The 10 Essential Baking Tools for the Home Baker

I used to have an unhealthy relationship with the kitchen departments at Marshall’s, TJMaxx, and HomeGoods. Certified sucker for deals, especially baking and cooking related. I’d stroll the aisles on the lookout for baking tools, pans, and gadgets. I’m pretty sure that I never walked away empty handed.

Inevitably, I would rarely to never use these finds. They sat in my very little kitchens, in tiny city apartments, that cost a fortune.  While the thrill of the chase was exhilarating, the end product (aka my seam bursting kitchen cabinets) left me feeling unsettled. And the fact that I moved somewhat regularly and had to pack and pay for these finds to be moved was stressful. Trying to fit it all…again…in my new tiny kitchen was exasperating.

Fast forward 20 years and I finally have a bigger kitchen, and less stuff.  Huh?!  Well, that’s only partially true with the closure of the bakery, but without a bakery inside my kitchen, I have come to my senses. What I found after years of this kitchen burden is that it majorly stressed me out.  The weight of this stuff wasn’t just in the boxes, it was on my shoulders.  I realized that I was spending money (and time) that I didn’t have for things that I didn’t need and never used.  Plus, it took me away from how it all started to begin with.  The baking!

It’s been a process…a slow one.  The first step was that I stopped shopping.  No more deals.  When I moved in with my husband (7  years ago), I got rid of a ton of stuff.  It felt amazing, zen, therapeutic. Our kitchen cabinets closed.  Yes, we had a bigger kitchen which helped, but shedding the excess was the magic.

As life goes, we can all get wrapped up in the commercialization of something we love.  Get better things or things that trump the basics and become a better baker.  But, who are we fooling.  Anyway, it’s not what you bake (or what you use to bake it), it’s the love that you put in it, the fun of doing it with loved ones, and the memories that are made while it’s baking.

Take my word for it.  You don’t need the latest and greatest or everything under the sun to bake.  You need some basic tools to get the job done.

Here are the 10 essential baking tools for the home baker (in my opinion).  Note that these are not the most expensive versions.  I truly prefer the simple, no frills options.  They work great, are dishwasher safe, and are fairly inexpensive.  Fancy can kill functionality in my experience.

Disclaimer:  The list below includes affiliate links which means that you if you decide to purchase by using these links, I will get a commission.  I’m including these products because I use them myself and love them!  If you’d like further feedback on these products, please ask or you can judge for yourself by reading the product reviews in the links.

1. KitchenAid KHM7210CU 7-Speed Digital Hand Mixer with Turbo Beater II Accessories and Pro Whisk – Contour Silver

I know, we all want a Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer.  They are pretty special.  However, most things that I bake at home can be completed by hand or with this hand mixer.  I, in fact, went years without the stand mixer due to space.  Plus, who can justify spending money on something that you might only use a few times a year.  This is my go to.

2. Silicone Baking Mat – Set of 2 Half Sheet (Thick & Large 11 5/8″ x 16 1/2″) – Non Stick Silicon Liner for Bake Pans & Rolling – Macaron/Pastry/Cookie/Bun/Bread Making – Professional Grade Nonstick

These baking mats have seriously changed my baking (and cooking) game at home.  I spent so many years greasing cookie sheets only to have to scrape the cookie off of the pan (often not intact), and then would have to scrub the heck out of them to get them clean.  These mats take away all of the fuss and no greasing required.  You simply rinse them off.  I also use them instead of foil for things like baking chicken or roasting vegetables.  They might be my favorite thing in the kitchen.

3. Nordic Ware Natural Aluminum Commercial Baker’s Half Sheet

The baking/cookie sheets that you have at home probably aren’t going to fit these silicone baking mats.  I found that all of my baking sheets were in such bad shape anyway (and I had a bunch of different brands, styles, and sizes) that they needed to be recycled.  Now, I have my half sheet trays that are extremely versatile, they work with my fave baking mats, and they nest in each other for storage.  Just do it.

4. Microplane 40020 Classic Zester/Grater

I use zest in so many baking and cooking recipes.  A little lemon zest can go a long way in bringing out the flavor of something (a muffin or a pasta dish alike).  I got this microplane in culinary school and I have never looked back.  I think it’s the easiest to use, it’s lightweight, and it neatly fits into a kitchen drawer.

 

 

 

 

 

5. Vollrath 47146 Disher – Color Coded Size 30

Oh, the portion disher.  I didn’t start using these until our bakery production manager introduced me.  I’m bummed that it took me so long to know them.  They are so handy for making consistent cookies, muffins, filling portions, you name it.  The mess that you avoid by using them is mind blowing too.  No mess, faster to scoop, better looking final product.  Available in many sizes, I think the black (1 ounce or 2T) and blue (2 ounce or 4T) scoops cover a lot of ground.  If just one, I’d want the black.

6. Vollrath (52010) 10″ High Temperature Silicone Spatula

These no-melt spatulas are sturdy and no nonsense.  I used to have an array of different styles and brands of spatulas, but I got rid of most of them.  These beat the rest.  I like having two sizes – a 10″ and a 12″ depending on the project and bowl that I’m using.

7. Fine Mesh Stainless Steel Strainers – Premium Quality – Set of 3 – Food Strainer & Sieve – Best for Kitchen Use – 5 Free Recipes

These strainers are so useful in the kitchen.  I use them for sifting, sprinkling powdered sugar on a finished goodie, straining pasta, rinsing rice, and so on.  The three sizes come in handy too.  The big one I use for pasta, the middle one I usually use for sifting, and the little one I use for the finishing touches.

8. Winco Stainless Steel Piano Wire Whip, 10-Inch

So many whisks to choose from, and so many to dislike for one reason or another.  I’ve grown to really love the most basic one.  It’s lightweight, inexpensive, and dishwasher safe.  Don’t waste your time on fancy.

9. Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls by Finedine (Set of 6) Polished Mirror Finish Nesting Bowls, ¾ – 1.5 – 3 – 4 – 5 – 8 Quart – Cooking Supplies

There’s no reason to throw your bowls out the window, but if you need to stock your kitchen, I’d suggest a simple set of metal bowls.  They are durable, easy to clean, and versatile.  I prefer them over plastic (the worst), glass, or ceramic.  Basic is once again best!

10. maison maison Measuring Cups and Measuring Spoons Set – 11 Piece Stainless Steel with 2 D Rings and Precise American & Metric Measurements

Wow – the choices you have for measuring cups and spoons is mindblowing.  I’ve had a bunch of them: plastic, glass, cute, and designer.  I still have a couple kinds in my cupboard, but I always pull out the basic metal set first.  The wide, solid handles on these are practical for baking.

That concludes the essential baking tools.  If you have room, bake all of the time, bake for a crowd, or want to get more serious about it, here are my go-to’s.  I love ’em.

Bonus 1. OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Food Scale with Pull-Out Display, 11-Pound I love this kitchen scale and think that more serious bakers need one.  It’s easy to use, easy to read, and durable. Baking with a scale is more accurate, you dirty less dishes, and you can buy in bulk (large sour cream) and get the 8oz out that you need. I find that I use my scale for some other household duties too, like weighing a package so I don’t have to go to the post office.  Pretty handy!

Bonus 2. Vitamix 5200 Blender, Black

I got this for my birthday a few years back and I really just started using it (now that I’m not at the bakery every day).  I’ve had many a blender in my day and I’ve gotten rid of each one as it fails to accomplish the tasks at hand.  I get it.  Blending things, especially ice and the like, takes a lot of power and stability.  Most blenders that I’ve used have neither of those.  The motors seem to burn out without even coming close to finishing the job.  The Vitamix is a different animal. It can blend anything and blend it well.  We use it to make smoothies for breakfast, puree soups, and puree fruit sauces.  I’ve really just scratched the surface, but the only thing you need to know is that it’s worth spending the money once on this.  If I add up the money I spent on all of the other blenders that didn’t work, I’d land in the same place.

Bonus 3. KitchenAid KSM150PSER Artisan Tilt-Head Stand Mixer with Pouring Shield, 5-Quart, Empire Red

If I could have this mixer sitting on my counter, I’d use it even more than I do.  Moving it around is heavy and awkward, but it’s necessary for serious bakers.  I love it’s versatility with the different attachments, especially the bread hook.  Not having to knead bread dough makes this piece of equipment worth it, in my opinion. It’s a workhorse and you can be hands free.  It’s the best + choose whatever color you want.  This may be the most fun thing to buy!

Bonus 4. Cuisinart DFP-14BCNY 14-Cup Food Processor, Brushed Stainless Steel

I think I can’t live without a food processor, but I could.  I just wouldn’t want to.  They are really nice to have for making things like biscuit dough, shredding carrots for carrot cake, slicing lots of apples, shredding cheese, etc.  Everything is just so much faster.  I’ve had both a Cuisinart and Kitchen Aid and they both are great.  The Kitchen aid is fancier with more special buttons/accessories, but you don’t really need anything more then on, off, and pulse.  So, the Cuisinart is powerful and simple.  Note on size: I have a 14 cup processor linked here because you don’t want to go too small.  There’s no point in getting anything smaller than 11 cups and for the minor change in size and weight for the 14 cup, it’s worth it.  You will be surprised how fast you fill it up.  If you are going to have one, do it up right.

Let me know if you need other recommendations on pans, more specialized tools, etc.  I’m happy to help. And, please share your favorite things in the comments.  We all have our finds and preferences.

At the end of the day…

xo Emily

 

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Also published on Medium.