Why do you separate wet and dry ingredients?

Question

I love to bake and cook. But I never seperate my wet and dry ingredients. I mean.. they all go together at one point. Why do the directions ask you to mix them seperatly? Does it change the way it tastes?


Thanks =]

Answer 1

Mixing the dry ingredients first ensures even distribution of the ingredients, likewise with the wet ingredients.
In some things, cheesecake for example, it is crucial to mix the ingredients properly.

Answer 2

When it comes to baking I always follow the recipe exactly.Cooking doesn`t matter so much.I guess because the wet ingredients have to be mixed more thoroughly.Once you add dry ing.you don`t want to mix them too much because the gluten will develop in the flour.I guess the other reason is because there`s alot of chemistry involved in baking and if you don`t follow the directions in the order given the end result won`t be as good.

Answer 3

Mixing them can make the mixture lumpy. You should always add the dry to the wet, not the other way around.

Also, dry ingredients are usually measured on a scale or in dry measures. Liquids are measured in a liquid measure.

Answer 4

sifting together the dry ingredients first allows more air so that when you are baking you get a fluffier product. i'm not sure why you do that in cooking, unless it has the same effect

Answer 5

No it doesn't seem to change the taste, it just is easier to mix them more thoroughly.