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A variety of baked delicacies are available, ranging from cakes and cookies to more intricate foods like pies and pizzas. Certain tools are needed to produce each of these baked items. Knowing the necessary equipment to make delicious treats is beneficial for anyone hoping to become a skilled baker.
While many kitchen instruments are more specialised, others have universal functions when it comes to baking. You can improve your baking abilities and make a wider variety of baked goods by learning how to utilise them. To become a proficient baker, you must be proficient in the following tools:
Measuring Tools
A full set of measuring cups and spoons is essential for baking since the art of baking requires precision. To measure each item precisely, you'll need both wet and dry measuring cups. Since you will be using these tools frequently, keep them in an accessible location.
One cup, ½ cup, ⅓ cup, and ¼ cup are the most common measuring cup sets, although most measuring spoon sets have a tablespoon, teaspoon, ½ teaspoon, and 1⁄4 teaspoon. Although a 1-cup size may be enough for liquid measurements, keeping 2- and 4-cup sizes in your supply might also be useful.
A digital or kitchen scale is also helpful to get the most accurate quantity of ingredients.
Pastry Brush
You might not know all the uses for this useful baking tool. You can use a pastry brush to grease a pan before adding cake batter, or brush the dough with melted butter, egg wash, or "paint" milk over the pie crust. This is a must, especially for those who bake frequently.
Baking Sheets
These elevated-edged, flat pans are perfect for baking delicacies such as croissants, scones, and biscuits. They may also be used as roasting pans for fish, vegetables, and spatchcocked meat. Although cookie sheets and sheet pans are frequently used interchangeably, a genuine baking sheet has open sides that make it simple to move cookies to a cooling rack and a rolled edge on one side for handling.
Sieve
Sifting dry materials like flour, sugar, chemical leaveners, and/or cocoa powder is necessary for certain recipes. That step isn't included to be silly or to make things too complicated. It breaks up any lumps and aerates these components to ensure that your dish turns out perfectly. A sifter or sieve is essential equipment for creating angel food cake, a handmade cake flour alternative, and dusting tiramisu with cocoa powder.
Baking Pans
For cakes, brownies, and cookie bars, bakers frequently use rectangular baking pans. They are available in a range of sizes, with the normal size being around 13x9x2 inches. It's also a good tool for producing more specialised foods like lasagna or casseroles, depending on what you bake.
In the kitchen, you should have at least two circular cake pans. These are excellent tools for creating desserts with several layers. Typically, these pans are available in 8- and 9-inch diameters. Both sizes may be used with most cake recipes. For equally layered cakes, make sure you have two that are the same size.
Wire Rack
Make sure you have a wire rack ready for dessert since nobody likes soggy, overbaked cookies and cakes. By allowing air to circulate around baked items while they cool, this useful utensil ensures that they taste as excellent at room temperature as they did right out of the oven.
Mixers
There are two types of mixers available: stand mixers and hand mixers. When compared to mixing dough and batter by hand, these devices greatly simplify and expedite the process. Additionally, mixers with different attachments, such as the paddle, hook, or whisk attachment, are available. A whisk attachment makes adding air to dough simpler, and the hook attachment may help you knead tough dough. The paddle is a basic mixer.
