When folks ask me how I’ve kept my bakery strong for all these years, they often wait for me to spill some cooking secrets or reveal a hidden recipe. But honestly, my success is as simple as using the right baking essentials at the right time and place!
My fellow home bakers, are you itching to up your baking game? Then, I’d be thrilled to give you a sneak peek into my kitchen. Keep scrolling for a little tour!
In This Article:
22 Baking Tools For A Baker
Some basic tools could make all the difference in baking, such as measuring spoons and cups, wooden spoons, and a rubber spatula for scraping squeaky clean bowls. Oh, and don’t forget the metal turner (perfect for handling delicate treats) and a pastry brush that’s not just for greasing pans but for all sorts of coatings as well.
Then there’s the multitasking duo: kitchen scissors and rolling pins, our real game-changers. Lastly, let’s not skip out on the fine-mesh sieves, alongside essential baking pans, wire racks, and parchment paper.
A. Baking Must-Haves
1. Measuring Spoons and Cups
In baking, precision matters the most; that’s where a solid set of measuring spoons and cups swoop in! I often place both my wet and dry measuring cups on standby since these buddies are my go-to in almost every recipe.
For ten years, my measuring spoon squad has always included a ¼ teaspoon, a ½ teaspoon, a teaspoon, and a tablespoon. Measuring cups in ¼, ⅓, ½, and full sizes are also my trusted allies. And remember, while a 1-cup liquid measuring cup is the MVP, having larger ones like the 4-cup and 2-cup sizes tucked away in your stash can be a total game-changer!
2. Wooden Spoon
Just one wooden spoon can already do the trick. But having a couple of these babies lying around is super handy since wooden spoons are champs during stirring! It doesn’t matter whether I am dealing with super thick or heavy dough; they’ve always got my back.
And the best part? These spoons are tough as nails; you can put them through serious mixing without worry! Just remember to give them a good hand-wash after usage so they do not get all cracked up.
3. Rubber Spatula or Scraper
I bet many of you didn’t realize how often a rubber spatula can be your kitchen superhero!
This baking utensil is the ultimate sidekick for scraping out every bit of dough from your bowl or getting into those tight spots in a jam jar. And when it comes to folding dry and wet ingredients together, these spatulas are total pros.
Oh, and a quick tip: opt for a silicone spatula if you want one that can take the heat like a champ. From my experience, they handle high temperatures way better than rubber versions and keep up with all my baking adventures easily.
4. Metal Turner
A turner can be your best buddy when you shift those warm, yummy sugar cookies onto the rack or dish out a tasty cake from a 13×9 pan.
Personally, I prefer one with a thin metal blade; this superhero tool can effortlessly glide under my treats without squishing them or making a crumbly mess. It took me years to realize this was the baking hack I didn’t know I needed!
5. Pastry Brush
Hey, this baking item is like a secret multitasker – and not just for greasing pans! To my amazement, a pastry brush proves an excellent ally when coating dough with egg wash or melted butter; better yet, it can even give my pie crust a perfect milk wash.
Long story short, if you’re big on baking, this essential baking equipment is a total must-have in your kitchen lineup.
6. Whisk
You might think a wire whisk is just for whisking eggs. But come on, this is one of the best and most versatile kitchen wizards, just like the Swiss Army knife of the kitchen!
How so? Well, this bad boy can blend dry and liquid ingredients for me like a pro. And when it’s time to whip up homemade custard, it unlocks portals to that creamy, velvety perfection.
7. Kitchen Scissors
I keep my kitchen shears close whenever I am cooking up a storm. They’re not just for one task; just like my pastry brushes or whisks, these guys are the unbeatable multitools!
Need to snip fresh herbs? Easy-peasy. Cut parchment paper to spread on a pan? No problem. Plus, when those stubborn containers and packages won’t budge, these scissors will swoop in and save the day.
8. Rolling Pin
Rolling pins are more than just dough masters; they’ve got extra skills up their sleeves.
Let’s say you’re currently without food processors but need to crush some chips, crackers, or cookies for a baking recipe. No sweat! Just toss them into a sealed bag and wield your rolling pins like a boss to crush them up. It’s like DIY food processing without the fancy gadgetry!
9. Fine-Mesh Sieves
For us bakers, a sieve is the MVP when sifting dry/raw ingredients or giving that perfect powdered sugar sprinkle on brownies and cookies. Oh wait, there’s more; this tool’s a champ at draining wet stuff, especially smaller items like quinoa that tend to slip through regular colanders.
And hey, ever had to tackle raspberry sauce? I did, and the sieve was totally my best wingman for nixing those pesky seeds.
10. Rectangular Baking Pans
You’ve got to have this classic baking pan – the 13 x 9 x 2 inches one – in your kitchen stash; trust me, it’s a real all-star! This tool is my go-to for cookie bars, brownies, cakes – basically all things delicious. Even better, it’s not only about sweets; a rectangular pan can nail my savory dishes just as delightfully.
All in all, if there’s only one pan you can grab for your baking game, then this guy should be the winner, hands down!
11. Round Cake Pans
You will want to double up on these baking must-haves because guess what? Most layer cakes demand more than just one!
Round baking pans typically come in 9-inch or 8-inch sizes, and either works fine for my layer cake recipes. Just ensure you snag two similar-sized pans for your layered treats!
12. Square Baking Pans
Sometimes, we are not really in the mood for a huge batch of brownies, right? That’s when a square pan comes to the rescue.
I love to rely on this trusty guy when making smaller servings of popular sugary delights like cornbread, cookie bars, brownies, and cakes; it’s my ticket to baking up a storm with less fuss!
13. Wire Racks
Hey, nobody’s a fan of soggy or overbaked desserts, right? Enter the wire rack, your dessert savior.
The rack lets air swirl around your freshly baked treats while they cool down, making sure they taste as awesome at room temp as they do straight out of the oven. It has always been the secret sauce for keeping my sweets tasting oh-so-good!
14. Sheet Pan/ Cookie Sheet/ Baking Sheet
Alright, let’s talk about cookie sheets – the unsung heroes of your kitchen!
One sheet is a must, but having a dynamic duo could be a total baking breakthrough. I love to use one with raised sides, which gets my cookies perfectly baked due to the magic of air circulation.
And guess what? These pans are not just for cookies! As the multitasking stars in the baking scene, they are not afraid to tackle sheet pan dinner recipes with flair, unlocking a whole world of possibilities.
15. Stand Mixer/ Hand Mixer
Listen, you don’t need to break the bank with a flashy electric mixer. But your kitchen squad should still welcome at least one hand mixer to the party, as it is one of the best personal mixing ninjas in the world!
Whisking up cake batter and dough becomes a breeze; no sweat at all. And whenever I am wrestling with that thick cookie dough that feels like it’s got a mind of its own, this mixer steps in as my reliable assistant to save my biceps from serious workouts.
16. Parchment Paper
Haven’t tried baking with parchment paper before? Then, it’s time to give it a shot!
I usually place a sheet on my pan before baking; it’s a super effective shield against messy cleanup and keeps baked goodies from sticking wetly to my pan. Also, switching to recyclable silicone baking mats could be a cool move to go all eco-friendly!
B. Highly Recommended Bake Materials
17. Pie Weights
Ever heard of blind baking? With this technique, you would give the dough its solo performance in the oven before it teams up with fillings.
After my pie dough is fully shaped in the pan, I cover it with parchment paper, coffee filters, or aluminum foil. And here comes the magic touch: I weigh down my dough with pie weights, those cool metal or ceramic beads that gently press on the dough while it bakes.
Once it’s done, I will take out those weights before putting in the final fillings, just like prepping the canvas for a masterpiece!
18. Flour Keepers
I’ve got 8 amazing storage containers that keep things super fresh. When folks ask me how I usually keep tabs on my flour and sugar, these are my recommendations!
Indeed, I use them to stash all sorts of flours – all-purpose, whole wheat, cake, and bread flours. They’re perfect for different sugars, too, like coarse, dark brown, light brown, and powdered.
Most standard containers are quite roomy, holding around 3.8 quarts (about the same as a 5-pound flour bag), all the more reason to snag a few for your kitchen. And you know what else is cool? You can also assign a label for each container using common label makers!
19. Slotted Spoon
Okay, so we often see slotted spoons ruling the cooking game rather than baking.
Still, a slotted spoon can become my bestie whenever I am knee-deep in my baking recipe and have to deal with custards or sauces. It’s the easiest and quickest way to scoop out hefty spices like vanilla beans or cinnamon sticks, so remember to keep some around!
20. Citrus Juicer
When it’s time for zesty, lemony delights, most of us have lemon juice on our mind.
Sure, you can go old-school and use your fingers or forks for a squeeze. But a juicer is still the ultimate secret weapon, extracting every last drop of that citrusy goodness without a miss!
And that’s not all. My juicer also comes with a trusty sidekick, the sieve, which saves my dough and pancake batter from sneaky seeds and pulpy bits. Leveling up your citrus game with this powerful duo ensures each dessert is nothing short of heavenly perfection.
21. Other Knives
Alright, you might think a serrated bread knife is a star for baked goodies. But truth be told, your paring or chef’s knives can also handle many baking tasks just fine.
For example, I often grab my paring knife for those juicy fruits and veggies. And when the mood strikes for homemade bread, the chef’s knife steps up, ensuring every slice is a work of perfection without leaving a squashed mess.
22. Digital Scale
A kitchen scale easily makes it to my countertop.
You know me; I’m a bit obsessed with precision when it comes to wet and dry ingredients, and that’s why I lay out my recipes in both cups and grams. And it’s not like I’m unreasonable here. After all, baking is all about science, so accurate measuring is the key!
A gram is a gram, and an ounce is an ounce. But a spoon or a cup is not always a spoon or cup; even a small mis-measure can lead to a full-blown baking catastrophe.
Where to Buy Essential Tools for Baking
Where you get your cake-baking tools really depends on what you need, how much you’re willing to spend, and where you live. Let’s check out some of the most common options!
Online Shopping:
- Amazon has got a boatload of baking gear from different brands and prices. Still, I must say its shipping times can be a bit unpredictable.
- We have Williams Sonoma, which is known for top-notch kitchen stuff, especially pro-level kitchen tools. But watch out for higher shipping costs!
- Sur La Table is another online spot for quality tools and curated collections, with a much faster shipping time than Williams Sonoma.
- Oh, and how can we forget Bed Bath & Beyond? You can find many baking goodies here, often with cool deals and coupons. Some stores even offer in-store pickup.
Mass Retailers:
Two big players in the game, Target and Walmart, provide basic baking tools at prices that won’t break the bank – perfect for beginners or casual bakers.
In-Person Shopping:
Prefer an in-person experience instead? Then check out upscale spots like Sur La Table, Williams Sonoma, or Crate & Barrel. You’ll get personalized service, plus the brands allow customers to touch and feel the tools before buying. But heads up – it might cost a bit more than online.
Grocery Store Run:
Believe it or not, many supermarkets have baking tool sections! Chains like Kroger, Safeway, or Giant often have reasonably priced basics. Might not be super fancy, but they will do the job.
Conclusion
Equipping your kitchen with these baking materials will set you up for recipe success without breaking a sweat.
While aiming for all 22 tools is definitely fantastic, you can grab about 10 of the top basics if your space or budget does not allow it. Write to me anytime for more advice!
