Whether you are a beginner or an advanced baker, there are some tools which everybody needs to create a set of baking equipment which can get you through every recipe. By having these items, you can appropriately organise your baking equipment in the kitchen, so you know where everything is and you are motivated to keep baking!
Measuring Tools
The first tool is measuring cups and spoons. Measuring cups are essential to baking as measurements must be precise to ensure the bakes turn out perfectly. Within baking, mixing up measurements can easily ruin a bake which overall can cost you both time and money you spent on the ingredients.
Having two types of measuring cups will aid in the efficiency of your baking, as you can use one set for wet ingredients and one for dry. If you only have one for both then you will constantly need to wash and dry these which will only lead to the process becoming more time consuming.
Having a selection of measuring spoons will improve your baking measurements. For smaller ingredients it is important to have measurements for tablespoons, teaspoons, ½ teaspoons and ¼ teaspoons. For measuring liquids, it helps to have a set of cups which often come with 1 cup, ½ cup, 1/3 cup, ¼ cup. If your recipe is in mls then you can use a measuring jug to measure out the quantities too.
Rubber Spatula
The next tool is a rubber spatula. These are perfect for stirring your mixtures and scraping the excess batter from the side of bowls. This ensures you are getting the most out of all your ingredients. The best type of spatula is a silicone, as it can withstand high heats if you are using hot ingredients. Additionally, the spatula can be used to fold ingredients together such as folding dry ingredients into wet.
Whisks/Mixer
A whisk is an essential part of baking. Both electric and manual whisks are great tools to have. A manual handheld whisk is perfect if you have ingredients which need a soft whisk, or if you are whisking together a few eggs. Whereas if you are working with heavier and larger quantities of ingredients, an electric
whisk will allow you to whisk your ingredients together quicker and without hurting your hands.
You can purchase a handheld electric whisk if you are just starting out with baking, but if you are a regular baker, it may be an idea to invest in an automatic electric whisk. These are a slightly higher priced product, however they can make baking much more efficient, allow you to mix larger quantities at a time and a tool that will stand the test of time. A customer favourite is the KitchenAid stand mixer, which comes in multiple colours and can be purchased with multiple ad ons such as various whisk types.
Pastry Brush
A pastry brush does more than its name. It can be used to egg wash pastries, but it can also be used to brush milk on a pie crust. The tool can also be used to grease a cake tin with butter or oil before cooking. This can save you using your hands which can be messy and often easy to miss parts of the tin. The brush gives you good coverage and ensures you will accurately grease the tin.
Baking Tins
Having a selection of baking tins is perfect for improving your baking results. Having a regular rectangle tin will allow you to cook many things such as brownies and classic cake. Additionally, having a varied range of circular tins means you can bake cakes in different shapes and sizes. This means depending on the occasion, you can alter your method. If you need a smaller cake for a smaller occasion, you can use a small circular tin. Or if you are making something grander such as a two-tiered cake, you can bake these cakes in different sized tins. This saves the stress of having to cut each cake as you bake them to be the correct shape.
Another essential tin to have is a loaf tin. These are perfect for creating breads. Do you ever find yourself putting off bananas in the bin? Banana bread is the best way to use old bananas which have browned and you no longer want to eat. By having a loaf tin, you can create a delicious banana bread which will save food waste and give you delicious results.
Cooling Rack
Another tool which is imperative to have when baking is a cooling rack. These are perfect for putting your baking on after you take it out the oven. Removing your bakes from the cake tin will allow for the cooling process to happen quicker. If you want to decorate your baking with icing or sprinkles, then this can be done on the cooking rack too. This will prevent mess and allow for space to decorate.
Piping Equipment
That leads us onto our last recommendation. This is piping bags and nozzles for decorating your bakes. These are extremely affordable and can significantly improve both the taste and presentation of your baking. You can purchase both plastic and metal piping nozzles, and they come in an array of styles. Purchase a set and try out different shapes and sizes. Getting creative with decorating your bakes is a fun part of the process and you can even get others involved to help you too!
These have been our baking must haves. Each has its own unique purpose and will help you to improve your baking as a beginner or an advanced baker. There are many more tools which can be used so be sure to check out the cookware section of our website to see a larger selection of tools.
