Whether baking a cake or starting an at-home baking business, good bakery supplies can make all the difference between a pleasant experience and a frustrating one. With thousands of bakery supplies to choose from, even picking out something as simple as a cookie sheet can be overwhelming. Finding the essential bakery supplies among a vast field can help make the process of baking efficient and worry-free.
A good oven may be one of the most essential bakery supplies. Poor ovens may not be able to retain heat, correctly measure temperature, or create an evenly distributed heat. Regular bakers may also want to look for a larger or commercial oven that can handle multiple trays or pans at once. Good ovens are an investment for a baker, as they are often quite expensive. Having one, however, can save hundreds of future headaches over burned cookies, unevenly cooked cakes, flat souffles, and raw pie crust with underdone filling.
Baking is a science, and measuring tools are the bakery supplies that allow equations to turn into perfect recipes. Measuring cups and spoons do not need to be expensive, but should be made out of durable material and allow for easy washing. Another important measuring tool is a kitchen scale. These small devices are perfect for measuring ingredients by weight when needed. Using a scale can allow greater quantity accuracy in recipes, which in turn may improve baking results.
Bakeware, such as muffin tins, cake pans, or cookie sheets, comes in many shapes and sizes and is made out of many different materials. How many pieces and what kind of bakeware is necessary will depend on what the baker plans to make on a regular basis. The most essential bakery supplies in this category will usually include a few multi-use baking sheets, a cake pan, a muffin tin, and a pie dish. Cooling racks are also an essential piece of bakeware, as they allow even cooling of finished products.
Of course, the most essential baking supplies are what makes the process possible: ingredients. Setting up a basic pantry is an important part of any baking plan. Some supplies to consider keeping on hand include all-purpose and whole wheat flour, white and brown sugar, salt, baking powder, baking soda, and an array of spices. Refrigerated products, such as milk, cream, eggs, and butter, are also important to keep handy for any sudden baking urges. Stocking a basic pantry can help prevent mid-batter runs to the grocery store and prevent the interesting conundrum of whether orange juice might be an acceptable substitute for milk in a recipe.
