Baking
Baking has some passing similarities to motherhood. There are gentle whispers of encouragement, careful wrapping and precise temperature measurements. There are terrible messes. You literally dote over your sourdough starter. Pictures are taken, captioned and shared with family and friends. Your proudest adult moment is the time you pulled a braided challah bread out of the oven… and it was the most beautiful thing you’d ever seen. And it was delicious. OK, so it’s not a perfect analogy.
While some bakers make it seem effortless, baking is actually a pretty demanding discipline that requires precise measuring, timing and more than a little intuition and patience. Luckily, from the very best yeast and rolling pins to the modern mainstay of commercial bakeries, the stand-mixer, there are some amazing products and tools available that can make the task of baking much more convenient and accessible. I mean, why would you grind grain between two stone wheels unless you absolutely had too?
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Baking essentials
Saf-Instant yeast, red label
A “King Arthur Flour test kitchen staple for decades” this is the yeast of choice for professional bakers. It’s appropriate for all dough, works more quickly than active dry yeast and can be stored in the freezer for up to a year.
JK Adams maple rolling dowel
A high-ranking choice of reviewers, this maple rolling dowel isn’t quite as agile as the tapered French pins but can accept spacers for precision rolling.
My Weigh KD-8000 Baker’s Math scale
This digital scale features a baker’s math/percentage-weighing function for effortless conversions, a programmable auto-off feature (no more racing your scale), removable stainless-steel platform, a backlit display and a protective gunk shield. Pretty much everything you could want in a scale.
Matfer Bourgeat nylon dough scraper
It may seem overpriced for a dough scraper, but professional chefs and home cooks alike (ourselves included) swear by them for a reason. Very strong and super-flexible, these versatile pieces of plastic will soon become indispensable.
Utensils & tools
The Original Danish Dough Whisk
This traditional Danish whisk makes mixing dough a breeze. The clever design avoids the problem of dough sticking to wires or clumping up in the middle of more modern whisks. When you’re done mixing your dough, simply rinse the whisk under water to clean.
OXO Good Grips baker’s dusting wand
Simply twist the handle to evenly flour baking pans, uniformly sprinkle flour over your work surface or to give your hard work a precision dusting of powdered sugar.
Extra-large silicone pastry mat
An extra-large nonstick, no-slip silicone baking mat (28-by-20 inches) that’s also twice as thick as other pastry mats for more nonstick space while you work. The mat is dishwasher-safe and rolls easily for convenient storage.
Pastry cutter set
Professional-quality stainless-steel pastry cutter with five round biscuit cutter sizes instead of the usual four.
Bakeware
Nordic Ware natural aluminum commercial baker’s half sheet pans
The workhorse of any kitchen or bakery, aluminum’s superior heat conductivity ensures even rising and baking while a reinforced encapsulated steel rim prevents warping while roasting.
USA Pan bakeware aluminized steel loaf pan
This commercial-grade 1-pound loaf pan coated with Americoat silicone features a unique corrugated surface that facilitates air circulation for evenly baked goods and a quick, easy release.
Amagabeli nonstick perforated baguette pan
Amagabeli’s four-well nonstick French baguette pan is made from food-grade carbon steel for exceptional strength and durability. The perforation allows air to circulate around the loaves to create a crispy, golden crust for a beautiful crostini or bruschetta appetizer.
9-inch banneton proofing basket set
Make beautiful boules with this easy-to-clean 9-inch rattan proofing basket with a linen liner, a bread lame and a dough scraper. Breathable wicker creates a moisture-wicking effect, which makes for a crispier crust.
Featured image: Skitterphoto/Pixabay
