Basic Things you need to start Baking

Baking is ❤!

When I decided to start baking (2015), I immediately search on the net the basic tools needed to try simple pastries and cakes. Unfortunately, I was not able to find any site about it, so I decided to figure out on my own. 

For those Queens out there who wants to start baking here are the basic tools and equipment you need to have. Please take note that I am sharing infos based on my own research and experiences. 

1. OVEN. 

There are two common types of oven in baking. Conventional and Convection oven. Confusing right? hehehe I felt that before don't ya worry! It's normal you're just a beginner! hehe! Let's get through it for you to understand well. 

Conventional oven doesn't have fan in it. Cooking/baking time is slower and there's a possibility of uneven cooking because the heat doesn't circulate. The heat is coming from the bottom only and fixed. If you are using this kind of oven you should follow the temperature given in the recipe as well as the preheating time. 

TIPS: 
*Best to use if you are baking cakes, cupcakes, muffins and other delicate pastries. 
*When baking cupcakes and cakes, try to rotate the pan half of the baking time, for even baking. 
  for instance, when the baking time for cupcakes is 20 minutes, turn the pan after 10 minutes. 


Convection oven has fan in its feature. The fan helps to circulate and distribute the heat properly. It can also makes the cooking/baking time faster. However, it is not really advisable to use this in cake and cupcakes because the middle part of the cake will rise up easily and since it has a fan, it may blow the top on one side. NOT GOOD. So better turn off the fan if you'll bake cakes and cupcakes. But, convection oven is best if you are going to bake cookies and pies. 

TIPS:
*If using convectional oven, decrease 25 degrees Fahrenheit from the recommended temperature on the recipe. 
For instance, the recommended temperature is 350 degree Fahrenheit, it will become 325 degree Fahrenheit.


BOTH oven can be heated by gas and electricity. However, I prefer electric oven because the heat distribution is stable. Unlike if you are using gas oven the heat distribution may change and there's a big possibility that you will ran out of gas when baking. In addition to that, I have read a lot of experiences from co-bakers from one of the baking groups, who experienced exploding gas ovens. scaaaaaary! 

2. Cake and Cupcake Pans

The standard size for round pan if you are just starting in baking is 8" x 2.5" (8 inches diameter and 2 inches height). You can buy this for only 95 Php. For the cupcake pans I suggest that you need to have both 6 holes and 12 holes. The size is 3 oz for the standard cupcake size. I prefer Arrow brand. 6 holes cupcake pan will cost you 130 Php. The size of the whole pan is 7" x 10". While the 12 holes cupcake pan is 220 Php. The actual size of the whole pan in 10" x 13".

3. Mixing Bowls

You should have at least two mixing bowls. Big and medium size. Because most of the time, the recipe usually instructs to separate the wet and dry ingredients. 

4. Measuring Cups and Spoons

You NEED to have these. One of the most important thing to be successful in baking is measurement. Unlike in cooking, you can add up condiments if the taste doesn't satisfy you, in baking however, even a teaspoon of baking soda will affect the result of your bake goods. Always, always follow the measurement provided on the recipe. 


5. Mixing Whisk

If you're just starting to bake and no enough budget yet to buy mixer, you should have this. But if you want to start investing there's an available hand mixer at a very affordable price. You can buy a hand mixer for as low as 250 Php in divisoria or lazada. 

6. Spatula

In some recipes, you may encounter an instruction which says "fold" the batter, that's when you need to use the spatula. Also, it is best use in scraping the batter while mixing and transferring to the pan. 

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7. Decorating Tips and Coupler

There are a lot of decorating tips, hundreds of them I think... But there are basic tips that you need to have, with these you can make lots of designs as well. Here are my personal preference for the basic tips that you must have:

a. round tip
b. Leaf tip
c. open star tip (ca make a perfect swirl and rosette)
d. closed star tip (make a perfect swirl and shell border)
e. basketweave tip (make a basket weave effect and shell border as well)
f. grass tip

Coupler is a must have tool as well, specially when you are practicing. It is also called the "quick-change" tool because it will help you change decorating tip from to another without changing the pastry bag. 

8. Pastry Bags

Pastry bags come in different sizes. You can buy disposable and washable. For me, I think disposable is better because it's more convenient since I'll just throw it away after using. I usually buy the medium size. The cost is 40 - 50 Php for 10 pcs. 


There you go! Those are the primary tools that you'll need to start your baking journey. On my next post we'll talk about baking ingredients... :)

That's all for now Queens 👑
More to come...

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(¸.·´ (¸.·´ .·´ ¸ Mikaela