Backen

Backen is the German verb meaning to bake, i.e., to cook foods by dry heat in an oven. The term also appears as the noun das Backen, referring to the act or session of baking. Backen covers a wide range of products, including bread, pastries, cakes, cookies, and other baked goods.

Etymology: Backen derives from Old High German backen and is cognate with the English bake. It is a regular verb: ich backe, du backst, er/sie/es backt; past tense backte (or backte), perfect participle gebacken. The imperative forms include Backe den Kuchen or Backt den Kuchen.

Practice and technique: Baking typically involves mixing ingredients, kneading or combining them, allowing dough to ferment or proof, shaping, and baking. Equipment includes an oven (Ofen), mixing bowls, and a baking tray or pan (Backblech, Backform). Temperatures range by product; bread often bakes at roughly 180–240°C, while cakes and biscuits usually require lower heat or shorter baking times.

Cultural context: In German-speaking countries, daily bread holds cultural importance, and baking ranges from home kitchens to professional bakeries. Common baked goods include Brot (bread), Brötchen (rolls), Brezeln (pretzels), and a variety of pastries and cakes. The craft is associated with the profession of the Bäcker, historically organized in guilds.