Baking Tools and Equipment (and Their

Uses)
JUNE 11, 2014 BY NATASHA QUINONEZ

Baking can be a lot of fun, but without the right equipment, it will only cause
you a lot of headaches. Just as a mechanic requires the proper tools for fixing a
car, you’re going to need the proper tools for your baked goods. If you’re just
getting into the baking scene, check out the list below, and make sure you have
these tools in your kitchen. You’re going to need them if you plan to make any
kind of baked good.

You can take a class in baking bread to get you started. Don’t forget
that the tools are only half of the equation though. Without good ingredients,
your baked goods won’t come out well if your ingredients are low
quality. Take a look at this article on baking ingredients so your
baked goods will really have that wow factor.

Measuring Tools
Spoons, cups, bowls. Measuring tools in a number of different materials and
sizes, and it’s important that you have a set. You’re going to need them to
measure out your wet and dry ingredients. It might cost you a pretty penny,
but you should definitely purchase good quality ones that will last you. Some
great brands to consider are Cuisipro, King Arthur Flour, Anchor Hocking,
and Pyrex.

Make sure you get a whole set of cups and spoons; you’re going to regret it if
you only purchase a quarter cup especially when you have to dump in three
cups of flour to make some bread. The same can go for spoons. Using a
teaspoon to count out three tablespoons can be a pain, especially if you end up
losing track. Try out your new measuring tools when you take a
course in making gluten free bread.

Baking Pans
When putting your baked goods in the oven, you’re going to need a pan to
place them in or on. Stoneware is an excellent choice, but it does need to be
preheated for best results. Aluminum pans are another great choice. You’re
going to want a number of different pans. There are cookie sheets, brownie
pans, circular pans, square pans, rectangle pans, and specialty shapes. Don’t
forget pie pans too.

Specialty pans are great for special occasions like weddings, birthdays, and so
many other parties. You can find pans in a number of different shapes from
flowers to monkeys. Take a look at your local craft store, and decide what
specialty shapes you just can’t live without. Those specialty pans will
come in handy while taking a course on cake decorating for fun and
profit. Yes, you can make money selling your baked goods once you get good
at them.

Parchment Paper
This particular baking tool has a number of different uses. You can line your
pans to keep your baked goodies from sticking, or you can lay them out on
your counters to protect that beautiful granite top from flour and sugar. It’s
also a great way to store your baked goods so they don’t dry out in your
refrigerator. Parchment paper is grease-resistant and moisture-resistant.

Wax Paper
Like parchment paper, wax paper can be used for lining baking pans or storing
baked goods so they don’t dry. The only difference between the two papers is
really the fact that wax paper has a thin wax coating on both sides, and
parchment paper is really heavy paper. Wax paper is moisture-proof and
nonstick.

Oven Thermometer
If you’ve ever used an oven, you’re probably wondering what you would need
this particular tool for. After all, ovens have dials or buttons that you push,
and they’re marked with the temperature. Right? Well, the problem is that
ovens tend to become faulty over time so it’s best to check the temperature
manually. This way you have the perfect temperature every time you bake
something. Oven temperature can make a big difference in baking so don’t
consider this tool optional.

Rubber Spatulas
Like parchment paper, this tool has different uses. You can use it to scrape
bowls so every last drop of batter ends up in the pan instead of down your
sink. You can also use them to fold your more delicate ingredients, and they’re
great when wanting to stir things gently by hand. Be sure to get them in a
variety of sizes so you have one for whatever baking fiasco you might run into.

Icing Spatula
If you’re planning to take a course in cake decorating, you’re going to
want one of these. However, an icing spatula is quite a versatile tool. In my
household, we even use it for buttering bread and slapping mayonnaise onto a
sandwich. You can also use it for smoothing out your batter in the pan so you
end up with a flatter surface at the end (less wasted cake when you go to level
it). It’s also great for loosening your baked goods from the pan. Any baker can
tell you that even with oiling your pan, you’re going to have some slight
sticking. So, plan ahead with an icing spatula in your arsenal.

Whisk
Different shapes have different uses, which few people actually know. A
balloon whisk is great when you have to deal with lots of batter. You can also
use it for folding sometimes too. Narrower whisks are great for use in your
pots and pans when making curds and pastry creams on the stove top. You’re
going to want wire whisks and silicone-coated whisks. The silicone ones have
the added bonus of scraping the sides of bowls like a rubber spatula.

Pastry Brush
Even if you haven’t baked before, you might have seen those smaller paint
brushes in the baking area and wondered what exactly they could be for.
Brushes like those actually have a lot of uses from brushing on BBQ sauces to
applying glazes to baked goods. The traditional style had natural or nylon
bristles that shed and held onto flavors and colors.

This made it difficult to use the same brush for cooking and baking. Now,
there are silicone brushes that don’t hold onto colors and flavors, and they
don’t shed. This means you can use that pastry brush you used for a blueberry
glaze the other day to give your Thanksgiving turkey a nice rubdown in the
oven.

Bench Scraper
This tool is especially versatile. You can use it to chop up nuts or cut dough
when making large batches. You can use it to scrape down your counters so
you don’t end up with sticky dough left behind. You can also use it to scoop up
ingredients to dump into a bowl. Once you have one, you’re going to wonder
how you ever did without it.

Mixing Bowls
In my household, mixing bowls doubled as popcorn bowls. With the latest
mixing bowls, however, you would likely feel guilty using it for your popcorn
because many of them come with a spout to make pouring into the pan easier
than ever before. You can even find some that have measuring units on the
side, which can come in handy when you’re making large batches of items. You
should have mixing bowls in a variety of sizes because many recipes require
you to mix dry and wet ingredients separately before combining them.

Mixers
If you would prefer to mix your baked goods by hand, I applaud you. Few
people mix by hand now because it can take more time and energy than most
of us have now. However, if you plan to make a lot of baked goods you
probably want to consider purchasing an electric mixer. There are two
different kinds that you can purchase – the hand mixer or the stand-up mixer.

The hand mixer is small allowing it to be easily stored away. You simply hold it
by the handle, put it into the bowl, and turn it on. Then you just carefully
move it around without throwing your batter everywhere. Most people
nowadays prefer stand-up or table-top mixers.

Though bulkier than their handheld cousins, stand-up mixers make it easier to
just set the speed and let it do its thing. However, they are more difficult to
store. More powerful stand mixers often have special accessories for special
projects like making bread. If you plan to make a lot of bread, consider
purchasing a pricier stand mixer with dough hooks. Otherwise, you will be
kneading that dough by hand.

Cookie Cutters
As the name obviously implies, these particular tools are designed for cutting
out cookie shapes. All you have to do is roll out some dough on the counter
and press the shapes into the flat dough. These are great for making themed
cookies beyond the traditional chocolate chip or sugar cookie. Plus, you can
decorate them just like you would a specialty cake for even more fun.

Rolling Pin
It would be impossible for you to flatten the dough of any of your baked goods
without a rolling pin. These come in handy when baking specialty-shaped
cookies or creating pizza. They come in a number of materials and sizes, and
they also have different weights. If you’re planning to make a lot of specialty
cookies or pizzas, try to get a heavier pin because the extra weight will help roll
the dough out smoother with less effort on your part.

Pastry Blender
While it might sound like something you could make a smoothie with, it’s not.
This tool is designed with five or six U-shaped steel wires attached to a handle
at both ends. These wires run parallel to each other and are usually evenly-
spaced. They’re used to cut butter into recipes, distribute fat without melting
it, or even just for preparing your dough.

Pastry Cutter
Just like a pizza cutter, this tool involves a straight-edge wheel that is used to
cut dough into strips. Though usually used to cut narrow strips for lattice-
topped pies, you can use it to cut dough into bread sticks or pizzas into
squares. You could even use it to cut your cooked pizzas – after you’re done
using it for baking, of course.

Pastry Crimping Wheel

This particular wheel has a fluted design that’s used to cut dough to have a
decorative edge. This is usually used for pies, but you can use it to design fancy
cookies or even biscuits. You might even consider using it to decorate your
calzones.
A microwave heats with the help of microwaves while an oven heats with the aid of making
the body warm with the assistance of electricity. No new food can be cooked in a
microwave while various new items can be performed in an oven. There are different
surfaces in an oven while there is just one surface in a microwave.

A microwave heats with the help of microwaves

An oven heats with the aid of making the body warm with the assistance of
electricity.

Definition of Oven
It works on the principle of kinetic conduction, in this system, the molecules in the
air are provided heat to increase their temperature and because of that, they travel to
the food which is placed in the oven and heats it. This takes greater time and
usually most simple items take up to 20 minutes to frequently heat up but on the
other side, new food items can be made, and baking products are possible. Most
famous dishes such as fish and pizza are made in the oven. The reason for slow
heating in the oven is that food only has water molecules which evaporate at more
than their boiling point which has to be kept lower for food to get warm. Kinetic
energy from the food molecules is transferred here and there resulting in making the
food.

Definition of Microwave
It works on the principle of vibration friction which is caused by electromagnetic
waves. Since water is present in food items and electromagnetic waves are already
heated up, food which is placed in a microwave is heated up quickly. That said,
there is no possibility of making food in a microwave it just cooks the food and
mostly these items become softer rather than crispier. There are a few dishes which
can be done, but they are not the standard ones. There is also just one surface in a
microwave on which equal amount of temperature falls. They are more prone to
hazards because they usually work with the help of electricity and have high
voltages required. There are new devices, such as microwave oven being introduced
which perform both the tasks.
Parchment paper, baking paper, or bakery release paper are cellulose-
based papers that have been treated or coated to make them non-stick. They are used
in baking as a disposable non-stick surface. They should not be confused with
wax paper or waxed paper, which is paper that has been coated in wax.

The range of foods that can be mixed with a hand mixer is quite extensive and includes
such items as eggs, whipping cream, pancake batter, icing, cakes, salad dressings and
more. One of the most common uses is for whipping boiled potatoes. It is the easiest
way to make mashed potatoes, using the standard metal beaters