15 Essentials for the Minimalist Baker
You can turn out delicious baked treats with ease when you own these basic kitchen utensils and tools
Whether you’re a beginner baker setting up your kitchen for the first time or an avid baker attempting to downsize – or you just hope to tame those overstuffed cupboards and drawers – this guide is a good place to start. If you only own the 15 items on this list (let’s assume you’re already starting with oven mitts and a wooden spoon), you’ll be in good shape to tackle most baking recipes with ease. What you won’t find here: piping bags, doughnut tins, individually sized ramekins or other highly specialised items. If and when you want to bake with those, you’ll know.
2. Measuring cups and spoons
A set of measuring cups and spoons, plus a liquid measuring cup are must-haves that you’ll reach for with every baking recipe. And if you’re curious, liquid and dry measuring containers can be used interchangeably, but liquid measuring cups offer extra headroom to prevent their contents from spilling.
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A set of measuring cups and spoons, plus a liquid measuring cup are must-haves that you’ll reach for with every baking recipe. And if you’re curious, liquid and dry measuring containers can be used interchangeably, but liquid measuring cups offer extra headroom to prevent their contents from spilling.
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3. Digital scale
If you thought kitchen scales were only useful for pros, think again. Baking is more science than art, and exact measurements are key to reliable results, so using a digital scale to weigh ingredients (or batter for individual biscuits, as shown here) is equally important for beginners.
If you thought kitchen scales were only useful for pros, think again. Baking is more science than art, and exact measurements are key to reliable results, so using a digital scale to weigh ingredients (or batter for individual biscuits, as shown here) is equally important for beginners.
4. Whisk
You can beat eggs with a fork, but nothing incorporates air to create that beautiful, fluffy texture like a whisk. As a bonus, you can also use your whisk to ‘sift’ flour by breaking up lumps.
You can beat eggs with a fork, but nothing incorporates air to create that beautiful, fluffy texture like a whisk. As a bonus, you can also use your whisk to ‘sift’ flour by breaking up lumps.
5. Nesting mixing bowls
A good set of mixing bowls in either glass or stainless steel is something you’ll reach for again and again. Use them for mixing, of course, but also for setting out and separating your ingredients before cooking, or containing the icing until the cake comes out of the oven.
A good set of mixing bowls in either glass or stainless steel is something you’ll reach for again and again. Use them for mixing, of course, but also for setting out and separating your ingredients before cooking, or containing the icing until the cake comes out of the oven.
6. Baking paper
A roll of baking paper can be used to line baking trays and cake tins to prevent sticking, or can be placed on your benchtop for rolling out dough or pastry. And when you’re done baking, you can cut fresh pieces of baking paper to layer between sweet treats inside biscuit tins to store your freshly baked delicacies.
7. Baking trays
For biscuits, pastries and other sweets, you’ll need a baking tray or two. Rimmed baking trays like the one shown here can also be used for roasting veggies and meats, while rimless baking trays tend to produce more reliable browning. Both types also work for catching drips beneath a meal that’s cooking in the oven. Pick your favourite or buy one of each – when stacked together, they hardly take up any room.
A roll of baking paper can be used to line baking trays and cake tins to prevent sticking, or can be placed on your benchtop for rolling out dough or pastry. And when you’re done baking, you can cut fresh pieces of baking paper to layer between sweet treats inside biscuit tins to store your freshly baked delicacies.
7. Baking trays
For biscuits, pastries and other sweets, you’ll need a baking tray or two. Rimmed baking trays like the one shown here can also be used for roasting veggies and meats, while rimless baking trays tend to produce more reliable browning. Both types also work for catching drips beneath a meal that’s cooking in the oven. Pick your favourite or buy one of each – when stacked together, they hardly take up any room.
8. Square or rectangular baking tins
Brownies, slices and cakes: a 20x20-centimetre cake tin can handle them all. If you like to bake larger, rectangular cakes, a 23x33-centimetre cake tin will work and can also take on savoury casseroles. Glass and ceramic are attractive enough to go from oven to table, but metal cake and baking tins get the job done just as well.
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Brownies, slices and cakes: a 20x20-centimetre cake tin can handle them all. If you like to bake larger, rectangular cakes, a 23x33-centimetre cake tin will work and can also take on savoury casseroles. Glass and ceramic are attractive enough to go from oven to table, but metal cake and baking tins get the job done just as well.
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9. Round cake tin
Classic cakes need a classic cake tin. A round, 20-centimetre cake tin is often called for in recipes, making it a versatile choice. If you think you’ll be wanting to make a tall layer cake, get two.
10. Loaf tin
For banana bread, zucchini bread, poppy seed cake and more, you’ll need a loaf tin. In fact, if you’re not one to bake your own birthday cake, you may want to skip the cake tins entirely and go with a more versatile loaf tin instead.
11. Muffin tins
For muffins and cupcakes, nothing else will do. Don’t forget to grab a pack of paper baking cups if you’d like to be able to lift your treats out easily.
Classic cakes need a classic cake tin. A round, 20-centimetre cake tin is often called for in recipes, making it a versatile choice. If you think you’ll be wanting to make a tall layer cake, get two.
10. Loaf tin
For banana bread, zucchini bread, poppy seed cake and more, you’ll need a loaf tin. In fact, if you’re not one to bake your own birthday cake, you may want to skip the cake tins entirely and go with a more versatile loaf tin instead.
11. Muffin tins
For muffins and cupcakes, nothing else will do. Don’t forget to grab a pack of paper baking cups if you’d like to be able to lift your treats out easily.
12. Spatulas
A silicone spatula won’t leave a single tasty morsel behind when scraping the last bit of batter from the bowl or handling super-sticky treats. The other key spatula to have is a big, flat version for sliding under those giant, delicious meringues or biscuits. Choose one in stainless steel if you don’t have to worry about scratching non-stick pans, or in silicone if you do.
A silicone spatula won’t leave a single tasty morsel behind when scraping the last bit of batter from the bowl or handling super-sticky treats. The other key spatula to have is a big, flat version for sliding under those giant, delicious meringues or biscuits. Choose one in stainless steel if you don’t have to worry about scratching non-stick pans, or in silicone if you do.
13. Pie tins
For sweet and savoury pies and quiches, a 23-centimetre pie tin will ensure your homemade delight is baked to perfection.
14. Rolling pin
A wooden rolling pin with handles (like the one shown here) is the classic choice. Use yours to roll out dough, and also to crush chocolate or nuts.
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For sweet and savoury pies and quiches, a 23-centimetre pie tin will ensure your homemade delight is baked to perfection.
14. Rolling pin
A wooden rolling pin with handles (like the one shown here) is the classic choice. Use yours to roll out dough, and also to crush chocolate or nuts.
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15. Cooling racks
These lightweight metal grids are essential for giving your warm-from-the-oven biscuits and cakes a place to rest. They also make a handy spot for decorating your treats, since they allow excess icing and sprinkles to drop below.
Tell us
What’s the one utensil you’d be lost without in your kitchen? Tell us in the Comments, like and share this story, and join the conversation.
More
Keen to revamp your kitchen this year? Find a kitchen designer and renovator near you who can customise the space to your baking needs
These lightweight metal grids are essential for giving your warm-from-the-oven biscuits and cakes a place to rest. They also make a handy spot for decorating your treats, since they allow excess icing and sprinkles to drop below.
Tell us
What’s the one utensil you’d be lost without in your kitchen? Tell us in the Comments, like and share this story, and join the conversation.
More
Keen to revamp your kitchen this year? Find a kitchen designer and renovator near you who can customise the space to your baking needs
Can you mix biscuit dough and cake batter by hand? Sure you can. But having a good-quality stand mixer on your benchtop that does the job for you will give your arm a break and make shorter work of essential baking tasks like mixing batter, whipping cream and even kneading bread dough.