Whether it’s cakes, pies, cookies, or pastries that are calling on you to drop everything and start baking, having the right equipment will set you up for great results. A smart oven is a nice start, but there’s more to baking than that. So, let’s talk about the baking essentials you need in your kitchen to become the star baker of your home.
Add precision for good measure!
Kitchen scales – Baking is all about precision, so when it comes to measuring dry ingredients, the weight always wins against volume. If you want your baking projects to turn out perfect, opt for a compact kitchen scale instead of measuring cups.
Measuring jug – Measuring liquids, on the other hand, is easiest with a graduated jug. Get an angled measuring jug if you want to avoid the fill-check-adjust-and-repeat routine.
Mix it, fold it, beat it
Mixing bowls – While there is a variety of different bowls to choose from, the glass ones are often the recommended choice as they are microwave safe. This is handy when you need to quickly melt chocolate or butter.
Silicone spatula – A sturdy but flexible silicone spatula is great not only for mixing and folding ingredients but also for scraping every last bit of dough or frosting out of a bowl.
Whisk – Whether it’s to thoroughly combine your dry ingredients or make sure that your pancake batter doesn’t have any lumps, whisks are the ultimate mixing tools.
Stand or hand mixer – Sure, you can use your muscles to make whipped cream, beat egg whites into stiff peaks, or cream butter and sugar, but why go through the trouble? A trusty hand or stand mixer will do it faster, and you will avoid arm and wrist pains.
Bake up a storm!
Baking tins – While there’s a whole lot to choose from, the most essential tin sizes are 33x23cm for brownies, bars, and crumbles; a 23cm round pan for sponges; a 53x32cm baking sheet for cookies and pastries; and a 21x11x6cm loaf pan for pound cakes and bread.
Parchment paper or silicone mat – Lining your baking tin with parchment paper ensures minimal clean-up, reduced spreading (for cookies), and less stickiness. Choose unbleached paper or, if you’re looking for a more environmentally conscious option, invest in a reusable silicone mat.
