Top 10 Essential Baking Tools for Bakers

So bakers, what baking equipment do you need? Before we start the list, I need to warn you about the importance of using the right type of baking tools. 

Over the years, I have learned that using the wrong tools may be a cheaper choice, but it doesn’t make baking easier. In fact, it makes it harder. I used to use actual teaspoons (you know the ones you use to add too much sugar to your cup of tea), to measure out my ingredients. Using teaspoons became problematic when I had to measure out half and quarter spoons. I never got accurate measurements until I switched to using measuring spoons. 

So, to help you newbie bakers, I have shared a list of the essential baking tools that you will need before you can begin your baking challenge. 

1. Mixing bowl 

All bakers will need a deep bowl with a flat base to mix and prepare your ingredients. The flat base is to make sure the bowl is stable when mixing. It would be ideal to have more than one. However, as long as you have one mixing bowl, then you should be able to bake with ease. I also have a bowl with a lid which is ideal when you need to separate a mixture and keep half to the side – it stops any dust or bugs getting into it. 

Note: Be careful when you knead dough in a plastic bowl. I once cracked mine when I was mixing ingredients to make bread – I obviously don’t know my own strength. 

2. Silicone Spatula

I used to use a wooden spoon to mix my cake mixes and batters, but once I switched to a silicone spatula, I never looked back. It may look flimsy, but it makes mixing ingredients together so much easier. And because it can bend and scoop the bottom of the bowl, it helps you to avoid the issue of having lumps of unmixed ingredients. However, if a wooden spoon is all you have, then you can still bake some nice cakes, you just have to check the mixture more closely.  

3. Measuring Scales 

A set of kitchen scales is one of the first things you need to buy when you decide to start baking. Even though you may think you can roughly guess measurements, it is vital that you weigh out all of your ingredients. Baking is like chemistry, and inaccurate measurements (no matter how slight) can change or ruin the final look of your cakes and bakes. 

4. Sieve

A plastic or metal fine sieve is ideal for those who want to make cakes. You can also use them to shift flour or icing sugar if the recipe calls for it. I also use a sieve to dust a cake with icing sugar for the days I don’t want to do any fancy decorating.   

5.    Measuring Spoons

As mentioned above, using measuring spoons can help you to accurately measure out your ingredients. You can buy the spoons in sets. In my set, I have a tablespoon, half a tablespoon, teaspoon, half a teaspoon, a quarter of a teaspoon, and an eighth of a teaspoon. You can also see the sizes written in millilitres, which is great if you need to measure out a small amount of liquid. 

6.    Wire rack 

With most bakes, you will need to allow them to cool before you decorate or wrap them up to be stored away. And an ideal way to do this is to use a wire rack. This wire rack allows your bakes to cool from the bottom as well as the top. 

7.    Cake tins and trays 

After all that mixing, you will need to cook your cakes, biscuits, and pies in something. So it’s a good idea to buy an average size cake tin, cupcake tray, and a flat tray. And if you wish to make pies, then you will need a pie tin. You could use a cake tin, but you get a better finish with the pie tin, especially if you buy a flute shaped tin. I always get metal tins and trays because it reduces the risk of getting that soggy bottom problem. 

8.    Handheld electric mixer 

A handheld mixer isn’t essential for basic cake making – you can stick with a spatula – but it can make mixing easier, and some recipes, such as meringues need a whisk. So a handheld electric mixer is an ideal tool for bakers to have in the home. 

9.    Pastry brush 

A pastry brush makes applying an egg or milk glaze on your pastry easier. Or if you are decorating a cake, they can remove excess icing sugar off your icing (sugar paste). I used to use wooden pastry brushes with natural bristles. But after a while they started to smell funny – I’m not sure why because I used to wash them by hand and make sure they were fully dry before packing them away. So with this issue, I bought a silicone pastry brush to try. It doesn’t remove icing sugar as well as the wooden brush, but it works well with glazing pastries. And I’ve not had a problem with the brushes smelling unpleasant.

10.    Parchment paper 

There’s nothing more annoying than not being able to get your bakes out of the cake tins or off the trays. But with parchment paper, you won’t have to worry about it again. Parchment paper comes in a roll, and you can cut to size the amounts you need to line your tins. You can also use parchment paper to make piping bags for cake decorating. 

So there you have it – ten essential baking tools for bakers. This is only a brief list of baking equipment available to you.  You can find a longer list of baking tools in this BBC Goodfood article: 23 essential pieces of baking equipment.

Happy Baking!