Here's What Duff Goldman Thinks Are The Tell-Tale Signs Of A Bad Bakery

When Duff Goldman isn't filming episodes for Food Network's "Kids Baking Championship" or "Holiday Baking Championship," he can often be found at one of the two Charm City Cakes locations, creating incredible sweet treats like cake kits for his customers through the use of deliciously baked cakes, frosting, and fondant. Though Goldman is of course a talented baker himself, he isn't opposed to buying some sweet treats out of convenience, rather than spending time baking things like pantry staple snacks on his own instead.

When Goldman stops into a bakery to take a look at its cakes, he also wants to make sure the sweets he's buying will be high-quality. Goldman says to trust your gut instinct — he says that most of the time, you'll be able to tell if the bakery is good just by the vibes you get from it (via Insider). But if you still aren't sure if you should spring for those goodies, he does have a few tricks he uses to check for quality in a bakery.

Duff Goldman, who's in a cover band called Foie Grock per Bakers Journal, told Insider that he looks for general store cleanliness when he first stops into a bakery. One way to tell is by checking the display case for crumbs hidden in crevices. Goldman says that these crumbs can be overlooked when cleaning is done in a rush, but the absence of crumbs indicates that the staff carefully cleans everything.

Goldman also pays attention to his sense of smell. While it is generally good for a business to smell clean, Goldman says that the scent of cleaning products is actually a negative thing in a bakery. Instead, the building should smell like freshly-baked desserts (like blondies), bread, or yeast.

Goldman says there is also an easy way to tell if the products being sold are actually fresh. Baked goods that should be fluffy — like bread and rolls — can develop "wrinkles" if they sit out for too long. Goldman says that this is due to the items' absorption of moisture, which then evaporates the longer they sit, causing the bread to shrink down.

If the bakery passes these tests but you're still on the fence about buying from it, Goldman says you can always ask for a sample of the food before you make a purchase (via Insider). Once you've found a bakery you like, Goldman also recommends purchasing primarily from places that you already trust. That way, you'll already be familiar with the quality, so you won't have to worry about checking for cleanliness every single time you stop in.

So where does Goldman go when he's craving something sweet? It depends on where he is. In his home state of Massachusetts, Goldman stops by Modern Pastry Shop to enjoy a sfogliatella, or "lobster tail" pastry, according to USA Today. On the other end of the country, he also loves New Mexico's Pie Town Café. No matter where you are, following Goldman's tips will ensure you get the best quality products for the price.