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I have been baking for a very long time now. I went through a phase where I simply had to own every single baking tool out there. I probably used 90% of these tools only once or twice before getting them out and/or cleaning them seemed to be more trouble than any effort saved by actually using them warranted.
[bctt tweet=”I used 90% of my kitchen gadgets only once before getting rid of them. Here are the tools bakers need.”]
At this point, I’m in my less-is-more phase, choosing to spend my money on well-built multi-taskers that will last for years rather than “but wait, there’s more” gadgets that aren’t very robust at all. I thought I’d share my top ten eleven must-have tools for serious bakers with you so you can know my recommendations. I own everything on this list, and I use everything on a very regular basis. I hope my recommendations help you when it comes time for you to either replace old tools or purchase new ones. I want you to feel you’ve gotten your money’s worth!
My Top Eleven Twelve tools for serious bakers aren’t listed in order from most used to least used, or from most expensive to least expensive. Rarely will you need to use all ten tools for the same job. If you do have to use all ten items to make one dish, you might want to consider never making that particular dish again unless you are a fan of doing the dishes!
Brooks says
I sort of knew what I’d see on the list when I clicked over from Facebook, and indeed it’s spot on. Better yet, the reasoning behind the choices are presented with thought, and based on experience. Excellent work, my dear!
Jennifer Field says
Thanks Brooks! Viviane pointed out that she’d add whisk to her list, and I had to go and add it as an “oops–what is wrong with me?!” I use my whisk all the time! 🙂
Chef Felisha Wild says
Hi Jenni,
A wonderful set of tools and I could agree more about the kitchen scale. A scale has the power to super-charge your baking and take it to another level.
Thank you also for the mention of our rolling pins. I take great pride in making them and I know that each person that has one loves them as well. You are the best.
Have an amazing Halloween as well dear. 🙂
Felisha
Jennifer Field says
Halloween is my favorite, and I will finally be home after a week at my parents’ house helping them out!
I love your pins, and one day I will own one. Or three. I love that there is an artisan out there I know and trust and can feel good referring folks to. xo
Doris Carpenter says
That was a great list and I only lacked a few items which is on my Christmas list for ME! Thanks for the time and effort you put into getting information out to us bakers. The most important thing I have is YOU for all the good recipes,tips and videos. 🙂
Jennifer Field says
<3 You are making me well up. I'm happy to help, Doris! xoxo
Barb | Creative Culinary says
I must be a serious baker because I have everything on this list or at least my version. After using my daughters 6 quart lift bowl mixer last year when my things were in storage I have to tell you I could not have been happier to get back to my little 5 quart tilt head KitchenAid. It’s a workhorse in my kitchen and beyond living on the counter I just found the difference in operation between the two substantial and prefer the tilt head enough that if and when my ‘old girl’ (29years!) dies I’ll replace it with the same model.
I also have a tapered rolling pin but I never use it. I’m sure you’re right but I can’t help myself; when I open that drawer and see my Grandma’s rolling pin sitting right next to it I go for it each time!
I’m sure you have helped build a Christmas list or two Jenni and made Santa’s job a lot easier! 🙂
Jennifer Field says
There is something to be said for the nostalgia of using grandma’s. I won’t try and talk you out of it. But I will try to talk you into giving the tapered pin a try just once. 🙂
Jamie says
Excellent list and many of these items, the ones I don’t already own, are on my wish list. Those KitchenAid mixers are dirt cheap; they sell for double that in Europe! And I love those nesting bowls and would love them. And everyone does need a set of silicone spatulas… mine are my favorite and most used kitchen utensils. Great list!
Jennifer Field says
Thanks friend, and thanks for sharing! I was actually surprised to see the 6-quart for under $350. And while I prefer a tilt-head, I prefer the larger bowl more! 🙂
Niko says
I have the Escali V136 Pana Measuring Scale and love it. Very easy to punch in a common ingredient, weigh it and even convert to grams/ounces if desired.
Couldn’t live without parchment!
How about a sifter – or do you use a mesh strainer, whisk or food processor?
Jennifer Field says
I just use a fine mesh strainer, Niko. I used to have a sifter with the turny handle and one with the squeezy handle. Both made an enormous mess, or rather I made an enormous mess with them both! lol I love parchment sheets, but the Reynold’s stuff that comes in a roll makes me swear and swear. It never cuts evenly and it rolls up and makes me Very Very sad. =)
MaggieToo says
Oh yeah, that Reynolds parchment has exhausted my cursing vocabulary many times. Here’s a tip: the giant parchment rolls they sell at Sam’s Club are vastly superior — cut evenly, and don’t curl (or at least don’t curl much). Plus the massive rolls last a loooong time.
Jennifer Field says
I really want to get the full sheet pan-sized parchment from a food service website, but it’s hard to justify 500 pieces (for a total of 1000 1/2 sheet size). And where to store it?! I’m not a member at Sam’s but a friend is a Costco member. I’ll ask her if she can find it there. Thanks, Maggie!
Betsy @ Desserts Required says
This is a great list of ‘must haves’ if you are going to spend a lot of time baking. No surprise, though, coming from you!! 🙂
Jennifer Field says
Thanks, Betsy! Just trying to tell it like it is, even though not everything is fancy. Sometimes the most important tools are the least flashy! 🙂
Karen @ Karen's Kitchen Stories says
Great list Jenny! Of course you got me all interested in the different baking stones, even thought the one I have is just fine. =)
Jennifer Field says
Right?! I’m now coveting both the options I highlighted even though I like my PC one. I want one a bit bigger, though. I like Big Pizzas! lol
Stacy says
Hallelujah and praise God! “If you consider yourself a serious baker and you don’t have a scale, then you’re not a serious baker. Weighing your ingredients is so much more accurate than using volume measures for ingredients that can pack down (flour being the most critical).” I have been trying to tell folks this for a Very Long Time. Why, oh, why, won’t they listen to me? I’ll be sharing this link liberally about the place in the hope that they will listen to you, Oh Great Oracle of Baking Knowledge. Sadly, my hopes will probably be deflated, much like over-proved bread. Deep sigh.
Also, it is my dying wish to someday finally own a tapered pin from Chef Felisha. Not that I am dying or anything, but I just wanted to express the seriousness of my wish. 🙂 Her pins are gorgeous.
I have a Kenwood Major with a 6.7 liter bowl and a 1200W motor. It’s not as pretty as the KitchenAid but, boy, howdy, can that sucker mix and knead. I think they are hard to come by in the US though. And they are fairly costly, but worthy every penny.
Jennifer Field says
I have a Viking 7-quart, but it’s a first generation and it needed some tweaking. I would love to have a Kenwood. I’d rather something be a workhorse than look like a centerfold! And the Kenwoods tilt, don’t they? I would love a 6- or 7-quart tilt that works a bit better than the Viking. Sigh.
One day, you and I will both own Chef Felisha pins! =D
Judy @My Well Seasoned Life says
Great list. Only thing I’d add is parchment paper. It makes most jobs easier and cleaner.
Jennifer Field says
Yup,it was a toss up between Silpat and parchment, and I use both regularly. Silpat won because it’s not disposable, but there’s a place for both in my kitchen, and I think there should be a place for both in every kitchen. Thanks so much for stopping in!