9 Baking Essentials for Every Baker
You need these essential baking tools.
From baking pans to hand mixers, there are so many different types of baking tools, it can be hard to know what you need. Whether you are learning to bake or you’re an expert baker, these nine baking essentials will help you tackle any recipe. Keep reading to find out the best essential baking tools to stock your kitchen with.
Baking Essentials
Measuring Cups & Spoons
Whisk
Mixing Bowls
Wood Spoons
Rolling Pin
Cake Pans
Wire Cooling Rack
Baking Sheets
Hand Mixer
Baking Essentials
Measuring Cups & Spoons
Baking is all about accurate, precise measurements, making measuring cups an essential baking tool. There are two kinds of measuring cups, one for dry ingredients and one for liquid ingredients. Measuring cups for dry ingredients (like flour or sugar) are typically made from plastic or metal, and measuring cups for liquid ingredients (like water or oil) are usually made of glass or plastic. For small measurements, like tablespoons or teaspoons, opt for measuring spoons. Measuring spoons can be used for both dry and liquid ingredients and are perfect for measuring small amounts.
Whisks are designed to whip air into liquid, making them the perfect tool to create a fluffy or frothy texture, which is essential for certain baked good recipes. Use a whisk to gently whisk together dry ingredients like sugar and spices or for its most popular purpose: to beat a few eggs together!
Mixing bowls are an essential baking tool that allow you to mix together ingredients with ease. They are great for storing ingredients in the fridge to chill or set before use in a recipe. Opt for a mixing bowl set that offers differently sized bowls, giving you plenty of options for your mixing needs.
When baking, you’ll need a tool that is strong and sturdy to mix large amounts of ingredients. Wooden spoons are sturdy and make for the perfect hand-mixing tool (that won't scratch your bowls). The wood ensures that the spoon won’t react with acidic ingredients, ensuring your food has the best flavor possible. Be sure to wash wooden spoons by hand so that they do not crack.
A rolling pin is an essential baking tool that helps you roll out dough to the desired thickness with ease. Rolling pins are great for rolling out pie crusts, cookie dough, or puff pastry. Be sure to sprinkle your rolling pin with flour – it will help keep dough from sticking to it.
Tip!
If you don’t have a food processor, a rolling pin is great for smashing ingredients like cookies, chips, or even crackers. Put the ingredients in a sealed bag and use the rolling pin to smash the ingredients into pieces. Once your add-ins are smashed, add the broken pieces into your batter or frosting.
Cake pans are an essential baking tool for the baker who loves to create cakes and breads. Pour the batter into a cake pan and pop it into the oven, making for an easy way to bake your favorite layer cakes. Cake pans come in different shapes: round, rectangular, and square. Just because it is a cake pan doesn’t mean it’s only for cake! Opt for a shape that you will use the most. Cake pans can also be used for brownies, bars, and even breads.
A wire cooling rack gives you a place to cool your sweet treats (like muffins, cupcakes, or cookies), making it a baking essential tool. Its spaced-out wire frame allows air to circulate around the treats, cooling them evenly and preventing them from getting soggy. Bakers who are busy in the kitchen can place hot pans or bakeware on a wire rack to cool.
Baking sheets are an absolute baking must-have. Place your uncooked treats on the sheet and place it into the oven for baking. Baking sheets are for baking your favorite cookies but can also be used for bread (or even sheet-pan dinners!). They are slender and can be stored away easily, making them the perfect addition to a small kitchen. If you find yourself baking often, choose a set of baking sheets to give yourself a size variety.
A hand mixer is a necessity for bakers who need to mix dough and batter quickly. Hand mixers are small electric appliances that need to be plugged in, so it’s best to set up your mixing area close to an outlet. Having a hand mixer will save your arm from getting tired and makes the mixing process easier – a win for any baker!
Tip!
If you want to mix large amounts of ingredients and upgrade your mixing, opt for a stand mixer. A stand mixer can sit on the counter (near an outlet) and mixes ingredients with the push of a button. It is a great tool for avid bakers.
