Utensils Used for Baking

Mixing equipment is just one example of a utensil used for baking.

Baked goods such as pies, muffins and cookies are enjoyed by millions of people every day. Good bakers are highly organized and use a specialized set of baking utensils to make some delicious treats. People who are interested in baking can also find these baking utensils in a variety of cooking stores. Common utensils used for baking are measuring equipment, mixing equipment, bake ware and storage equipment.

Measuring Equipment

There are two different types of measuring equipment: measuring spoons and measuring cups. Measuring spoons are small and come in sizes ranging from a quarter of a teaspoon to two full tablespoons. These are often used to measure out strong ingredients like vanilla extract, baking powder and yeast. Measuring cups are much larger and are primarily used to measure flour, salt, sugar, water and oil. Measuring cups generally have markers on the side, noting measurements like a quarter, half, three quarters and a full cup. Wet measuring cups are usually made of glass or Pyrex, and dry measuring cups are made of plastic or stainless steel. Wet cups are used for wet ingredients like water and milk, and dry cups are used to measure flour, sugar and other dry ingredients.

Mixing Equipment

Almost all baked goods have a step where their ingredients are mixed together well. To do this, bakers often rely on electric mixers. Electric hand mixers are small and not very powerful tools that are easy to use and clean. Electric stand mixers are more versatile and powerful. Stand mixers can be fitted with a variety of mixing "hands," like large whisks for icing, claws for dough and even grinders for spices or meat. There are also nonelectric mixers, such as hand whisks and spatulas, that many bakers use for fragile and sensitive ingredients like egg whites or milk. Spatulas are especially important, as they can be used to mix, fold and even smooth out ingredients.

Bake Ware

To actually use a mix of ingredients, a baker must have quality bake ware for the mix to rest and cook on. Bake ware comes in a variety of sizes and materials, such as iron cookie sheets, cast-iron bread pans, Pyrex casserole dishes and composite-metal muffin tins. All bake ware is designed to withstand the high temperatures of a professional-quality oven for long periods of time. It is important to use high-quality bake ware, as low-quality warped pans can bake ingredients unevenly or even burn them.

Storage Equipment

Storage equipment is critical for any home or professional baker. After the baking is done, the finished product must be cooled down before being eaten. For cookies, this involves a cooling rack. For pies or flan, a trip to the refrigerator wrapped in plastic is essential. Breads often need to be stored in plastic containers and cooled overnight to allow the yeast to finish rising. In all of these cases, storage equipment is essential for putting out a delicious finished product.

References

• Cook's Country: Kitchen Essentials
• Martha Stewart: Martha's Essential Baking Tools
• Cook's Illustrated: Must-Have Measuring Tools