If you watched the new series of The Great British Bake Off last night, like us, you may well have woken up this morning feeling inspired to start some home baking.
Baking is a great hobby - it can be relaxing, allows you to be creative, and of course, you have a homemade sweet treat at the end of it! As your confidence grows, you can bake for friends and family, and maybe even sell your creations!
If you have never baked before, there are a few low-cost essentials that you will need to recreate most recipes. You may already have some of these, but once they're in your cupboards, you can use them for years to come!
Mixing Bowls
When making doughs and cake mixtures, you may need to mix quite large quantities of ingredients like flour, which can be messy! Having a bowl big enough to hold what's being stirred is essential. You may also need to create separate mixtures, so having more than one bowl is also a great hack. If you don't have a suitable bowl in your kitchen already, we love this set of 3 stainless steel mixing bowls*, which are durable, easy to clean, and store stacked together to save space. They also have built-in measuring guides and are perfect for baking, salads, preparing marinades, and much more!
Baking Pans
Depending on what you're planning on making will depend on what baking pan you need for the oven - if you're making biscuits, for example, you'll need a flat tray, which many people already have. You may also need a muffin tin if you're wanting to make individual, small cakes. For a traditional cake, you will need a shaped tin. We love this pack of Two 8-inch Cake Tins* which features a removable bottom for easy release of cakes without needing to use baking paper. The fabric of the tin is designed so cakes cook evenly and, even better, is easy to clean! These are available in different sizes too.
Whisk
When it comes to stirring cake mix or making méringue, a good whisk can make it light work! Handheld and electric whisks are available; however, if you're new to baking, investing in a large whisk that will take up room in your kitchen might be unnecessary. When it comes to picking a handheld whisk, we wanted one that was easy to hold and easy to clean, and we picked out this Silicone Balloon Whisk*. Easy to clean and dishwasher-safe with a non-slip handle, this whisk is also safe to use in non-stick pots and pans without damaging the coating.
Measuring Cups and Spoons
Getting quantities of ingredients spot on is often the make-or-break moment in baking. Many simple mixtures just require you to weigh out ingredients on a kitchen scale, which many people already have, but when recipes start needing things added by mL and cups, things can get a little trickier. To help with this, we've found this set of Measuring Cups and Spoons* which can be used for liquids and solids, and also includes a leveller to make measurements more accurate.
Spoons and Spatulas
Finally, having enough spoons and utensils makes life so much easier when baking - having tools designed to do the job is essential for getting mixtures out of bowls, icing baked cakes, and not having to stop what you're doing to wash up! We've got our eyes on this set of 5 Food Grade Silicone kitchen utensils set*, which is dishwasher safe, heat resistant, and soft and flexible to not damage any pots and pans.
Editorial Disclaimer:
This blog is for general information only and is not advice or a recommendation. Please do your own research before making any decisions.
Links marked with * may be affiliate or tracking links, meaning we may earn a commission if you click through or make a purchase, at no extra cost to you.
We are not responsible for third-party content and are not affiliated with third-party providers unless stated. We do not guarantee the accuracy, quality, availability, or suitability of any products or services. Information may change over time.