Kit Out Your Kitchen: Everything You Need to Start Baking At Home

Home baking is a tradition that has existed practically since humans started cooking food, and even in our modern age, it remains as popular as ever with various websites and TV shows dedicated to the craft. Besides the obvious benefit of being able to eat the delicious final product, baking as a hobby has a number of advantages for our health and well-being.

However, taking up baking as a hobby does require some specialist equipment and appliances. This guide walks you through everything you need to get started.

1. Kitchen scales

One of several life skills which baking can help you learn is how to be precise, although it can be a rather unforgiving teacher when you get things wrong. Lack of precision when following a recipe can lead to disaster, so it’s best to buy a good pair of kitchen scales.

2. Measuring spoons

Many baking recipes involve amounts of certain ingredients that will be too light for your kitchen scales to detect, or they might come in liquid form like colourings and vanilla extract. You still need to be accurate with them though, so make sure you have a set of measuring spoons on hand.

3. Wire whisk

These are used for mixing ingredients and come in two main forms. There’s the cheap and cheerful option which requires you to whisk by hand, or you can go all out and buy an electronic mixer from a brand such as Kitchenaid.

4. Wooden spoon

What kitchen is complete without one? Sometimes when baking you’ll need something sturdy to mix thick and tough dough, and a trusty wooden spoon fits the bill perfectly.

5. Mixing bowl

Well, it’s obvious why you need this one. They come in different sizes, and it can be worth getting one slightly bigger than you think you need. This will help contain flour, dough, and other mess better so that your countertop or kitchen island doesn’t end up getting quite literally caked.

6. Baking tray and tins

While some dough, like cookie dough, can be delicious when consumed raw, it’s likely that you will actually want to bake your mixtures in the oven. That means you’ll need some type of vessel to put them in. There are four types which cover just about everything you can bake, and these are a flat baking tray which you can use for cookies, a cake tin with removable sides, a muffin tray, and a loaf tin.

7. Cooling rack

After your goods are done in the oven, you’ll need to let them cool. A cooling rack is the best place to put them since it cools them evenly and lets air circulate, meaning you can enjoy that delicious smell around your house while you wait.

Conclusion

Accurate measurements and good mixing are essential to baking success, and the only way to achieve them is by using the right equipment. Remember that some recipes involve raw ingredients like eggs, so be sure to follow good food safety practices while enjoying your new hobby.