in an area with high altitude (3000-3500 above sea level), you will want to modify your baking recipes to ensure that they come out right. Whether you are using a box mix, or baking from scratch, you will still want to modify all your recipes. Modifying these baking recipes can seem like a daunting task, but really all you need to do is some basic math!

Here are some helpful tips to remember:

Increase Baking Temperature - Foods take longer to bake in high altitude, so bake time and temperature may need to be increased. A good rule of thumb is to increase the oven temperature by 25 degrees.

Do Some Basic Math - Change the proportion of ingredients in the recipe. You may need to increase or decrease some of the basic ingredients in your recipe to ensure that it will come out right.

Boiling Over - Water boils at a lower temperature in high altitude than it does at sea level. This is because the air pressure is lower at high elevations. Adding some salt to the water will help the water to boil at a higher temperature.

Use More Liquid! Moisture evaporates faster at high sea levels. The amounts of sugar, flour, liquids, and other baking ingredients may need to be changed to prevent a batter that is too doughy, liquidy, or dry. In high elevation, you should always add more liquid if necessary.

High Altitude = Dry Food - Baked goods will dry out much faster and go stale in high altitude, so keep your leftover goodies in a nice sealed container! Also, use the right kind of baking pan when baking, and be sure to grease it or spray it with non-stick spray before you put it in the oven.

Quick-rising Dough - Doughs rises faster in high altitudes, so ingredients such as baking soda and baking powder may need to be decreased. Watch your dough carefully, as it may not take as long to rise as you may expect.

If you are a cooking fanatic that lives above sea level, don't fret! It may take a little more work to get a recipe just right, but doing some simple modifications to your baking will ensure that your treats come out tasty!