Moving into your own apartment is an amazing experience. It’s almost weird to be sitting in your new kitchen or bedroom for the first time and understanding you finally have your own space. Even if you share it with a roommate, your first apartment is a milestone, liberating you from the constraints of your parents’ or college residence life.
But as you sit there, soaking in your newfound independence, you’re bound to have some other ideas. There are numerous small and large purchases you’ll need to make to fully furnish your flat, especially the kitchen if you plan to bake.
Are you starting from scratch with your stock? Grab the most basic necessities first, and gradually expand your stash over time to avoid breaking the bank! You’ll be a true baker in no time if your pantry is well-stocked with baking supplies and ingredients.
Here are the must-have baking essentials for beginners and enthusiasts alike.
Essential Baking Tools
The variety of equipment required to outfit even a small home bakery can be perplexing and scary. How big of a sheet pan should you get? Is a digital scale truly necessary?
No longer will you be puzzled as we break down the baking essentials you must be familiar with.
Measuring Spoons and Cups
A measuring cup with a spout is required for liquid ingredients, and the 2-cup size (16 fl. oz.) is the handiest and most useful. A set of metal measuring cups from 1 cup to 1/4 cup, along with a set of metal measuring spoons, will be useful. When it comes to measuring spoons, look for a set that includes a 1/2 tablespoon measure that will conserve you a lot of time when making a half-batch of your fave muffins.
Digital Scale
This is perhaps the most important item on the list because flour is the fundamental ingredient in baking, and incorrectly measuring the ingredient is possibly the most common baking mistake. Purchase a digital scale that you can set to grams and has a tare feature, allowing you to place a bowl on it and then zero it out.
Mixing Bowls
Rather than purchasing a set of mixing bowls in various sizes, purchase a couple of 4 to 5-quart stainless steel bowls and at least one glass bowl of comparable size. However, avoid using aluminum because acidic substances will respond to the metal and ruin the flavor of your dish.
Wire Whisk
If you want to beat an egg, you can use a fork. When it comes to beating six eggs, only a wire whisk will suffice.
This equipment, sometimes known as a balloon whisk, is used to whip air into liquid substances to make them fluffy or frothy. Begin with one that measures 10 to 11 inches in length, a great all-purpose size.
Baking Pans
A baking pan set is a must-have if you’re starting out in the kitchen. You can accumulate the pieces over time, but a bundled, uniform set is an easy way to have all the necessary pans that are meant to operate together. Most baking sets have five to ten pans for baking and roasting; some include a rack for chilling — and if it’s heat-safe, you can also use it as a trivet and for roasting.
Silicone Spatula
This multifunctional tool is great for scraping all of the batter off the interior of your mixing bowl. Purchase one with a long handle. While a regular rubber spatula will suffice for scraping, a silicone spatula is heat resistant and may be used for sautéing and cooking eggs.
Stand Mixer
An electric stand mixer is pricey, but after a few uses, you’ll wonder how you ever got along without one. The typical attachments will include a paddle, whip, and dough hook, which will be sufficient to knead the dough, cream butter, whip egg whites for meringues, mix the batter, and do anything else an ambitious baker could need.
Cookie and Pastry Cutters
While the sky is the limit for specialty, seasonal, and other geometric shapes, a beginner should begin with a set of plain round cutters and possibly a set of fluted round cutters. Each set comes in various sizes and will assist you in cutting out various doughs, such as biscuits and cookies, along with ravioli and empanadas.
Rolling Pin
You can utilize a rolling pin to flatten and shape anything from pastry crust and pie dough to biscuits and cookie dough. The roller style is easier to use and demands less pressure for a beginner than the rod style. Buy a good-quality wood pin, and it’ll be the only one you’ll ever need.
Essential Baking Ingredients
Baking depends on the chemistry of properly calculated and well-thought-out components to produce magic in the kitchen. Always keep in mind that baking requires fresh, high-quality ingredients. If you like to bake and do so frequently, these are some must-have items a home baker can’t live without.
Flour
Here are among the most basic and necessary varieties of flour to keep on hand!
- All-Purpose
- Bread Flour
- Whole Wheat Flour
- Almond Flour
- Gluten-Free Flour
- Oat Flour
Leavening Agents
Isn’t there much you can bake without a leavening agent? Get up, baby! Here are the essentials you should keep in your pantry!
- Baking Powder
- Yeast
- Baking Soda
Sweeteners and Sugars
Sugar is required in many baking recipes, even ones that do not appear to be sweet! Here’s a list of the important sweeteners and sugars you should keep on hand.
- Granulated Sugar
- Powdered Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Maple Syrup
- Honey
- Alternative Sweetener
- Molasses
Spices and Salt
These basic spices taste fantastic in anything from banana bread to gingerbread cookies!
- Salt
- Salt Cinnamon
- Ginger
- Clove
- Allspice
Fats and Dairy Products
Certain recipes benefit from dairy and fat products, which provide texture and flavor. While each recipe is unique, they will all produce excellent results using these basic baking ingredients!
- Butter
- Milk
- Eggs
- Condensed Milk
- Ghee
- Vegetable Oil
- Greek Yogurt
Extracts
Hello there, flavor-town! These extracts will add flavor to any baking recipe.
- Vanilla
- Mint
- Almond
Add-ons and Extras
Everyone enjoys a tasty addition to a baked product! Here are a few of the greatest to have on hand.
- Chocolate Chips
- Nuts
- Dried Fruit
- Food Coloring
- Sprinkles
- Nut Butters
Now that you’ve identified the key baking components, look for some delectable recipes to incorporate them into, and you’re ready to go! So gather your baking tools, and let’s get baking!