Essential Baking Tools Every Baker Should Own
Everyone on your social media feed seems to be baking sourdough bread. Who says you can’t achieve legendary baker status? Determined, you look up a recipe, collect the ingredients, and then drop your shoulders in dismay as you pore through your cabinets and realize you only have one baking pan, and it is nowhere close to the type you need. At Chefs’ Toys, we know that the only thing you need to start achieving your baking goals is a kitchen stocked with the essential baking tools. Once you own the baking equipment below, you can tackle nearly any baked good recipe without fear.
Pans and Tins
No matter how precise your measurements are, it’s impossible to properly bake a loaf of banana bread without an appropriate loaf pan. Fill a shelf in your pantry with these crucial baking pans and tins.
Pie Pans
When you want to include pies or quiches in your regular rotation, a rounded pie pan with slanted sides is a must-own baking tool. For standard pies, go with a 9” pie pan made of tin or aluminum to withstand daily use.
Cake Pans
Round cake pans are go-to equipment for cakes, cinnamon rolls, and other baked goods. You should also keep an 8” square cake pan in your cupboard, as these versatile pans are perfect for brownies and recipes outside of baking. Commercial grade cake pans are affordable and can last for years.
Muffin Pans
Standard-size muffin pans are the only baking tool you need to whip up sweet and savory treats like muffins and cupcakes. Most home chefs will do well with a muffin pan designed to bake 12 pastries at a time, but for the cupcake-obsessed chef, upgrade to a 24-count muffin pan.
Sheet Pans
A basic set of baking sheet pans are necessary for any kitchen, not just that of an experienced baker. Purchase at least three sizes of sheet pans so you can make large batches of cookies or a few dinner rolls with ease. Measure the inside of your oven to ensure you can slide in the sheet pans easily.
Loaf Pans
Whether you’re in the mood for homemade bread or pound cake, the dimensions of a bread loaf pan make the process hassle-free. Choose a loaf pan that is eight-to-nine inches long and four-to-five inches wide to accommodate most recipes.
Baking Tools
Baking is more science than art. Correctly measure and combine your ingredients with these top-priority baking tools & utensils.
Mixing Bowls
Mixing bowls are the baker’s mainstay. Combine your flour, sugar, butter, eggs, and other ingredients with a set of mixing bowls ranging from small to sizable. Stainless steel mixing bowls are popular in some kitchens. See-through Pyrex® mixing bowls are microwave, dishwasher, oven, fridge, and freezer safe.
Dry Measuring Cups & Spoons
In baking, precise measurements are essential. Invest in a set of measuring spoons and cups specifically for adding dry ingredients like flour. Dry measuring cups hold the exact amount indicated and should be leveled off with a flat edge before you add the ingredient to your mixing bowl.
Liquid Measuring Cups
Liquid measuring cups contain a spout so you can pour ingredients like milk or egg yolks into a bowl or cup without spilling. They are often made of glass and include a handle for pouring.
Whisk
When it’s time to mix your batter, rely on the dependable whisk or whip. French whisks whip thicker foods like batter and meringues from egg whites. A piano whip has a lighter gauge wire to mix thinner foods like sauces.
Rolling Pin
Develop those forearm muscles and flatten your dough with a classic wooden rolling pin. If your dough is too sticky, we recommend placing a piece of parchment paper on either side of your dough before rolling for easy cleanup.
Rubber Spatulas
Rubber spatulas allow bakers to smooth the tops of batter, apply icing with precision, and get every last morsel of dough out of a mixing bowl. Use the contoured, flexible blade of a baking spatula with any shape of container.
Pastry Blender
What’s the fastest way to cut together flour and butter? Blend dough without making a mess by using a pastry blender featuring stainless steel construction. This baking tool will come in handy next time you’re in the mood for mashed potatoes.
Parchment Paper
Avoid sticky messes and frustrating cleanup by lining your tins and pans with non-stick parchment paper. Rolls of parchment paper liner are low-cost and should be considered essential by professional chefs and at-home bakers alike.
Non-Stick Baking Mat
Reusable, silicone baking mats provide a non-stick alternative to baking products like parchment paper. Simply wash them after your latest batch of cookies to use again and again. Check the measurements to ensure your baking mats will fit your sheet pans.
Pastry Brushes
The key to your beautiful golden pie crust is a high quality pastry brush. In addition, pastry brushes are necessary when applying your egg or cream washes.
Baking Equipment
Simplify your baking processes with baking equipment that does the heavy lifting, or mixing, for you.
Standing Mixer
When you regularly bake, the amount of time spent whisking by hand can add up quickly. Stand mixers take the elbow grease and the time commitment out of mixing batter so you can taste test your next creation in minutes. There are limitless possibilities for attachments to service specialty recipes.
Digital Food Scale
When your recipe calls for grams, the only way to guarantee accuracy is with a food scale. Flours and ingredients differ in weight, and when you approximate, you can miss your recipe’s desired proportions. Digital food scales include durable sensors and take the guesswork out of baking.
Outfit Your Baker’s Kitchen at Chefs’ Toys
When you’re ready to commit to a lifestyle that includes plenty of cake, brownies, tarts, and shortbreads, picking the items on this list will help you make nearly any recipe you can find. With a little patience and practice, you’ll become the cake king or queen of your friend circle in no time.
Take your baking to the next level. Outfit your kitchen with chef-recommended baking smallwares, including baking pans and pastry tools.
