The Essentials of Baking: Tools of the Trade Pt. 1
I won’t sugar coat it, baking can be an expensive hobby. Luckily, you don’t need a fully stocked bakery kitchen to whip up delicious treats! Below I have written a list of essential baking tools. The things you’ll pull out for every recipe. Many of these items are used in many different recipes. If you’re more interested in a specific type of baking, like cake decorating or pie making, I will be posting another article for those specifics as well.
Over the years, I have amassed an extensive collection of baking gadgets, tools, and tins. Many of these are very specific. Items like square bundt tins, and cheese cloth clutter up every inch of cupboard space. Using the list below, you can narrow down your collection, or start a new one, and make sure nothing sits in your kitchen collecting dust.
Many baking tools can be quiet expensive, it’s easy to rack up a ridiculous price tag when starting out baking. However, if you limit yourself as much as possible to the necessities you should be able to keep things reasonable. However, this is no time to skimp on the essentials. Opt for a high quality tool that will hold up to frequent use over a cheaper version you’ll have to replace in a month.
With that being said, lets dive into the fantastical world of baking gadgets.
1. Stand Mixer
I know, I know. Stand mixers can be pretty pricey, especially a high quality one, like a Kitchenaid. However, if you plan to be baking a lot, you definitely are going to need one. Kitchenaids are expensive, but they are durable and reliable. Before I had my Kitchenaid, I had my old mixer break halfway through a recipe, a disaster you definitely want to avoid. Most recipes call for a mixer, so it’s one of the most used tools you’ll buy. If possible, take the leap and get a Kitchenaid, otherwise look for a mixer with good reviews, that will hold up with frequent use.
If you choose to buy a Kitchenaid, a standard artisan mixer with dough hook, paddle, and whisk attachments is perfect for the home baker. If you’re interested in specific forms of baking, like pasta making, you can but attachments that will help make this easier. If you opt for another brand, a 5 quart mixing bowl and standard attachments (dough hook, whisk, and paddle) are the things to look for before purchasing.
2. Whisk and Rubber Spatula
Not a recipe goes by when I don’t use at least 1 of these items. Luckily, both of these are far easier (and less expensive) to purchase than a stand mixer. Whisks are used to mix dry ingredients, beat eggs and whipped cream, and a host of other tasks. Rubber spatulas are used to mix dough, fold in add-ins, and more. Both of these tools will become essential parts of your kitchen.
When finding a whisk to purchase, look for a sturdy, stainless steel one. Plastic whisks can be decorative, but bend easily, and aren’t heat safe. Buy a whisk that is standard size, if it is too large you will end up with flour all over the counter. If your whisk is too small, you’ll be mixing for twice as long! The same goes for rubber spatulas, look for a standard size. Before you buy a spatula, make sure it’s heat safe. You don’t want your spatula melting into the butter you’re trying to brown!
3. Half sheet trays and cooling racks
Sheet trays are a necessity, in both cooking and baking. You’ll need them for cookies, tray bakes, bars, fudge, and countless other treats. Because you probably don’t run a bakery churning out hundreds of cookies a day, you only need 2 standard half sheet trays (18x13 in). If you think you might need smaller or larger pans, feel free to buy them as needed, but every baker should have at least 1 half sheet tray.
Regarding the difference between light and dark pans, it is mostly based on what you plan to be baking. Dark pans are best for treats that need to be browned well on the bottom. Things like roast vegetables, pizza, and pies work best on dark pans. Light pans promote even heating throughout, and are best for cakes on cookies. Choose the option that makes the most sense for what you will be baking, or get 1 of each!
As for cooling racks, these are pretty straight forward. You’ll need them to cool cakes, cookies, muffins, cupcakes, and just about everything you put in the oven. Look for something that can fit inside your sheet trays if possible, they may even come in a set with your trays.
4. Kitchen scale
This may be slightly controversial, but I am a firm believer in measuring with the metric system, especially in baking. Some recipes are extremely exact, and grams are much more accurate then cups. Also, it is much easier to be consistent with quantities when you use a kitchen scale, as clumps and air pockets can affect how much fits in a clump. Kitchen scales are affordable, and an important addition to every bakers kitchen. All y recipes use grams, and they are becoming more popular, as they are universally understood. If you haven’t made the switch from cups to grams, now is the perfect time!
5. Sifter
Sifters are often overlooked, but I can testify that mine has saved me countless times. Using a fine mesh sieve is common among home bakers, but if you can, purchase a mechanical sifter, one with a pump handle or a rotary. Sifting dry ingredients used to be one of my least favorite kitchen tasks, I would always end up with half the flour on the counter or myself, after sifting for 5 minutes and doing everything I could to keep it all in the bowl. A sifter makes these frustrating moments a thing of the past, sifting takes a fraction of the time, and there’s no mess to clean up! Plus this inexpensive gadget will elevate your kitchen to traditional English bakery standards.
6. Differently sized mixing bowls
Mixing bowls may be the most important things you buy for your kitchen. You’ll use them in every recipe, and have to learn how to fit them all into your dishwasher after a big day of baking. Again, you should be looking for something durable, as they’ll need to hold up to frequent use. They should be microwave/heat safe and made of glass or stainless steel. Find a set that fits inside each other, this will make them easier to store. I would suggest getting as many as you think would be practical for your needs, as you don’t want to find yourself half way through a recipe with no clean bowls!
7. Offset spatula
Offset spatulas are often considered cake decorating supplies. However, they have a plethora of uses in other recipes as well. While I use mine to decorate cakes, I also need one to get cookies of trays, and onto them after they’ve been rolled and cut into shapes. They’re also useful to help release tricky loaves from the sides of their tins. These definitely deserve a place on this list. Look for a standard size, dishwasher safe, stainless steel spatula. Most will be pretty durable, but always check the reviews!
So there you have it! As you can see, there are really only a few core tools you’ll need to get started baking. As you continue to advance, more tools may be required. Remember that many expensive gadgets have substitutes that can be found around the kitchen, and are much more cost effective. I would encourage you to try these out, before you go rushing off to buy pricey tools you may not even need.
If you have any questions or comments about this, or any other posts, comment below and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible. If you would like brand recommendations, I am happy to share those as well. Until next time, happy baking!
