9 Baking Essentials for Every Avid Baker
Bake your cake and eat it.
From baking tins to hand mixers, there are so many different types of baking tools which makes it hard to know what you need. For avid bakers everywhere these nine baking essentials will help to tackle any recipe. Keep reading to find out the best baking tools to stock in your kitchen.
Measuring Cups & Spoons
Baking is all about accuracy and precision which makes measuring cups a baking essential. There are two kinds of measuring cups, one for dry ingredients and one for liquid ingredients. Measuring cups for dry ingredients (flour or sugar) are typically made from plastic or metal, while measuring cups for liquid ingredients (water or oil) are usually made of glass or plastic. For small measurements such as tablespoons or teaspoons, opt for measuring spoons. Measuring spoons can be used for both dry and liquid ingredients and are perfect for measuring tiny 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 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 a baking essential that allow you to mix together ingredients with ease. They're 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 doesn't react with acidic ingredients, ensuring your food has the best flavours possible. Be sure to wash wooden spoons by hand so that they don't crack.
A rolling pin 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 biscuits, crisps and even crackers. Put the ingredients in a sealed bag and use the rolling pin to smash the ingredients into pieces.
Cake tins are an essential for the baker who loves to create cakes and breads. Pour the batter into a cake tin and pop it into the oven, making for an easy way to bake your favourite desserts. Cake tins come in a variety of shapes including round, rectangular and square. And just because it's a cake tin doesn’t mean it’s only for cake. Opt for a shape that you will use the most. Cake tins can also be used for brownies, flapjacks and even breads.
A wire cooling rack gives you a place to cool your baked goods, making it a baking essential. Its spaced-out wire frame allows air to circulate around, cooling your bakes 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 essential. Place your uncooked foods on the sheet then place them into the oven for baking. Baking sheets are primarily for baking your favourite biscuits but can also be used for bread (or even sheet-pan dinners). Baking sheets 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 electrical outlet. A hand mixer saves on arm aches and tiredness and makes the mixing process easier – a win for any avid baker.
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.
Tip: Enjoyed this article? Then you might also like:
- How To: Baking With The Kids
- Understanding all the Different Cookware Materials
- Cooking with Cast Iron: Le Creuset Cooking Guide
