20 Home Baking Equipment You Must Have
From ovens to working tables, essential home baking equipment is crucial for your home baking business. While the right baking techniques and home baking tools can take you somewhere, only the right equipment will take you to new heights.
In this post, we’ll talk about the essential home baking equipment you should have. We’ll also talk about how many you need and how they help your business thrive.
Home Baking Equipment
- Oven
- Digital Thermometer
- Blender
- Food Processor
- Electric Mixer
- Digital Weighing Scale
- Cooling Racks
- Baking Pans and Sheets
- Baking Rack
- Glass Containers
- Refrigerator
- MicrowMicrowaveave
- Double Boiler
- Vacuum Sealer
- Rolling Storage Cart
- Dough Sheeter
- Proofing Cabinet
- Deep Fryer
- Work Tables
- Dishwasher
1. Oven
Recommended quantity: at least one
At the top of the list is the oven. This might be obvious, but we’ll say it anyway: you can’t bake without an oven.
The best oven for baking heats equally so you can bake multiple red velvet cupcakes, marbled brownies, chocolate chip cookies, or layers of fluffy chiffon cake at once. While we don’t recommend getting a huge oven if you don’t have the budget yet, consider investing in a durable, reliable one in the future.
But (this is the best-case scenario) if you have the budget for it, we recommend getting a huge commercial oven so you can bake delicious goods more efficiently.
You can also opt for freestanding electric ranges. They’re safe, efficient, and have cooktops and an oven underneath. In other words, they’re the unsung heroes of many businesses.
At the end of the day, the right oven depends on your business needs and goals. If you want an all-in-one baking companion, consider getting an electric range. But if you want to be more efficient and produce more items, consider getting a commercial oven.
2. Digital Thermometer
Recommended quantity: one per oven
Unless you have a brand-new or recently calibrated oven, your oven’s temperature is probably inaccurate. You see, as time passes by, even the best ovens might display inaccurate temperature readings.
For instance, when you set your oven to 450°F, it might not be 450°F inside. It could be off by just a few degrees or worse, by a lot.
Imagine following a recipe to a tee, only to find out that your oven isn’t displaying the right temperature. Such a waste of time and ingredients, right?
The most affordable solution? A digital oven thermometer. It’s an easy-to-use baking tool― just place it inside your oven to know the actual temperature.
3. Blender
Recommended quantity: one
Contrary to popular belief, a great blender isn’t just for making smoothies. It can also make your baking journey easier by pureeing fruits, vegetables, and other ingredients for carrot cupcakes, fruit cakes, and more.
Plus, advanced blenders do more than just puree. Many modern blenders have digital displays, automatic load-sensing technology, and extra accessories for seamless chopping. While the added buttons and displays are nice, opt for something easy to use and clean. Prioritize these features and you’re heading to a more profitable business.
4. Food Processor
Recommended quantity: one
While a blender does many things, a food processor can do more (their uses are different, though).
A food processor isn’t just a nice-to-have item but a durable companion that makes many baking tasks quick. These tasks include making a chocolate cheesecake crust, chopping bananas for muffins, and even making an apple pie crust.
In short, a food processor is one of the handiest gadgets you can invest in. It can dice, shred, grind, knead, and chop baking ingredients, saving time and effort.
5. Electric Mixer
Recommended quantity: one or two
Another must-have baking equipment for your business is an electric mixer.
There are two kinds of electric mixers you can get when you’re just starting: a hand mixer and stand mixer. As the term suggests, you need to use your for the former. On the other hand, you don’t need to exert effort when you use the latter.
While a stand mixer is the better option, it’s more expensive than a hand mixer. So, if you don’t have the budget for a stand mixer, get a hand mixer instead. It works just as well for mixing cookie dough and other recipes that don’t need much time to mix.
Once you have the budget for it, invest in a stand mixer. They’re great for creaming butter and sugar, making meringues, whipping cream, and perfecting buttercream. A stand mixer can make things more efficient, but a hand mixer can do the job just as well.
6. Digital Weighing Scale
Recommended quantity: one
Baking is an art and science, and you can take care of the science part by having a digital weighing scale. You see, it’s okay to use measuring tools like cups and spoons, but weighing your ingredients is more precise.
Why? It’s because you might scoop a little more or a little less. But if you weigh everything, you get the exact measurement every time. A gram will always be a gram, and an ounce will always be an ounce.
Remember, precision is crucial in baking. Not being precise might mean a baking disaster or unhappy customers.
7. Cooling Racks
Recommended quantity: at least two
Whether you’re baking a batch of healthy raisin oatmeal cookies or a delicious graduation cake, you need cooling racks to let everything cool.
Also known as wire racks, cooling racks are essential home baking equipment that cools your baked treats evenly. They are designed to let the top and bottom of your baked goods cool evenly so they don’t become soggy.
Plus, they’re inexpensive, get the job done, and can last for years as long as you care for them. If you have the budget for them, we recommend getting non-stick wire racks since they’re easier to use than the regular ones.
8. Baking Pans and Sheets
Recommended quantity: six
We can’t emphasize this enough: you need baking pans for your business. Depending on what you’re baking, you need different shapes and sizes. Baking pans also come in different materials: stainless steel, aluminum, glass, and clay.
Stainless steel and aluminum heat up fast, while clay and glass pans slowly do so. However, clay and glass baking pans retain heat longer after they become hot.
If you can’t get many baking pans yet, we recommend having at least one round cake pan, one square pan, one 12-muffin pan, one glass pie pan, one loaf pan, and one rectangular pan since they’re the most commonly used in the kitchen.
9. Baking Rack
Recommended quantity: one
You might have all the essential home baking equipment you need, but what’s the point if you don’t have the space to store them? This is where a baking rack comes in.
Baking racks help expand your space by having shelves where you can easily access your tools from. They come in many sizes and forms. You can pick a rack that fits in the corner, a tall one, or a rack with many shelves and drawers.
You should also consider the material. While many racks are made of metal, you can also find plastic and wooden ones, depending on your vibe.
10. Glass Containers
Recommended quantity: at least ten
Whether you’re using a lot of the basics like sugar and flour or simple prepping mixes for an upcoming bake day, you need a lot of storage containers.
While containers come in many materials, we recommend glass. It doesn’t absorb odors and flavors over time. Plus, glass containers are easier to clean and can withstand heat well.
While the number of glass containers you need depends on your day-to-day operations, we recommend having at least ten for the most basic ingredients, such as flour, sugar, yeast, salt, eggs, milk, fats, extracts, flavorings, and spices.
11. Refrigerator
Recommended quantity: one
Whether you’ve spent hours preparing minimalist cakes or cute cupcakes for your bake sale, all homemade treats are labors of love. Keep them fresh, delicious, and moist as long as possible in the fridge.
While putting baked goods like French & Italian bread and donuts in the fridge might make them dry, others must be in cool temperatures. These include cakes, cupcakes, pies, brownies, and muffins.
12. Microwave
Recommended quantity: one
While an oven can heat things just fine, a microwave does it faster. It’s also small, so it doesn’t take up much space.
Plus, it doesn’t need to be preheated like a regular oven, so it can warm your ingredients quickly and save energy. They’re also great for defrosting frozen ingredients quickly and easily without hot air that might dry them out.
13. Double Boiler
Recommended quantity: one
Others might throw shade at us for this, but every home baker must know how to melt chocolate. Whether you’re using it as a drizzle or making chocolate-based treats, chocolate is an essential baking ingredient you have to handle well.
Unfortunately, you can’t melt chocolate properly without a double boiler. It uses steam as a heat source to melt this beloved ingredient. They usually have two pieces: a larger pot and a smaller one.
14. Vacuum Sealer
Recommended quantity: one
We recommend getting a vacuum sealer if you want to keep your ingredients fresh or extend their shelf-life. They work by sucking the air out of plastic bags before you seal them. Plus, they give you more space, which is perfect for home bakers without dirty kitchens or with limited kitchen space.
15. Rolling Storage Cart
Recommended quantity: one
A rolling cart helps transport your ingredients, tools, or products from one point to another. This is especially useful for home bakers with pantries and huge kitchens.
Just imagine having to carry everything by hand. It doesn’t look easy, does it?
16. Dough Sheeter
Recommended quantity: one
Rolling dough may seem easy, but even the most experienced bakers can’t do it well. Sometimes, the dough can be too thick, thin, or uneven. The solution? A dough sheeter.
Now, we’re not telling you to get a commercial dough sheeter right away. You can get a countertop one, which is perfect for baking pastries and pizza.
17. Proofing Cabinet
Recommended quantity: one
Consider getting a proofing cabinet if you sell bread, donuts, and other yeast-based products.
While the bowl method works just fine, a proofing cabinet can control temperature and humidity so your dough rises without fail every time. In fact, the best bakers use proofing cabinets to make the best breads, donuts, and croissants.
18. Deep Fryer
Recommended quantity: one
A deep fryer is another essential home baking equipment if you fry a lot to make delicious treats such as empanadas, churros, and donuts. It also helps you save oil by reusing it for other batches.
And since most deep fryers have automatic timers, you can work on other stuff while deep frying donuts, churros, and more. When the time’s done, the deep fryer will automatically switch off.
19. Work Tables
Recommended quantity: one to two
Commercial kitchens use stainless steel work tables for many reasons. For one, stainless is durable and can handle heavy, essential home baking equipment. It also doesn’t rust or corrode, so you don’t have to worry about replacing it as much as wood or plastic. Lastly, stainless steel tables are easy to clean and look great, which makes your kitchen more appealing to work in.
20. Dishwasher
Recommended quantity: one
While many bakers don’t usually get dishwashers, consider getting one. By saving time, energy, and water, dishwashers let you eliminate the low-level task of washing the dishes. Simply put the dishes in, let the dishwasher do its thing, and voila― you get clean dishes every time.
Frequently Asked Questions
The 10 baking equipment you need are oven, refrigerator, electric mixer, baking pans and sheets, digital weighing scale, microwave, cooling racks, food processor, blender, and glass containers.
The 5 types of baking equipment are measuring, mixing, baking, cooling, and storage equipment.
What are the 15 baking tools and equipment?
The 15 baking tools and equipment you need are an oven, digital thermometer, blender, food processor, electric mixer, digital weighing scale, cooling racks, baking pans and sheets, baking rack, glass containers, refrigerator, microwave, double boiler, vacuum sealer, and rolling storage cart.
Conclusion
Having the essential home baking equipment helps set your home baking business up for success. From measuring and mixing to cooling and storage equipment, this guide helps you focus on what matters and what you should invest in first. Happy baking!
About HICAPS
Over the years, HICAPS has helped bakers and businesses make delicious products by offering ingredients like ChiffonAide Cake Oil, Magic Whizk Whipping Cream, Red Velvet Flavor Emulco, and Instabake Brownie Mix.
HICAPS also provides tools and resources to valued partners, such as the free “How to Increase Your Sales Amidst the Pandemic” E-book and free dealer locator that helps look for baking ingredients near me.
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