THE MEANING
OF "DONE"
by Ruth Haag
A recipe may say bake until “done.”
What does that mean if you are baking cookies, as opposed to
baking bread? In response to this problem, we developed some
guidelines for our family. These can be found in The Cookbook
to English Dictionary, published by Haag Press, and available
online at www.haagpress.com.
Done: yeast bread – Breads may turn a nice brown
color and yet not be quite done. The final test for yeast bread
is to knock on it with a knuckle. If the bread sounds hollow
when rapped, it is done. For a more complete test, quickly dump
the bread out on the counter and rap the underside. If it sounds
hollow, the bread is done. If not, quickly return it to the pan
and continue baking. After the bread is allowed to cool, it will
no longer sound hollow when rapped.
Done: cake or quick bread
Test I – Test with
a tooth pick, or small thin wire. The wire is inserted into the
middle of the cake, and removed. If the wire is clean when it
is removed, then the cake is done. If the wire comes out with
batter or bits of cake on it, the cake is not done and needs
to be baked longer.
Done: cake or quick bread
Test II – Test by
lightly pressing the top of the cake with a fingertip. If the
cake springs back, it is done. If an indentation is left, it
is not done. This system works if you do not have a toothpick,
but there is a danger that it will leave a small indentation
even after it is finished baking.
Done: cake or quick bread
Test III – Test
by smelling. When you can smell it from another room of the house,
it is done. This system does cause you to have to respond quickly,
as soon as you smell it.
Done: cookies – Drop cookies and cut cookies
are done when the outside edge of the cookie has turned a light
brown color. This is normally a minute or two before the end
of the cooking time recommended by the recipe.
Done: custard – A knife is inserted into the middle
of the custard and removed. If the slice made by the knife holds
its shape and the knife comes out clean, the custard is done.
If parts of the custard stick to the knife, or the slit made
by the knife sloughs back together, it is not done.
 About
the author: Ruth Haag’s “Useable Cookbooks Series”
was designed to help her family learn to cook, so that Ruth would
have time free to run her company, and to write other books.
Listen to Ruth and Bob Haag weekly on their Internet Radio Show,
Manage Living, at www.modavox.com/VoiceAmericaBusiness. They
will help you manage the work world; and will tell you how to
take those solutions home, to better manage your home life. Visit
their website, www.manageliving.com.
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