There is a common misconception that baking is an overly complicated venture best left to the professionals. While accurately following a recipe is needed to be successful, people of all skill levels can enjoy the wonders of this creative art.
For anyone wanting to improve their skills or for those who are ready to explore the wonderful and therapeutic world of baking, decking out your kitchen with versatile and efficient gadgets can make the entire process far more enjoyable. Get the most bang for your buck by exploring upcoming holiday sales and The Good Guys Black Friday deals.
Stand Mixer
Any serious baker will tell you that the most important kitchen gadget you can own is a sturdy, high-quality stand mixer. And they don’t come more luxurious and versatile than KitchenAid. This iconic stand mixer is popular worldwide, and for good reason.
It comes with an array of helpful and clever attachments that allow you to make everything from ice cream, pasta, and homemade sausages to peeling fruits, blending cake batter, and everything in between. This versatile gadget does not come cheap, but its incredible range and longevity make it a worthwhile investment.
Food Processor
A food processor is not strictly required for any avid baker, but the convenience it brings to the kitchen is unmatched, regardless of what you are making. It can be used to blend cake batter, combine pastry dough without introducing unwanted heat, and finely chop a wide range of ingredients, such as nuts and dried fruits.
The Cuisinart Easy Prep Pro is a brilliant option thanks to its powerful motor, extra-sharp blades, and dishwasher-friendly components. Select a model with a container size that can easily accommodate the volume of your baking needs.
Thermometer
A reliable thermometer is a kitchen must-have for bakers and regular cooks alike. Oven thermometers are not always dependable, and unlike traditional cooking, many baking recipes require strict adherence to temperatures.
The Thermapen is a brilliant option for anyone who works a lot with piping hot sugar while baking. If left even a minute too long, sugar can quickly burn and become unusable. Its accuracy is unparalleled, and the wide temperature range means there is no recipe it can’t handle.
Kitchen Scale
Many people find baking intimidating because it is as much science as it is art. Precise measuring, accurate baking times and temperatures, and adherence to an ingredient list are crucial to success.
While a great set of measuring cups and spoons is fine for most recipes, you won’t get a more accurate reading than measuring ingredients by weight using a kitchen scale. Options like the OXO kitchen scale are fantastic for spot-on measures, with a convenient pull-out screen for larger bowls that may block your view. Keep a volume-to-weight conversions table on hand to ensure each measure is correct.
Hand Mixer
As much as you may love your stand mixer, not everything requires the time, effort, and cleanup of such heavy equipment. For those moments you need to whip cream to top a cake, fluff up egg whites for a delicious tart, or just blend together a small batch of cupcake batter, a simple and reliable hand mixer is the way to go.
Hand mixers are handy for anyone living in a smaller space that cannot accommodate a large stand mixer on the counter. Models like the KitchenAid hand mixer are exceptionally versatile and available with a selection of attachments, such as dough hooks, twin beaters, and a balloon whisk that can be operated at nine different speeds.
Decorating Turntable
For many bakers, decorating the final product is the moment they have been looking forward to most. From extravagant birthday cakes to delicate and simple tarts and pastries, flexing your creativity gives your baked goods the final flair they need.
To remove the awkwardness of constantly having to move the tray around to reach every spot, a decorating turntable helps you access every angle of your creation with a simple flick of the wrist. Many models are easily adjustable and equipped with non-slip rings to keep your cake or tart firmly in place while it spins.
Ice-Cream Scoop
Ice cream scoops make rustling together a small bowl of this smooth and creamy dessert a breeze whenever the mood strikes. But they are also incredibly useful when portioning out cookie dough and cupcake batter (and meatballs when a savory recipe calls for them).
By using a set measured scoop, you can guarantee that every cookie will be the exact same size, helping them all bake evenly in the same amount of time. They can even be used to dollop an even amount of frosting onto cooled cupcakes. To simplify the cleaning process, generously spray the scoop with non-stick cooking spray before you begin.
Pastry Blender
If you enjoy making homemade pie crusts and flaky biscuits, a pastry blender is a handy kitchen tool that will help you create the perfect dough. It is used to cut cold butter or shortening into a flour mixture without needing to use your hands. This removes the risk of making the dough too warm and melting the butter before baking, which will comprise the light and flaky texture you are after.
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