Introduction
Nothing is comparable to the pleasure you get from baking biscuits, brownies, cakes or pies for your loved ones, and seeing them ravenously consume them. Baking is no mere hobby. It is an art form. But before you are ready to hone your skills to the next level, before you are ready to do your magic, you first need to invest in getting the right equipment.
If you want to incorporate baking to your every day life, this is the article for you. We will thoroughly explore why you NEED a good baking kit, we will cover all the essentials tools and equipment you need to have in order to get started and finally, we are going to present to you our top, best picks for the best baking kits as of 2017, to get you started on your way to massive baking success.
Why You Need A Good Baking Kit
In our articles, we like to keep it real. Great equipment does not make for a great baker. To really get good, you need to put in the effort and do your due dilligence – regularly practise baking stuff, try new recipes, experiment and then practice some more. You might buy the the absolute best baking tools available on the market, but there is no way to circumvent this process. As they say, practice makes perfect. This is as accurate as it gets when it comes to baking.
What the right tools, and a good baking kit can do for you, however, is make the process much easier – and certainly, a lot more enjoyable as well. You will be also able to save time and your goods will have a high level of consistency. And can you imagine what happens when you save time and consistency is taken care of? Your creativity is going to boom. Your hunger to try new recipes will explode, and you will challenge yourself with new techniques. And before you know it, you will have MASSIVELY improved.
Unfortunately, getting the right kind of equipment can be a tad bit overwhelming if you do not know what you are looking for. There is such a plethora of products, and everything looks good on paper, so how are you supposed to prioritize? Luckily for you, this article will handle your problem for you and set things straight. Before we are done, you will know exactly what you need and where to get it.
The Essential Baking Tools
Before you start getting fancy and playful with your purchases, you first need to cover all the equipment essentials. You should refrain from buying everything on sight, at first, not until you have all the baking basics. If you are not a beginner baker, feel free to skip this section. Otherwise, sit tight and keep reading.
- Oven: Well, obviously, an oven is going to be essential for baking. Needless to say, unless you already have a good one, you will need to get a new one. Bonus points if you own an oven with an integrated timer – the timer is going to be massively useful as you bake.
- Measuring spoons and cups: What gets measured can get managed. By having the right measuring spoons and cup, you will able to have consistent results by efficiently measuring your ingredients. Going with teaspoons and tablespoons is fine, as long as you don’t mind settling for mediocre accuracy.
- Scale: A scale is, contrary to popular belief, not an alternative to measuring spoons and cups. You need both. This will allow you to measure by weight, whereas spoons and cups measure by volume. We are going for maximum efficiency and flexibility, so get both.
- Whisk: Necessary for whipping, creaming and mixing among others, a whisk is mandatory unless you are willing to invest in an electronic mixer. If you would rather get a mixer device to do it for you, we do not blame you as it is much easier that way. But if your budget is on the smaller side, and you are currently unable to afford it, a whisk is your best bet.
- Cooling Rack: A cooling rack is exactly what it sounds like. A rack for you to put your baked goods after you remove them from the oven to let them cool. There are lots of shapes and types, and most work just fine, so there is room for flexibility.
- A sheet pan: A sheet pan is by definition in all your baking endeavors. It is what you place your baked goods on, before you place them in your oven. When looking for a good model, make sure you get one that offers even heat distribution – it will make your baking much better and more consistent.
Honestly, we could expand this list far, far more. There is really no end to useful baking tools. These, however, should be enough to get you started – and get you fully capable of most kinds of baking. Below, we are going to give you specific products we recommend you give a try. Before we do that, however, we want to explain to you how we made our list.
How we made our list
Our list was formulated by taking into account three factors. First and foremost, we wanted to give you a list of products that was accessible in price to a wide audience. After all, the central aim of this article is to get you started on your baking journey, not to turn you into the Greatest Baker of 2018. Thus, whenever we were able to keep product quality high, while staying within a reasonable budget, we did so.
The second factor we took into account is performance. Whichever product of our list piqued your interest, we wanted to make sure it was made of high quality materials, that would last long, even after heavy use and get you your money’s worth – and then some – back.
Thirdly, we really tried to get you products that are easy to use, and do exactly what they promise they do. To maintain your interest in baking, you need to make your introduction as smooth and easy as possible – we stayed with tried and true products, that already enjoy critical acclaim and have worked for many other people just like yourself.
Product List
WonderMix: Stand Mixer with Accessories and Blender
No matter what you are interested in baking, you will need a great stand mixer. Cakes, tray bakes, pizza, dips and sauces – all that and more, you can easily do with WonderMix’s wonderful tool. This will allow you to give a uniform texture to all your baked goods. How? By taking advantage of the powerful and high quality 900 watts strong device’s mechanism. The product has three different speed options, as well as pulsing option to allow multiple types of blending operations.
Heavy duty and BPA free, with a capacity of 5.5 quarts, the mixer is made of extremely high quality materials that will withstand prolonged and regular use. Moreover, the kitchen mixer comes with an additional blender for shakes and smoothies – allowing for maximum versatility and endless, creative possibilities.
What is not to like? Enjoying a 4.4 out of 5 stars rating, the mixer is currently priced at $224.95 on Amazon. Shipping is completely free. If the price is outside the limits of your budget, do not worry, we have your back covered with our next product.
Rachel Ray: Whisk, “The Whisker”
So, what if you do not want to invest in an electrical mixer? You should absolutely take a look at “The Whisker” – a manual way to cover all your mixing needs. Designed with a wide, sturdy handle base, this is an extremely comfortable and practical whisk. It might take a while compared to an electrical mixer, and you will have to spend some energy mixing, but it will absolutely get the job done more than adequately.
It is dishwater safe, and heat safe up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Moreover, just take a look at its color. You will never, ever have to worry about losing it in your kitchen with that bright orange coloring. It has a 4.4 out of 5 stars on Amazon, and it is currently listed at just $9.99 – a real bargain, if you do not mind putting in a little bit of extra work mixing.
Indigo True Company: Stainless Steel Measuring Cups and Spoons
Like we have already mentioned, there can be no consistent, successful cooking and baking without the proper measurement tools. This measuring set will take all the guesswork out of your baking equation. It includes 6 cups and 6 spoons of different sizes, which can conveniently nest within each other to save space. Made of food grade stainless steel, these will neither rust nor break – in fact, these will help your cooking and baking for a lifetime.
What we really love about this set, is the included “measure conversion chart”. This is a proprietary design by Indigo True Company, specifically tailored to work with their measuring cups & spoons. You can magnetize it to your fridge door – or wherever suits you, really – for quick reference when you are baking, and need to make adjustments to your initial recipe.
For what it does, the set is honestly dirt cheap. You do not want to miss this opportunity. It only costs $29.95 with free shipping currently. If you are not yet convinced, you need only look at its 4.9 out of 5 stars rating, after 203 customer reviews.
AmazonBasics: 3 Piece Baking Sheet Set
A baking sheet is essential to all baking endeavors – almost as much as the oven itself. So why not get 3 on the price of one? This is exactly what you are getting with AmazonBasic’s set. Made of heavy-weight carbon steel, these are all highly durable, dishwasher safe and resistant up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
What we really like is the set’s versatility. You see, each baking sheet is of a different size: 8.5 X 13.4 inches, 10 X 14.5 inches and 11.5 X 17 inches respectively. All three are designed for even heat distribution and maximum consistency. Moreover, they feature a very useful nonstick coating that will allow easy removal of any remaining food and simultaneously lessen the need for excess butter or oil.
The set is currently priced at $15.29 – for real. You get three baking sheets for the price of one. The product currently enjoyes a 4.2 out of 5 star rating on Amazon.
Bellemain: Chef Quality Cooling and Baking Rack
No baking tools list would ever feel complete with no mention of a top grade cooling rack. And this REALLY is the top dog, when it comes to cooling racks. The rack goes well beyond the mere cooling of your baked treats – it also allows them to set perfectly. Unlike other brands that often result in wasteful, dry, burn or even soggy delicacies, this cooling rack will deliver mouthwatering perfection every time, with no fail.
This is due to the air pockets of the rock, that enable optimal circulation to your baked goods – even the most fragile of them. You can safely say goodbye to overly crispy, burnt edges and bottoms when using Bellemain’s cooling rack. Moreover, the product can be used with practically anything, from the fluffiest cake to a pot of stew, due to its sturdy materials and six supporting feet. If you want versatility, and maximum confidence in your baking, this is cooling rack was made for you.
Are you ready for the product’s price? It has to be high, right? Well, not quite. You can enjoy Bellemain’s amazing cooling rack for just $12.50 – with free shipping as well. As more than a thousand satisfied customers can attest to, this is really the be-all, end-all cooling rack on the market today. The rack has been ranked number 1, Amazon Best-Seller and has a 4.9 out of 5 rating – a really rare sight indeed.
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