What is considered high altitude for baking?
What is considered a high altitude? Most cookbooks consider 3,000 feet above sea level to be high altitude, although at 2,000 feet above sea level, the boiling temperature of water is 208 °F instead of 212 °F.
At high altitudes, about 3,500 feet or more above sea level, foods bake and cook differently than if prepared at sea level.
Raise the oven temperature by 15 to 25° F. Because goods will bake faster at a higher temperature, set your time for 5 to 8 minutes less per 30 minutes of baking time in the recipe. Increase your liquid. Add 1 to 2 tablespoons at 3000 feet and an additional 1 1/2 teaspoons for every additional 1000 feet of elevation.
High Altitude Baking — Good Rules of Thumb. High altitude is generally considered 3,500 or more feet above sea level. If this is you, then you need to make some adjustments to your recipes to ensure that your baked goods rise evenly.
High altitude = 1500 to 3500 meters above sea level (4900-11500 ft.) Very high altitude = 3500 to 5500 meters above sea level (11500 to 18000 ft.) Extreme altitude = above 5500 meters above sea level (18000 ft.)
Areas are often considered "high-altitude" if they reach at least 2,400 meters (8,000 feet) into the atmosphere. The most high-altitude point on Earth is Mount Everest, in the Himalayan mountain range on the border of Nepal and the Chinese region of Tibet. Mount Everest is 8,850 meters (29,035 feet) tall.
- Reduce the leavening in the cookie recipe by about 25% if you live between 3,000-7,000 ft above sea level, and by about 30% if you're higher up in altitude. ...
- Increase your flour by 2-4 tablespoons for most standard recipes. ...
- Don't be afraid to add a little liquid.
- Reduce baking powder: for each teaspoon decrease 1/8 teaspoon.
- Reduce sugar: for each cup, decrease 0 to 1 tablespoon.
- Increase liquid: for each cup, add 1 to 2 tablespoons.
- Increase oven temperature by 25 degrees F.
Ascend gradually. Avoid traveling from a low elevation to an elevation higher than 9,000 feet (2,750 m) above sea level in one day. If possible, spend a few days at 8,000–9,000 feet before traveling to a higher elevation. This gives your body time to adjust to the lower oxygen levels.
- Reduce baking powder: for each teaspoon decrease 1/8 teaspoon.
- Reduce sugar: for each cup, decrease 0 to 1 tablespoon.
- Increase liquid: for each cup, add 1 to 2 tablespoons.
- Increase oven temperature by 25 degrees F.
Do you bake longer higher altitude?
Changes at high altitude
Decrease by 5-8 minutes per 30 minutes of baking time. Baking at higher temperatures means products are done sooner. Increase by 1 to 2 tablespoons at 3,000 feet. Increase by 1 1/2 teaspoons for each additional 1,000 feet.
At high altitudes, there is lower atmospheric pressure, or air pressure, which changes the temperature at which water boils and how quickly leavening gases expand. If you live at this altitude or higher, you will likely need to make adjustments to how you bake cakes, cookies, and breads.
Flours tend to be drier and absorb more liquid at higher altitudes. Baked items with leavening agents like baking powder, baking soda, and even whipped egg whites can rise quickly and collapse. Bread containing yeast tends to rise fast and overproof at higher altitudes.
