The Essentials of Baking: Tools of the Trade Pt.2
When you first start baking, knowing what to buy can be stressful. The bill adds up fast, especially if you’re purchasing specialized tools. If you read the first part of this article, you now know exactly what you’ll need for general baking, but what about more specific needs? In this post, I’ve compiled a list of things you’ll need for specific types of baking. Things like cakes and pies require extra tools, but they shouldn’t set you back more then necessary. If you stick to these lists, you should be able to purchase everything you need to start out, without breaking the bank!
For cakes and cupcakes:
If you are interested in making mostly cakes and cupcakes there are some specific tools you’ll need. When it comes to frosting and decorations, there is a whole world of extra gadgets to consider. However, most recipes don’t call for domed silicone molds, or 6 in ramekins, and these items collect dust in the back of my kitchen. This list contains the basic tools you’ll need to get started, as your decorating skills improve, you may want to expand your collection, but it is often best to start of with the necessities.
You won’t find things like fondant, or sprinkles on this list. This is because, in my opinion, they aren’t usually needed for decorating cakes and cupcakes. I prefer to decorate my baked goods with homemade decorations and piping. Things like candied citrus and fresh berries also make beautiful from-scratch decorations. However, sometimes sprinkles are necessary for the birthday cake you’re making, or you need to use fondant for sculptures on celebration cupcakes. That’s totally fine! If you are planning to use them frequently, you may want to buy some now, to have on hand if the need arises.
1. Cake and cupcake tins
If you plan on baking lots of cakes and cupcakes, buying tins can be a daunting task. They are bulky, and I have definitely found them a challenge to store efficiently. You’ll want to limit yourself to buying only the things you’ll need. First, you’ll want a standard cupcake tin. These are pretty standard across most brands, but make sure you’re not buying a muffin tin, as these sometimes run bigger.
Now it’s time to talk about cake tins. There are practically endless possibilities for size, depth, and color of the pans. When you’re first starting out, you should opt for the most common sizes. I would suggest buying a pair of 9 in round pans, and 8 in square pans. These are the most common sizes, and work for most celebration cakes. It is usually best to but cake tins in pairs, as you will often be baking multiple layers. 2 in is usually the standard depth for a cake pan, but anything of a similar height should work perfectly.
2. Piping bags and tips
Fancy decorating tools are my downfall. I have amassed such a large collection of various piping tips that it is getting difficult to find a container to store them in. Many of these tips I have never even used, and some I have only used once. Luckily, you won’t have to waste your money on these, as there are only a few you will use regularly. Many companies sell piping tips in sets, making it much more cost effective to buy all the ones you’ll use. Look for a kit that includes round, closed star, open star, and flat tips, as those are the ones you’ll be using most often.
As for piping bags, you have a couple of different options. When I first looked into buying piping bags, I was excited about reusable, silicone ones, as plastic ones can be harmful for the environment. However, reusable bags are hard to clean, I would always find more old icing in the bottom of the bags, no matter how careful I was with cleaning them. The alternative, single use plastic bags, come in a role, and are easy to use as well as relatively inexpensive. Choose the option that makes the most sense for what you plan to be baking, and buy a brand with good ratings, as they are usually made in a standard size.
3. Bench scraper
Before I discovered bench scrapers, I envied the perfectly smooth, sharp-edged frosting on bakery cakes. Every time I frosted a cake, I ended up with lumpy buttercream, and crooked, rounded sides. Lucky for you, you can skip this step, and head straight for immaculate frosting! Bench scrapers are a lifesaver, and a crucial part of cake decorating. As with an offset spatula, look for a stainless steel, dishwasher safe scraper, and prepare for beautiful, smooth frosting!
4. Food coloring
Food coloring is often an after thought for me, I buy it along with my ingredients, and often times, end up forgetting it and having to rush out at the last minute. This is because I never had a full set of colors until now, when I have a collection of colors I used before. Let me tell you, it’s a lifesaver. Many cakes and frosting recipes call for a few drops of food coloring, and it’s such a hassle to try and buy them in a pinch. Instead, purchase a kit of basic colors now, when you don’t have a bowl of unfortunately stark white strawberry buttercream drying out on your counter. The most important thing to remember, is that gel food coloring is always preferable to liquid. It yields a brighter color, and won’t throw off your ratios. Purchase a set of primary gel food coloring, and you can always mix them to get the colors you’ll need.
5. Cupcake liners
This one may seem like a given, but there have been many occasions when I have found myself with a batch of cupcake batter, and no cupcake liners. Luckily, cupcake liners are pretty inexpensive, and easily available. If you plan on baking a lot of cupcakes, you can purchase them in bulk online. There are hundreds of colors for you to choose from, as well as foil, and brown paper options. Choose whichever colors you like best, and fit with the colors/flavors of what you’re baking, make sure they’re standard size (not mini or muffin sizes) and you’re good to go!
For pies and tarts:
If your baking is going to be centered around the holidays, there are some tools you’ll need for baking the perfect pies. When I first got started, pies and tarts intimidated me. There are so many factors, crust, filling, bake, etc, that I was overwhelmed with the prospect of putting it all together. Luckily, you can use this list to gather everything you’ll need, and hopefully eliminate as much stress as possible.Baking is much easier when you have all your ducks in a row, before you start!
1. Pie plate and mini tart pans
A standard pie plate is 9 in wide, and 1 1/4 in deep. This size is perfect for most pies, and is the best option for a beginner. When choosing your pan, opt for glass over metal or ceramic. While metal technically conducts heat better, the difference is so small it won’t affect the bake time or finished product. The benefit to glass is that you can see the browning as it bakes, and monitor the pie easily, avoiding soggy bottoms and burnt crusts. Tart pans are similar, but are usually 3/4 in to 2 in high. These come in many different sizes, and I would suggest choosing one that suits your needs. Are you baking tarts for you and your best friend to share at brunch, or bringing one to the family reunion? The number of people you’ll be baking for should determine the size you buy. These are only sold in metal, and as always, make sure they’re dishwasher safe before you buy them.
If you plan to bake tartlets, mini quiches, popovers, or really any single serve treats, you’ll need a mini cupcake tin. I prefer these to individual tart shell pans because they are much more cost effective. A standard mini cupcake tin is the perfect tart pan for the beginner baker! As for oddly shaped pies, you’ll need to prepare for these too. Really, the only pie like this you’ll be likely to come across as a novice baker is an apple pie, as these often require deeper dishes. If you plan to make them frequently, considered buying a deeper pie dish, and you’ll have the perfect apple pie for your thanksgiving table.
2. Rolling Pin
Rolling pins are used in many different recipes. Your mind probably jumps immediately to long hours of rolling out gingerbread and sugar cookies. But for those situations you don’t technically need a rolling pin, in a pinch I’ve used wine bottles, jars, and really anything long and round. But for rolling out pie crusts, you definitely want a rolling pin. Pie crusts should be rolled cold, and can be crumbly, prone to cracks, and overall fussy to work with. For pie-making it is often best to have a bonafide rolling pin. Look for a french pin, because they don’t have handles, they are more reliable, and it’s harder to roll the crust easily. If you’re worried about even rolling, you can also buy rolling pin rings that will help you get a perfectly even roll. A rolling pin will help you achieve the perfect pie crust of your dreams!
3. Pastry brush
When I was brainstorming ideas for this list, I found that many tools I use for pie baking have many substitutes that work well, and cost less (think food processor and pie weights). However, I still can’t think of a substitute for a pastry brush, but luckily, they are fairly inexpensive. To get that perfect, golden, pie crust, you’ll need to egg wash the pie before baking it. For that, you’ll need a pastry brush. You can choose either a fiber brush, or a silicone one, but I prefer silicone as it is easier to clean. If you decide on a fiber brush, check reviews to make sure the brush doesn’t lose bristles. This handy tool will get you one step closer to a gorgeous pie!
4. Pie weights
Just to be clear, when I say “pie weights” I don’t mean the ones made specifically for pies. They are expensive, bulky, and only have one use in the kitchen (I’m all about multitasking tools). Instead of pie weights, dried beans, rice, or ball bearings, work just as well, and are obviously a much better option for the beginner baker. I include them on this list because you’ll need to buy them before you start baking, to have them on hand when you need them. You’ll also want to store them separately, so you can use them again. Blind baking is often a crucial step in pie baking, and pie weights are a necessity for it. Using other kitchen tools will save you time, and space!
For breads and sweet loaves:
I have a soft spot for bread, something about the time and effort it takes, and how much it’s appreciated by those that try it. Unfortunately, that time and effort also means that many beginner bakers hold off on bread until they have more experience. But, everyone has to start somewhere! Below is a list of items you’ll need for basic bread-making, as well as the tools needed for making delicious quick breads like banana bread, and coffee cake. I would encourage you to take the plunge and try your hand at bread-making, especially if you are passionate about baking.
1. Dutch oven
If you don’t have a bread maker (like me) most of your bread-making will be done in a large dutch oven. If you’re weary of buying something so large, especially since some dutch ovens can be pricey, consider what else you cook. Dutch ovens are also used to make stews, roasts, soups, and a host of other culinary delights. If you do decide to get one, the best option would be a large, enameled cast iron pot, as these can be used on the stove and in the oven, prefect for cooking and baking! A dutch oven will make a professional and helpful, addition to your kitchen, and the perfect vessel for your bread-making!
2. Loaf tin
In my family, quick breads last maybe 20 minutes before they’re devoured. Banana, pumpkin, and lemon loaves, coffee cake, sandwich bread, and cornbread, what do these have in common? Well first, they’re all delicious, but they’re also all baked in loaf tins! If you plan to whip up any of these delicious treats, you’ll need a loaf pan. A standard loaf tin is 8 1/2 x 4 1/2 x 2 1/2 in, this is a good size to start with. As for glass vs metal, it depends on what you’re planning to make. Sandwich breads do best in glass or ceramic pans, while sweet breads are suited better for metal pans. The material of the pan may effect the baking time, so adjust accordingly. Decide what you’ll be baking most frequently, and choose the option that makes the most sense for you, and get ready for delicious, freshly baked sweet breads!
3. Wooden spoon
When I first started making bread, I didn’t understand why a wooden spoon was preferable over a plastic or metal one. Over the years, I’ve learned that it’s because metal spoons impede the action of the yeast used in bread. Vigorous mixing with a metal spoon will “deactivate” the yeast in your bread. This means that a wooden spoon is absolutely necessary. Luckily they are widely available, and relatively inexpensive. As always, look for a sturdy, high quality spoon that will hold up. You’ll be able to use a wooden spoon for not only baking, but many savory dishes as well, as they are gentler on fragile herbs and tender meat.
4. Serrated knife
Okay I know, knifes can be expensive, and intimidating to choose. But when you know exactly what you’re looking for, it will be much easier to get what you need. Once you’ve baked your bread, you’ll need to slice it. To do that, you’ll need a serrated knife. Look for a knife that will be large enough to cut a loaf, but will still fit in your knife block. A good, serrated knife will get you from fresh baked loaf, to delicious sandwich (or garlic bread, croutons, toast, etc) in no time at all!
5. Oven thermometer
Technically, an oven thermometer is good to have, no matter what you’re baking. But for bread making I would say it is essential. Bread bakes at a very specific temperature, and needs to be baked evenly. An oven thermometer is the best way to ensure your oven is heated to the right temperature, and monitor your oven’s hotspots. An oven thermometer won’t break the bank, and may be the difference between perfectly crunchy, or burnt to a crisp crust.
As a beginner baker, you want to get everything you’ll need well before hand, to make sure your bakes have the best chance of succeeding. Using the lists above, you can tailor your budget to fit what you’ll need for your projects. I hope this post has relieved some stress, and that they have eased some of the pre-shopping anxiety. If you have any questions or comments about this, or any post please comment below and I will get back to you as soon as possible. Also, if you are interested in brand recommendations, I am also happy to help with those. Until next time, happy baking!
