Basic baking equipment help needed

3_cheeky_princesses

Hello

I have never really done a lot of baking etc but really want to get into it and start doing some with my children and making lots of bits for Christmas (cakes, pies, fudge, sweets etc etc)

My baking equipment is very limited / non exsistant and wondered what i should have in my cupboard to start with. The essentials and must haves...

Also any good deals or places to buy from as i would like to get as cheap as poss

Thank you for any advice or help :T

flutterbyuk25

Not sure what you need as I'm a newbie to baking, but I noticed that Aldi had lots of silicon bakeware for under £4 today, including cake tins, muffin tins and utensils.

HTH

x

Olliebeak

I'd buy a set of scales to start off with. Don't have to be mega-expensive, but it does help if they weigh in both grams AND ounces. I paid £1.99 for mine (Asda SmartPrice) and they work just fine for me.

A couple of 7-8inch sandwich cake tins (or silicon if you would prefer them) - can also be used for quiche bases as well as sandwich cakes.

A 2lb-loaf tin not just for bread - good for cakes too and easier to slice than round ones.

A 12-hole bun tin for fairy cakes and yorkshire puddings.

A couple of baking trays (for biscuits/cookies/scones).

A rolling pin - if you intend to make your own scones/pastry/biscuits.

A set of scone/cookie cutters (come in three sizes). You can also get a set of measuring cups (good for American recipes) and a set of measuring spoons (very useful). All of those can be bought quite cheaply in most supermarkets, Wilkos etc.

Forgot to add a couple of mixing bowls (can be plastic) - though you can use a very large pyrex dish to start off with. In fact I often use the lids of pyrex dishes to make a pie that only needs a pastry lid.

If you're making Fairy Cakes, you'll need the paper cases to bake them in. Same goes for Muffins - same thing only deeper!

If you decide to buy the ordinary metal bakeware, you will need greaseproof paper (or silicon sheets) to line them with. Even non-stick metal tins aren't quite as non-stick as they're supposed to be.

If you find that you really get into baking, there's loads of other stuff that you might want to graduate onto - but that's a whole new ball-game (and a whole new spending experience ).

esmf73

First of all I'd say that you will need a weighing scales, some bowls for mixing, wooden and metal spoons, a hand whisk and a set of measuring spoons.

Tin wise, I think you'd probably need a round tin, a baking tray - with a little 1/2 inch lip then you can use it for fudge as well, and a patty tin (think they're called) so you can bake individual (fairy type) cakes.

Ikea do a good range that is reasonable I think. Although check out freecycle and see what people are prepared to give away. Specially if you say you're making it with your kids!!

Woofles

I can recommend this book, its aimed at children but don't let that put you off there are some lovely recipes and each recipes starts by telling you what equipment you will need.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0751351210/ref=sib_rdr_dp


If your budget will stretch to it get an electric hand mixer takes a lot of hard work out of creaming a sponge cake, although I have a food processor I still whip my hand mixer out for certain things, Yorkshire puds for one.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Russell-14451-Collection-speeds-beaters/dp/B0016OSC72/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=kitchen&qid=1253564416&sr=8-4

Toonie

My list would be the same as Olliebeak.

I'd definitely say to go for a hand mixer, I have the Argos Value one which is around £5 and is still going strong after 2 years.

Olliebeak

I was re-thinking about the rolling pin bit, because for years I used a clean milk bottle. But then I thought, absolutely NOBODY has round milk bottles these days :rotfl:!

HB81

I would recommend a trip to Poundland if you have one nearby - they usually have loads of baking stuff and the baking trays and bread tins I've bought are great, just as good as ones from other places that are much much more expensive.

debtmuncher

be careful with silicone baking ware....its not such the "wow" thing to have because everyone has mixed results with them. the thing that puts me off is that the baking actually sticks to them.

what i have is

electric hand beater (good for cake mixes , yorkshire pudding batter, pancake batter)

hand whisk ( good for batters)

rolling pin (but instead of using one for scones i just hand flatten it out as its the depth that you need so not really much use for a rolling pin with that). good for pastries, cookie dough etc

a few mixing bowls. tescos do a good value range i think.

fairy cake tins i find are naff now. must be the papercases thats putting me off since they are really small. much prefer muffin tins for muffins and fairy cakes. still have my tin for those handy snack cakes for lunchboxes

couple of pyrex dishes for eves pudding etc

dough cutters but a plastic cup is just as good. even for scones i just flatten them out then cut them into triangles.

a food processor if you want to use it for pastry etc but i dont have one (probably too much faffing about for me lol)

hand blender and a normal blender is what i have as well.

a few baking sheets/ cake tins/ loaf tins.

build your equipment up. t max (or something !) does a good range at good prices.

piping bag and nozzles is on my wish list for this year!

thriftlady_2

Olliebeak wrote: »

I was re-thinking about the rolling pin bit, because for years I used a clean milk bottle. But then I thought, absolutely NOBODY has round milk bottles these days :rotfl:!

Lots of people have wine bottles though!

For bakeware I think it is a mistake to buy as cheaply as possible. You don't want to be replacing things every year. Get good quality and they will last you a lifetime.

I think an electric handmixer is really useful too;)

Plastic bowls are great for kids as they can lift them easily.

zippychick

Debtmuncher I got a cheapo piping bag off ebay for £2 or something?

Definitely ask on freecycle. A woman gave me a big box of stuff - and if it wasn't for her, I would have spent a fortune!

Second hand shops are particularly good for bargains - baking tins, pyrex dishes, paraphanalia, mixing bowls from tescos - about £1 each I think, big plastic ones.

Scales are definitely a must - mine were £2.50 (bought £15 digital set last year which fell apart)

I got these which I find really useful - for cup measurements, liquid im Mls and also the little teaspoon, half tsp, table spoon etc - they are proper baking measurements and dirt cheap.

Some really good advice so far I would echo . You can spend as much as you want or as little. Start out with basic like fairy cakes and muffins for eg , then progress once you have mastered them (and buy equip accordingly)

I also have a FP (freecycle), hand mixer (gave to me by friends Mum years ago), blender, round baking trays, 2 square, loaf tin, cutter outers, piping bag, wooden spoon, big metal spoon, sillicone muffin tray (mother gave me), and sillicone cake dish thing (?) , greaseproof paper and one of those magic bowl scrapers i cant remember the name of.