About Ryan Salerno

From a very young age, Ryan knew exactly what he wanted to do: pursue a career in the baking industry. It all started with a little red step stool that gave him just enough height to see over his grandparents’ kitchen counter. There, he measured, sifted, and stirred his way through cherished family recipes. Being a part of that process sparked a deep curiosity within him, and learning to bake from the heart soon became a passion.

As a teen, Ryan worked at local bakeries and restaurants in Upstate New York, steadily building his repertoire of foundational skills that he'd use in the future. In 1999, he ventured to Vermont and enrolled at the New England Culinary Institute, taking the next step in his professional journey. After graduating, he developed his craft in kitchens across the U.S. (including Hawaii!) and honed his approach to baking (and life): have fun, learn from your mistakes, and always take a moment to savor the results.

In 2020, Ryan joined the Baker’s Hotline at King Arthur Baking Company. He helped bakers from around the world troubleshoot their recipes and calm their sourdough anxieties. Today, he spends his time working across multiple departments. Most days, you can find him in the Test Kitchen developing and cross-testing recipes for our website and cookbooks. He also contributes to a variety of projects in the studio; from On-Demand Classes to YouTube videos, you’ll find him behind the scenes and, more recently, in front of the camera too.