If you’re partially new to decorating cakes and looking for the basic types of equipments/tools that you'll need to decorate your cakes like a pro then it’s important to know which tools you need at first.
This way, you can ensure that your bakery kitchen is fully equipped to handle whatever cake decorating project it is that you want to fulfil, and at the same time, you’re not overstocking tools/gadgets which are adding to your inventory.
As we all know it’s pretty easy to get carried away with extra appliances and accessories that might initially seem like must-haves but as time passes, they add the least value to your kitchen.
In order to help you cut down on baking equipment costs while also avoiding over-cluttering your kitchen, I have picked out the absolute essential baking tools that you need for your basic baking.
Table of Contents
1. Turntable
2. Palette Knives
3. Nozzles/Piping Bag
4. Stand Mixer/Hand Mixer
5. Measuring Cups
6. Rubber Spatula
1. Turntable
An icing turntable is used by placing an undecorated cake onto its rotating surface, then turning it as you smooth the cake with frosting or stick decorations on your cake.
Things which you should be looking for before investing in a good turntable:
A good Spin: Turntable that spins easily and smoothly.
No Embellishments: It’s important the turntable is plain, with no aesthetics that might create a rough surface for the cake.
A Non-Stick Surface: The surface should be a sturdy base to which the cake can rest.
Height: Tables with long bases that stand tall, away from the work surface are preferred.
Pro Tip: Never forget to place a wet cloth over your turntable top. This avoids the cake slipping off the table and maintains sturdiness.
2. Palette Knives
These are used for spreading icing and filling and to lift layers of cake. There are many types available but the most essential ones are: straight or bent. Straight palette knives are more secure while evenly spreading the cream between the cake layers and bent knives give a flatter finish when icing.
3. Nozzles/Piping Bag
Frosting with Nozzles adds an unmatched appeal to a basic frosted cake. The icing nozzle design helps to add designs and decoration to iced cakes. If you are a passionate baker then you might have come across various basic piping techniques. The most used icing nozzle is - Open Star Tip. This is one go-to nozzle for almost all your cake decorating ideas. Also, you need is a piping bag to insert the nozzle and cream for the frosting. The piping bags can be reusable ones or single-use plastic ones.
4. Stand Mixer/Hand Mixer
Alright, so this one might be a shot to the wallet, but it’s a worthwhile investment that will last you for a lifetime of baking. It’s important to select the mixer that’s right for your kitchen and budget, and from there, the possibilities are endless. If the stand mixer feels like too much of a financial commitment, consider an electric hand mixer. While it may not have as much power as a stand mixer (the difference can be spotted while whipping the cream), you can get away with it for most baking endeavours. From cookies to cakes to whipping cream, hand mixers suffice it all.
5. Measuring Cups
Oh, trust me here, measuring ingredients the right way is the key to perfect baking.
Baking is a science and art both. Baking relies on chemical reactions happening between your ingredients. Unfortunately, this means that you can't simply mix up a dollop of this, a pinch of that, a handful of flour, and expect to get the perfect chewy cookies.
Baking doesn't work like that (unless you have years and years of experience making your favourite cake recipe).
For example, if you add too much butter or not enough flour, your cookies will spread. If you add too much baking powder, your cakes will taste weird and will rise rapidly and then sink in the middle.
Also, while doing chocolate ganache, it's absolutely important to correctly measure the cream and chocolate. Without properly measuring the ingredients, you will face a hard time reaching the right consistency.
So it's a great idea to add a set of measuring cups or a weighing scale (we have talked about a weighing scale in our previous blogs-
Read Here)
6. Rubber Spatula
In the world of baking, every last drop of batter or dough counts, and that’s why you can’t go without a rubber spatula to scrape the sides of your bowls and pans, ensuring that every last particle is swiped away clean. Ideally, you should have a couple of different sizes, depending on the baking project, but any silicone rubber spatula will get the job done. We prefer the one-piece spatulas, as opposed to those with a detachable silicone head because they’re not sturdy and less prone to catching dust.
Hope this article will be a helpful one for you. You can share your experiences in the comments below. Happy Baking!
