Baking is definitely one of the wonders of cooking.

Baking has become a tendency nowadays: everyone wants to bake cakes, muffins or cupcakes, and even bread to satisfy demands around. But, actually, it is one of the most challenging parts of the cooking process. There are many techniques, ingredients, recipes, and implements for a perfect baking afternoon. We are about to show you the necessary baking tools.

Let’s get your hands dirty!

Measuring

Measuring cups and spoons: they are also part of the essential tools in our kitchens; but, in the baking process, they are indispensable. Seeing that in baking recipes quantities are key, measuring utensils come in handy for professional and beginners alike. Glass measuring cups are fantastic for wet ingredients, while stainless steel cups and spoons work well for the dry ones.

Digital scale: every decent baker will agree that for dry ingredients one of this is necessary. You can even find digital ones that are more precise than the regulars. For example, flour is one the most complicated dry ingredients in the kitchen: its weight will depend on the weather, so the right scale can tell you the exact weight that you will need for a recipe.

Mixing

Sifter or strainer: this will help to prevent those horrible chunks of flour or baking soda that can appear in the final product. When you sift the dry ingredients, the mixture will be smooth and light.

Bowls: for whisking eggs, chocolate or cream cheese. The best material for them is glass or stainless steel.

Silicone spatula: a very versatile tool. It can help to mix in a gentle way cake batters, meringues or whipped cream. They are heat resistant and can’t absorb flavors or smells. They are good for scrambling eggs and making omelets.

Whisk: the best tools for the beginner bakers because with it you can mix everything, from brownies to muffins. If you consider yourself strong, you can try to make the whisk, meringue or whipped cream.

Electric or stand mixer: one of the most expensive tools in your kitchen (besides the oven itself); however, is the one tool that can make baking easier than ever. The mixer can help you with any batter, meringue, whipped cream, buttercream, and even bread dough. Try to have all the correct accessories.

Making and portioning

Rolling pin: it is used for any baking good that comes out of the oven, from cookies to pizzas. They can be of any length and material, but wood rolling pin is preferred for many.

Dough scraper: as the name implies, they are used for cleaning your counter of any stuck-on messes. Although, bakers tend to use them for portioning dough, especially with bread and pizza.

Mechanical scoops: their use was for collecting the correct proportion of ice-cream; but, in baking, it has evolved to create the perfect uniform cookies and to get the right amount of batter for the cupcake tin.

Cookies cutters: there are many kinds, you can find them in every size and form. If you like a specific shape, like dinosaurs, be sure that you will find one cookie cutter with that shape. If you love cookies, you would probably end up having a collection!

Baking

Silicone baking mat: with this baby, you can say “bye, bye” to parchment paper because mats are reusable and dishwasher safe. They are great for baking cookies and if you need to catch something that can get spilled in the oven.

Bakeware: rimmed baking sheets, a square baking dish, a pie pan, two round cake pans, and a 12-cup muffin tin are the basic bakeware to have in the kitchen. They can be of different materials like ceramic (decorative mostly), glass (let you see the baking progress), metal (best conductor of heat) or silicone (forget about sticking).

Finishing, cooling, and decorating

Timer: even when your sense of smell is good, a timer can be a great tool for this activity. With it, you will know the precise moment to stop baking or to check halfway. The timer will help you with time precautions.

Baking rack: this tool is excellent to cool off baking goods like cakes, cookies or muffins. They are great for decoration too, especially if you are using chocolate to cover your creation because it will get dry and the excess will remain in the baking sheet under the rack.

Offset spatula: awesome for filling cakes and frosting them. Usually, they are made of flexible stainless steel and come in different sizes.

Piping bags and tips: the best decoration tools ever, these utensils will give you better control when decorating cakes and cupcakes. You can let your imagination run wild thanks to the tips: from roses to basket patrons, you can do a lot of forms with them. The bags can be disposable or plastic-coated fabric, but the latter has to be cleaned after its use.

There are many tools to help you with the baking process, but these are the basic and the most helpful of all. With these, you can become a great baker and surprise your family and friends with your baking goods. Come to Davide Punto Cucina to taste the different baking treats we offer.