Misty's Mom Blog: Essential Baking Tools and Equipment

Baking can be a wonderful way to relax while creating delicious food for your family. It’s also one of the best ways to spend time with your children. Your kids will always remember special times baking with their mom.

One way to spoil the fun of baking is not having the right tools and equipment on hand. Every baker needs a few basic items to ensure their cookies, cakes, and bread turn out well.

Here is a list of essential baking tools and equipment you should have in your kitchen…

Mixers

First on everyone’s list is a good mixer.

Janice has a KitchenAid Stand Mixer, which makes me very jealous. But whether or not you have a stand mixer, you’ll still need to have a hand mixer.

This hand mixer by Cuisinart has plenty of power, different beater attachments, and is built to last.

It also has beater storage that keeps everything in one place, which is nice. We’ve all had that experience of not being able to find one beater.

When you’re ready to make the investment in a KitchenAid, choose one from their Artisan line.

The mixing bowl is big, it has lots of power, and they come in so many colors, it will be hard to choose! This mixer will last a lifetime, so pick your color carefully.

It’s an investment in money and counterspace; but you’ll use it regularly. A big benefit of the KitchenAid line is the attachments that will work off the power drive. You may be able to eliminate some other kitchen appliances by using KitchenAid’s attachments.

Measuring Cups and Spoons

Next, you’ll need good measuring cups and spoons.

Choose a plain stainless steel set of measuring cups and spoons, and at least one glass measuring cup that is one or two cups.

The metal cups are used for dry ingredients, the glass for liquids. Although they look pretty in the kitchen, the decorative measuring cups generally aren’t accurate and will affect your baking.

Here are some sets that are great choices:

Metal and
Glass.

Mixing Bowls

Next, you’ll need some mixing bowls.

I like glass or stainless steel ones, but it is really a personal choice.

You will need at least two bowls that hold 3 quarts or more. It’s nice to have a variety of sizes for various recipes. You can use your baking bowls for other things, too.

A large mixing bowl is great for serving popcorn on movie night.

This metal set is nice because the bowls have handles and lids.

This glass set is good because they don’t react with food acids, and they stack in your cupboard.

Oven Thermometer

Next on the list is an oven thermometer; if your oven is too hot or cold, it will affect your cookies, cakes or breads.

This is an inexpensive way to keep the temperature in check.

It clips on the oven shelf rack, and lets you know the temp at any given time.

Sifters

Sifters are a must if you bake. They break down or remove the lumps from flour and powdered sugar.

This will allow your frosting to be smoother, and flour should always be sifted before being measured.

A good, old-fashioned crank sifter will fill the bill; this one is nice because it has a bottom lid to keep your cabinet clean.

Spatulas and Mixing Spoons

Silicone spatulas are a great choice because they’re flexible, easy to clean, and come in many sizes.

For mixing, you still can’t miss with a heavy wooden spoon, preferably made from hardwood.

It may take some trial and error, but soon you’ll figure out which tools you like to use; here are a few great Silicone spatulas and Mixing Spoons

Baking pans

If you don’t have any pans and need the basics, look for a set that contains what you’ll use. Most sets only have one layer or muffin pan, so sets can be hit and miss. You may prefer to purchase your pans as needed, but a set will get you started, and you can always upgrade your pans. Sometimes, especially around the holidays, you can find decent quality baking pans for a dollar or two.

Here are some good choices for sets:

Glass – This is a nice basic set that you’ll also use for casseroles, meatloaf and more.
Metal – This one has a good assortment of usable pans, and contains 2 layer pans.
These commercial half-sheet pans make the best cookie sheets.

Parchment Paper

Parchment paper is a big help in the kitchen. It is greaseproof, moisture proof, and nothing sticks to it. Line everything from cookie sheets to cake pans with it, and your cakes will come out of the pan in one piece.

You can also find parchment cupcake liners; if you bake muffins or cupcakes, you won’t leave half the cake in stuck to the paper. You can also find precut rounds, sheet pan liners, etc. that are very convenient.

Here are some Parchment rolls and Parchment Cupcake Liners.

The more you continue baking, you’ll find tools that will make it easier or get better results. This list is not everything you will want, but a list that can get you started on the way to better baking.