Baked In Science

Success in today’s baking industry calls for more than just making bread or cake. It requires a broad range of knowledge in fields like food science, engineering, R&D, and packaging—to name a few. Cross-training in these areas to expand skills allows bakers to take advantage of new opportunities and trends in the market. So what should you focus on in today’s world of food? To help share the big picture of the baking industry, two seasoned experts and Certified Master Bakers join host Mark Floerke in this episode. Richard Charpentier has over 35 years of extensive bakery experience in snacks and breads. Classically trained as a French baker and Certified Master Baker, he has gone on to include bakery science, grain milling and food history in his repertoire. Richard spent years working in the industry for retail bakeries and large CPG Brands, leading Research and Development teams. He is currently the CEO of Baking Innovation, finding practical uses for emerging innovations and technologies. Peter Jacob

Each year the baking industry gathers to learn, network, connect and explore at BakingTECH, a show hosted by the American Society of Baking (ASB). This year was marked by the introduction of new leadership, discussions on hot topics like AI, and making space for a new generation of bakers. In this special episode recorded live from the show, Dr. Lin of BAKERpedia sits down with Kristen Spriggs, the new Executive Director of ASB. Kristen has over 20 years of experience in membership-based organizations and is known for creating and supporting communities. Although new to the baking industry, she has already started building relationships with industry partners, feeling a strong bond between professionals in this field. With a passion for innovation and a collaborative approach, she looks forward to working with other trade organizations and service partners to advance the industry’s success. Lin and Kristen cover a lot of ground in this episode, including glimpses at what is in store for the future of ASB a

Being a skilled baker is a continuous process of refining your craft. It starts by mastering new techniques, comprehending the science behind it, or learning the skills to keep up with emerging trends. That’s why the team at BAKERpedia shares information: to empower, inspire change and improve food manufacturing processes. So how did we become the digital epicenter for baking? From a 200-page resource to a comprehensive database of over 980 pages, along with multiple forms of media like videos, podcasts, and seminars, BAKERpedia has come a long way. Here to share the journey and what’s next is BAKERpedia Founder and CEO Dr. Lin Carson. Along with host Mark Floerke, she’s joined by Bob Schnyder, VP of Growth. The group shares about their efforts to create a central hub for all things baking, plus what’s in the works for 2023 to give you access to more resources and knowledge! Want to learn more about how to get involved with BAKERpedia as a supplier and sponsor? Email bob.schnyder@bakerpedia.com! This e

As food science and technology continue to advance, so do opportunities to elevate nutrition and quality of life for communities. One impactful example of this is indigenizing food science, the process of integrating traditional food knowledge and nutrition into modern food systems, helping preserve cultural heritage and promote economic development. When put into practice, this can help indigenous farmers limit food waste by incorporating technology to preserve or process raw materials. That’s just the type of project a team from Montana State University, led by Dr. Wan-Yuan Kuo and graduate researchers Edwin Allan and Chidimma Ifeh, launched in partnership with farmers in Senegal, West Africa. The goal: to turn underutilized natural resources into a nutritious baked good that farmers could produce and sell, helping improve the local economy and environment. In this BAKED in Science episode, host Mark Floerke talks with this team and Aliou Ndiaye, Chief of Party USAID Feed The Future Senegal Bountifiel

Creativity has always been a fundamental part of food. The industry is constantly looking for ways to build something groundbreaking and eye-catching from simple ingredients. What’s interesting is when new technology comes into the mix. Say for instance, 3D printing customized strawberries filled with chocolate ganache. In this BAKED in Science episode, Mark Floerke sits down with Meagan Bozeman, Co-Founder at CURRANT™ 3D and Sugar Lab. With a degree in mechanical engineering and 2 decades in the 2D printing industry, Meagan began focusing on 3D printing technology and how to take it into new spaces. She connected with Kyle von Hasseln, who during graduate school for architecture, had started using sugar instead of plastic to 3D print more affordable building models. This innovation led to 3D-printed cake toppers, an acquisition of Sugar Lab, and Meghan developing CURRANT™, the printer their company is now based around. Now a few years and many R&D hours later, food possibilities abound. Meagan shares a

Developing products for the healthy food market has become so much more than adjusting fat or sugar levels. The rising demand for high protein, high fiber, plant-based, egg-free, or gluten-free baked goods is causing bakers to rethink whole formulas and find new functional, nutritional ingredients. A Master Baker and innovative developer, Chadwick White is no stranger to this space. Initially an artisan bread baker and pastry chef, he began developing gluten-free products at the very start of the trend. In 2008, Chadwick partnered with Udi and Etail Baron to develop Udi’s Healthy Foods and successfully built Udi’s Gluten-Free. Going on to help brands improve their gluten-free products, his latest venture is Nepra Foods—a transformative company founded in allergen-free and plant-based food and ingredient solutions. Learn more about plant-based protein: https://bakerpedia.com/ingredients/plant-based-protein/ In this episode, BAKED in Science host Mark Floerke chats with Chadwick about how to improve funct

The baking industry gathered from around the world at IBIE 2022 to talk shop and explore the latest trends and innovations. Since this baking expo only happens every three years, there’s always plenty to catch up on and discover. While we can’t capture everything we saw in just one podcast (check out our IBIE hub for that: https://bakerpedia.com/ibie/), BAKED in Science host Mark Floerke shares a few favorite highlights and interviews he recorded live from the show floor. IBIE Trends Roundtable First up, Mark is joined by Dr. Lin of BAKERpedia, Arnaud Dubat of KPM Analytics and Dr. Sophia Pai of Tate & Lyle. The group of seasoned professionals discuss what’s been catching their eye at the show and the industry overall. Topics include sugar replacement, quality control and tracking data for success, dealing with ingredient shortages or replacements, and vegan grilled cheese sandwiches. Did you know that you can use KPM Vision Inspection Technology to improve product quality and consistency at full line

A sixth-generation master baker, competitor and jury member for international baking competitions, business owner, consultant, professor, and most recently, author—Jimmy Griffin has just about done it all in his baking career. He got his start working from a young age in his 125-year-old family bakery set in Dublin, Ireland. Now, he’s finding ways to pass his knowledge and craft down to younger generations of bakers. BAKED in Science host Mark Floerke invites Jimmy to share his story in this episode. Starting back in Ireland during the late 1700s with his journeyman ancestor, and the start of the family bakery in the late 1800s, Jimmy shares what life as a baker looked like back then and the memories that have been passed down over the decades. His own career officially started at 17, as he studied baking at a university and helped run the family business, eventually starting his own cake shop on the side. From there, Jimmy would go on to win a silver medal in the Coupe du Monde Chocolatine and was a freq

There’s no shortage of new ideas and markets popping up in the food and baking industry. The question is, which ones will still be thriving in the years to come? To give a fresh and informed perspective on the industry, your BAKED in Science host Mark Floerke brings on guest Jerry Smiley. No stranger to the food industry, Jerry’s career includes brands such as Quaker Oats, Heinz, Sara Lee and Technomic. In 2000, he founded Strategic Growth Partners, Inc., a management-consulting firm dedicated to the food industry. His consultancy work has allowed him to partner with food service, commercial, and in-store bakeries, as well as leading ingredient and finished goods companies around the world. In this conversation, Jerry and Mark start off talking about sustainability and how to be in the innovative mindset for the baking and food industry. They also discuss what’s an emerging trend or just a passing fad when it comes to: - Food as medicine - Fiber (https://bakerpedia.com/ingredients/fiber/) - Ke

Bakers have a special knack of seeing opportunities instead of risks. It’s a gift that allows food to make an impact on the world, even if it just starts by helping one person. In this episode, your BAKED in Science host Mark Floerke interviews 81-year-old Marda Stoliar about her adventures baking around the world. Originally with a career in shoe design, her work took her to Europe. While there, she fell in love with an Italian hard roll and was determined to learn how to bake it herself. So, over the next few years she worked in the fashion world during the day, and then got two hours of sleep before working in a bakery all night. This kicked off a life journey of baking that wound through France, owning a bakery in Oregon, teaching baking classes in Asia, and operating the International School of Baking over the last 30 years. Still teaching, Marda helps bakers from around the world, helping them design and launch their own bakeries. Marda shares some of her favorite experiences, like: - Masterin

Rich, complex flavors can truly set a baked good above the rest. And while familiar, traditional flavors can make customers fall in love with your brand, out-of-the-box profiles can take it to a whole new level! The possibilities are practically endless when it comes to flavors in baking.Typically, they are added to food to boost the aroma, taste and sensate components that make a food more desirable—from a burst of fruit flavor to a kick of spice. Learn more about flavors in baking: https://bakerpedia.com/ingredients/flavors/ So what’s new in the world of flavors? In this episode of BAKED in Science, your host Mark Floerke is joined by Jeff Stopa, Research Chef & Taste Designer at ZoomEssence—a supplier of powdered flavors for food and beverages. Their patented process allows for natural flavors that bring a strong punch and long shelf life. As a Research Chef, Jeff applies his training in both culinary and food science to create food and beverage products. Currently at ZoomEssence, he is working on a l

Here to tackle the biggest issues and top questions in the baking industry is the BAKERin team (https://bakerpedia.com/bakerin/)! As part of BAKERpedia’s influencer program, these seasoned professionals share their knowledge and keep you up to date on the latest innovations. In this roundtable discussion, the group talks through some of the frequent problems they see in their respective fields, such as: - What needs to be changed about manufacturing in the baking industry - Improving productivity and consistency for bakeries - Understanding flour quality and how to communicate more efficiently with your miller - Explaining raising cake prices and necessary ingredients to customers - The need for more accessible training in the industry - Our most frequently asked questions on social media Meet the 2022 BAKERin Team Gideon Butler-Smith Hailing from Kansas City, Gideon is a Kansas State alum with a degree in Bakery Science and Management. He now resides in Rogers, Arkansas w

What’s the latest trends and biggest topics in the baking industry right now? After a disruptive few years, with aftershocks still impacting businesses and consumers, there’s a lot to talk about. To give a fresh and informed perspective on the industry, your BAKED in Science host Mark Floerke brings on guest Jerry Smiley. No stranger to the food industry, Jerry’s career includes brands such as Quaker Oats, Heinz, Sara Lee and Technomic. In 2000, he founded Strategic Growth Partners, Inc., a management-consulting firm dedicated to the food industry. His consultancy work has allowed him to partner with food service, commercial, and in-store bakeries, as well as leading ingredient and finished goods companies around the world. Key Bakery Trends in 2022 Mark and Jerry discuss the top trends and updates they’ve been keeping an eye on over the last year or two. One pandemic-driven shift is an increase in mega-mergers and acquisitions, whether it’s people wanting to get out of a business, or smaller brands expan

As a baking professional, there’s always something you can do to further improve your craft. Whether it’s learning more techniques, understanding the science behind it, or learning new skills for popular trends, more knowledge is out there. At BAKERpedia, our goal has always been to share that knowledge with you. In this episode of BAKED in Science, host Mark Floerke is joined by Dr. Lin Carson who shares how BAKERpedia has created new online training and learning opportunities through the pandemic, and what’s in store for 2022. The BAKER Academy Last year, we launched the BAKER Academy, an online learning platform that gives easy access to videos, technical papers and live seminars. This year, we have a full line up of content based on the hottest trends and trending topics. Here are some upcoming seminars: March 10th: High Protein Baking March 24th: Hamburger Buns Production April 7th: Thermal Profiling for Cakes April 21st: Vegan Indulgent Desserts May 5th: Donut Quality May 19th: Gluten-free Flour

Flour is at the heart of so many baked goods, so it’s no surprise that wheat is a passionate subject for many bakers and food professionals. For Claudia Carter, that passion has not only driven her career, but inspired her to share it with the next generation. In this episode of BAKED in Science, your host Mark Floerke is joined by Claudia Carter, the Executive Director of the California Wheat Commission(CWC). While studying food sciences, she developed a passion for understanding the quality of wheat and its many varieties. This led to her obtaining a Master of Science in cereal sciences. She first joined the CWC in 2014 as a lab director to take care of flour quality testing, and was promoted to director in 2016. Now, she helps educate millers and bakers on the specific benefits and unique features of California-grown wheat. Over the last few years, she has run an educational program with local elementary students. Claudia shares how the program helps teach children the way food is processed and introdu

With all the changes to the baking industry over the last two years, how companies interacted with customers was a big one. Trade shows, face-to-face demonstrations, and lab visits were uncertainties or simply impossible. Here is how one ingredient supplier met these challenges head on. Your BAKED in Science host Mark Floerke invites Anne Hoest Stenbaek from Arla Foods Ingredients. With over 20 years of international marketing communication experience with both BtC and BtB in the food value chain, she is now Head of Marketing at the whey-based ingredient supplier (https://bakerpedia.com/ingredients/whey-protein/). As the company heeded into 2021, they found the pandemic had completely disrupted their go-to marketing strategy. Even as tentative trade shows were scheduled, Arla Foods Ingredients decided to fully embrace online solutions by directing their marketing budget to create an in-house webinar platform and broadcasting studio. Anne shares with Mark about the strategy behind this move, and how it’s

If you’re not familiar with resistant starch, you should be! This power-house ingredient is a unique and interesting form of starch with many applications and benefits. It’s a type of dietary fiber that’s resistant to degradation and digestion. In baked goods, it boosts nutrition and adds functionality as well. Learn more: https://bakerpedia.com/ingredients/resistant-starch/ In this episode of BAKED in Science your host Mark Floerke gets all his resistance starch questions answered by Tanya Jeradechachai, the Vice President of Ingredient Solutions R&D at MGP Ingredients. With a background in cereal science and a solid familiarity with flour milling, baking, and pasta industries, she leads the MGP team that develops resistant starch products, among other things. Tanya and Mark dive into the function of resistant starch in baking, which has become a welcome solution to low-carb and keto baking. Thanks to its absorption capacities that are similar to wheat flour, it can replace flour and starches in traditi

Donuts are a classic bakery treat that seem to be a forever favorite. Ranging from simple to deliciously complex, they also are a space for innovation and creativity. And while producing fried dough may seem simple enough, donuts do come with their fair share of unique challenges. So here to circle up the truth about donuts is your BAKED in Science host Mark Floerke and Randy McArthur with Dawn Foods. Randy is a second generation baker who grew up above his father’s small bakery in St. Louis, Missouri. He took over the business in 1976, and over the next 36 years grew it to include 3 locations and a small wholesale section. Now working in the technical department of Dawn Foods, Randy shares his experiences to help customers troubleshoot and formulate new ideas. Mark and Randy discuss new innovation opportunities, like the sourdough donut mix from Dawn Foods. Sourdough is a hugely popular flavor trend at the moment, and serving it in donut form opens up exciting possibilities. A few other topics include:

Since 2020, the baking industry has seen its fair share of changes, shake ups, and pivots due to the pandemic. Even now as the world makes its way to a new normal, the effects of the last year and half are still impacting bakers around the world. In this BAKED in Science episode, your host Mark Floerke interviews 4 different stakeholders to see how different bakers and companies have survived and evolved from the pandemic. Keith Foreneck at Lallemand Baking Solutions With 34 years in the baking industry and several bread technology patents, Keith now works as a technical product manager with Lallemand Baking— a supplier of yeasts, enzymes, and other ingredient solutions. Keith talks about the shipping disruptions and gluten shortages faced by the industry. However, he also shares about a cost-effective gluten replacer that offers multiple solutions. Mark Tsemak at Red Square Bakery For the last 31 years, Red Square Bakery has been selling authentic Russian foods to Canada and the US. With a large retai

As the demand for gluten-free baked goods has grown over the years, so has the ingredient technology to make delicious products. However, there are still plenty of challenges and opportunities for bakers and R&D teams. When removing protein in the form of gluten in baking, it is mandatory to incorporate other sources of protein to replace that functionality. Plant-based proteins, natural fibers and gums are capable of forming strong gels, binding water, emulsifying and stabilizing foams. Common sources of gluten-free protein include egg solids, dairy/whey, soy, rice and pea protein. Learn more here: https://bakerpedia.com/tips-for-gluten-free-baking/ Gluten free product development So what are helpful points for gluten free product development? In this episode of BAKED in Science, your host Mark Floerke covers this topic with Michael Childs, a long-time player in the gluten free baking world. With over 25 years in the food industry, Michael is now a Principal Development Scientist at Conagra Brands. Mic