Besides filling the house with an amazing aroma, baking also fills the soul. It is a form of meditation and a great way to hone your cooking skills. Moreover, baking is a healthier option for preparing food. Also, who wouldn’t love to munch on homemade baked goodies?
It is best to plan and do an inventory before baking. Make a list of all the baking tools you need before starting your baking mission. For your convenience, this article will discuss the basic baking tools you will absolutely need in order to whip up a baked masterpiece.
Rolling Pins
The rolling pin is a very useful tool, especially for rolling out pie crusts, pastries, and cookie dough. Besides making the dough flatter, this utensil has various other uses. For instance, if the recipe requires you to crush cookies, crackers, or chips and you do not own a food processor, you can use a rolling pin to smash them by simply plopping them in a ziplock bag then rolling over the bag with the pin. You can also use the pin to smooth out your homemade pasta dough when you do not own a pasta machine. There are many lengths and sizes of rolling pins available in different types of material.
The widely-used rolling pins are usually the ones that are wooden and have handles. There are also special pins that have fancy patterns. These types of rolling pins are used to create imprints on the pastry and are very handy when making pies during the holiday season.
There are also silicone rolling pins, and they are mainly raved for being non-stick. The smooth silicon surface reduces the friction and lessens the chances of the dough sticking to the pin.
The type of pin matters according to your ease and preference. It also relies on how you get accustomed to using it and get a hang of flouring your pin to prevent the dough from sticking to it. Assess the length of the dough in your recipe when choosing a rolling pin.
If you are new to baking, it is better to opt for shorter pins as they are easier to handle. If you are planning to make a large pie or a large batch of tarts, it is best to go for the longer rolling pins. You can also use some regular household items you already have as rolling pin substitutes like wine bottles.
Measuring Cups and Spoons
Precision is a vital part of baking. It requires a lot of measuring ingredients, so you need a full set of measuring cups and spoons. Regular tableware will not cut it. Further, you need measuring utensils for both dry and liquid ingredients.
Most measuring spoon sets have ¼ teaspoon, ½ teaspoon, 1 teaspoon, and 1 tablespoon sizes. The common measuring cup sets consist of ¼ cup, ⅓ cup, ½ cup, and 1 cup. Regarding liquid measuring cups, you can manage with a 1-cup size. However, it is better to have one of each 2-cup and 4-cup size in your cabinet.
It is wise to keep these utensils in a readily accessible spot because you will be using them all the time, even when making some good ol’ pancakes for breakfast.
Baking Pan
There are various types of baking pans. As a beginner, you definitely need to have a regular rectangular baking pan. The dimensions are usually 13x9x2 inches. This pan can be used to make various baked deliciousness like brownies, cakes, cookie bars, and bread.
A regular rectangle pan is very versatile and can be used for many purposes; you can also use it to make roasted duck or broiled chicken. You can also opt for a smaller and square baking pan if you intend to make small batches.
If you are planning to make a round cake, you can also make it in the rectangular pan, but you would have to cut the sides, and it might take some difficulty. For making layered cakes at home, it is best to get round cake pans. They are usually available in either 9-inch or 8-inch diameters.
Whether you want to bake classic banana bread or a basic brioche, you should also get a loaf pan. This type of pan is incredibly useful in making different types of bread at home easily. A baking enthusiast should at least have a basic rectangular pan, a round cake pan, and a loaf pan.
Hand Mixer
Mixing the batter with a whisk simply does not cut it, especially when you are baking meringues and cakes. Investing in a good stand mixer or a hand mixer makes life easier as it can easily mix thick doughs and batter without tiring your arm. This appliance also makes the whole mixing process more efficient as it uses less time.
Spatulas
You need spatulas for transferring different baked goods and also for scraping every last bit of any mixture. Rubber and silicone spatulas are very convenient as you will always need them for scraping the dough and batter. Silicone scrapers are often preferred over rubber ones as they are more resistant to high temperatures.
You definitely need a flat metal spatula to take out the freshly baked cookies from the baking pan. The thin metal blade makes it easier to slide under the baked treats without compromising their structure. With the help of this handy tool, you can serve a nice humble slice of pie or cake without squishing them.
It is best to add a rubber or silicone spatula and a metal spatula to your baking collection.
Parchment Paper
Parchment paper is a godsend. It makes clean-up so much easier. They also keep baked treats from sticking to the pan. Simply laying a sheet over the pan before baking cookies or cakes will definitely make baking a breeze.
Fine-Mesh Sieve
In baking, a sieve is mainly used to sift dry ingredients for having a smooth texture and reducing any lumps in dry ingredients. It is also used for dusting powdered sugar over brownies or lemon bars. They are also very convenient for removing seeds and tiny lumps in custards and berry syrups.
Final Words
Baking is not difficult when you have faith in yourself and have the right tools. Add these baking essentials to your cookware, and you can become a skilled Masterchef in your home.