25 Essential Baking Tools, Tested by Food & Wine

Our list of tested baking tools includes our favorite stand mixer, durable bakeware, and a digital kitchen scale.

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25 Essential Baking Tools, Tested by Food & Wine

Food and Wine / Challenger Breadware

Building an arsenal of essential cooking tools is a lifelong project for most home cooks. But as we collect frying pans and stockpots, one category of cookware is sometimes overlooked: essential baking equipment. The right gear can make tedious tasks faster and easier. Additionally, because baking is such a precise science, quality gear is essential for luscious, expertly-baked desserts like jammy blueberry pies and sourdough boules.

But how do you know what equipment is worth the investment? “My advice is to always opt for good quality with the baking tools you plan on having for a long time, like cutting boards, stand mixers, rolling pins, and knives. Once you have them, take good care of them so they last for many years," says Nichole Accettola, the owner of San Francisco-based bakery Kantine, and the author of the new cookbook, Scandinavian from Scratch.

With Accettola’s expert advice in mind, we’ve put together this list of 25 essential tools every home baker needs, including nonstick bakeware, small appliances, and baking tools we've tested and stand by.

After testing 19 options to find the best cookie sheets, we felt confident declaring these half-sheet pans the winners. They received perfect scores in every category, and we loved the lightweight design. We also appreciated this cookie sheet's gently rolled edges, which made it easy to hold. This pan is pro-level for its durability, too. It’s essentially warp-resistant and can handle oven temps of up to 475˚F.

While professional bakers prefer full-sized pans, these half-sheets are more common for hobby bakers and will fit in a standard home oven. Nordic Ware is Accettola’s brand of choice; she says she particularly likes their baking sheets and loaf pans.

Price at time of publish: $25

Why silicone over any other spatula material? It’s incredibly heat resistant, which we confirmed in our tests of the best silicone spatulas. This set showed no signs of warping or melting, even at 500˚F (the company promises heat-safe qualities up to 600˚F). The material used is BPA-free. Flexibility is ideal when it comes to silicone spatulas, and this set excelled at scraping the sides of mixing bowls. It comes in four sizes, including a jar scraper — perfect for getting out every last ounce of nut butter.

Price at time of publish: $25

Food & Wine / Tamara Staples

A good bread cloche will help replicate the results of a professional bread-baking oven, trapping in steam for an irresistibly crispy crust. This one, from Challenger, is the best you can buy for most bread-baking tasks, owing to its extremely heavy cast iron construction. It handily beat out the competition in our review of the best bread cloches. Unlike lesser models, this bread cloche seals tightly to maximize the amount of steam, and we especially like that it can be used for both boules and bâtards.

Price at time of publish: $299

Some baking tasks benefit from a hand mixer rather than a stand mixer, like making cooked buttercream. That’s why we conducted a thorough test to find the best hand mixer in every category. It’s no surprise Breville took home the title for our best overall pick because, at 240 watts, this mixer is seriously powerful.

In our tests, we liked how quiet and lightweight it was, and all bakers will appreciate the rubber-tipped beaters, which won’t scratch ceramic or steel mixing bowls. With nine speeds, a digital display, and a timer, this hand mixer is an impressive under-$200 buy.

Price at time of publish: $150

Food & Wine / Ashley Craiger

A folded hand towel will work in a pinch, but oven mitts are ideal for maneuvering large or unwieldy sheet trays and pans. We tested more than 20 options to find the best oven mitts, and this set from Big Red House earned the title of Best Overall. It earned a perfect rating in every category, including performance, design, and ease of cleaning. They’re super heat resistant and longer than most other mitts, so they’ll protect your forearms as well as your hands.

Price at time of publish: $18

Eyeballing it doesn’t work when it comes to baking: ingredients should be weighed, rather than measured by sight, for accurate and consistent results. “Having a digital scale means I can forgo using cup measures in the kitchen. Metric units were quite foreign to me when I started baking professionally, but after living abroad, I got the hang of it, and now I'd never go back,” says Accettola.

In our review of the best kitchen scales, we found this pick from OXO to be the most accurate, as well as the easiest to use. The display panel can be pulled out for easier viewing and cleaning, and we like that it automatically shuts off after 30 minutes. It measures in ounces, pounds, grams, and kilograms. And just try to stain the steel surface with errant ingredients. It's impossible.

Price at time of publish: $55

Food & Wine / Amanda McDonald

Don’t discount the immersion blender for baking tasks. It’s tops at blending custards and creating smooth preserves. After testing 15 top-rated immersion blenders, we confidently recommend the Breville Control Grip Immersion Blender. Immersion blenders sometimes get a bad rap for having weak motors, but this one was able to crush ice and chia seeds — a set of tasks no other model was able to handle.

The trigger grip is well-placed, and it’s easy to use in continuous or pulse settings. Plus, there are 15 different speeds to choose from. We liked its shallow head when it was time for cleanup.

Price at time of publish: $130

KitchenAid stand mixers are an industry standard, no matter what level of baking expertise you have. But if you want to level up, the Pro line is worth the investment. It’s the mixer of choice for Sarah O’Brien, the baker and owner of Little Tart Bakeshop in Atlanta, Georgia. The best mixer for serious amateurs and pros is, according to O’Brien, “the biggest one I can get.”

The 7-quart capacity of this one’s bowl allows you to big-batch recipes — but the attachments are cleverly designed to reach the sides and bottom of the bowl, even with smaller quantities. The bowl-lifting lever is unique to KitchenAid’s Pro line, and this one earned top marks in our best stand mixers tests.

Price at time of publish: $550

Food & Wine / Russell Kilgore

Included in our list of the best measuring cup and spoon sets, we think OXO’s set is the best you can buy. Their Good Grips line of products is high quality, made from durable materials, and still on the affordable end of things. The magnetic handles keep everything tight and tidy in drawers, but unlike a storage ring, they won’t hinder their usability.

This 8-piece set has all of the most common measurements, which are etched into the stainless steel. And speaking of that steel: it's resistant to staining and discoloration over time. This is a set that will last.

Price at time of publish: $33

A paring knife is a helpful supplement to larger chef’s knives because it’s better for intricate tasks, like supreming citrus segments. The Wüsthof Classic IKON won the title for Best Overall in our review of the best paring knives. In our tests, we praised the “indestructible”-feeling blade that inspired confidence it would last for years to come. This knife is razor-sharp and allows for precision cuts when looks matter. It’s a little pricey, but we think this legacy brand favored by pros is worth the cost.

Price at time of publish: $115

Food & Wine / Mary Claire Lagroue

Baking in the dead of winter can keep your kitchen toasty. But a hot oven in the warmer months is no fun. If you’re looking for a fan that can keep you comfortable and quickly cool baked goods, you really can’t do better than this tower fan, which topped our list of the best kitchen fans. With three different speeds and three wind settings, you’ll be able to create your ideal environment.

It’s quiet, too, and can be controlled with a remote. In our tests, we especially appreciated the ability to tuck it away in a corner, so it didn’t take up precious counter space. And at well under $100, this fan is a steal.

Price at time of publish: $60

A winner in our tests of the best muffin pans, this sleeper hit from USA Pan impressed us in every category. Although it’s not a well-known brand, it’s a top performer. The nonstick silicone coating makes cleanup a breeze, and — more importantly — it excelled at even heat distribution, with no hot spots.

With a “just right” size that can handle banana nut muffins, mini quiches, and maple bacon popovers, this is the pan you’ll want for savory and sweet bakes.

Price at time of publish: $30

Cooking sugar? Making jam? Deep frying? You need a candy thermometer. After putting 13 of the best candy thermometers to the test, we found five clear winners. Our top choice was this pick from ThermoPro. In our tests, we noted it gave the fastest reading of any model, a necessary quality when cooking time-sensitive recipes.

Its digital display has a backlight; a helpful quality when cooking in low-light conditions. Its range — from -58 to 572˚F — covers everything you could dream of baking and more. And at $20, it’s pleasantly affordable.

Price at time of publish: $20

Food & Wine / Irvin Lin

Silicone baking mats are superior to parchment because they’re naturally nonstick and can be reused. They’re ideal for sticky recipes, like granola, according to Jenna Fuchser, the pastry chef and owner of Baked on Rose. When we asked a variety of professional pastry chefs for their picks for the best silicone baking mats, we weren’t surprised to see Silpat come out on top.

This coveted brand is made with fiberglass-reinforced silicone, which excels at even heat distribution. You can wipe it clean by hand and toss it in the dishwasher, and the reinforced edges mean it won’t curl or warp, even after years of use.

Price at time of publish: $29

The best ice cream scoop makes the difference between an attractive bowl of ice cream and a jumble of frozen shards. We asked ice cream maven Jeni Britton Bauer for her top picks, and she enthusiastically recommended this model as her favorite. Citing Zeroll as “the gold standard” of ice cream scoops, this aluminum model responds to the body heat in your hand, gently softening the ice cream for a perfectly aesthetic scoop. Left-handed ice cream fans will appreciate that it’s equally comfy in either hand.

Price at time of publish: $25

Food & Wine / Will Dickey

Pottery mixing bowls look pretty, but most pros prefer the lightness and versatility of plastic. This set from OXO earned top marks in our review of the best mixing bowls. Three useful sizes are included, and they all nest efficiently inside one another. There are a few small details that make these bowls go the distance: the bottom is grippy, so it won’t slide around the table when you’re whisking. There’s a handle and a spout on each bowl, and you can get all three for under $30.

Price at time of publish: $28

Aprons lend a certain vintage flair when baking, but they’re prized in pro kitchens for their usefulness. Beyond keeping clothes clean from batter splatters, the best kitchen aprons provide handy storage for spoons and tools. There’s no question that Hedley & Bennett is the preferred brand among professional bakers and cooks. Their Waxman apron is unique in that it’s coated with soy wax, which acts as a protective layer and doesn’t need to be washed. It has rugged leather straps and is made to last, well, forever. (Seriously, there’s a lifetime guarantee.) Plus, it has pockets. Three of them!

Price at time of publish: $120

An anti-fatigue mat makes a difference when you’re standing for long periods, such as prepping fruit for pies. Many professional bakeries use these to combat back pain, but you don’t have to spend a fortune to get a top-tier quality mat. In our best anti-fatigue mat tests, we consistently noted the high-density foam as being superior to other models. “There's a huge difference in feel between this mat and the older mats I have in other places in my kitchen,” we noted after using it for 20-30 hours per week for six months.

The topper is made from pebbled rubber, which strikes the ideal balance between grippy and easy to clean. Just wipe it up with a damp rag, and it looks good as new.

Price at time of publish: $40

Food & Wine / Fred hardy

Casserole dishes are our preferred vessel for fruit crumbles and crisps, as well as bread puddings. Great Jones’ Hot Dish won our top overall pick in our list of the best casserole dishes. It’s made from ceramic, which is naturally nonstick (but not scratch-proof, so take care with metal utensils). The large, roomy handles are convenient when transferring the pan in and out of the oven, even with bulky oven mitts. Great Jones’ cookware and bakeware are cheery and colorful, with vintage-inspired designs: this brand-new piece in particular looks like a family heirloom.

Price at time of publish: $75

The only thing standing between you and perfectly fluffy, crispy-on-the-outside waffles is the right waffle maker. We think it’s the best waffle maker for Belgian-style waffles, owing in part to its clever design. The machine is oriented vertically, so it takes up less space on a counter — a coup for pro bakers and home cooks alike. During testing, we noted that it heats up rapidly and cooks waffles evenly, with no overflow.

The cooking plates are nonstick, and there are five heat settings that allow greater oversight over the finished product. Although it can only make one waffle at a time, we agreed it was worth the wait.

Price at time of publish: $58

Food & Wine / Dera Burreson

A bundt pan is a piece of specialty bakeware worth having. The best bundt pans have light-colored surfaces that resist aggressive browning. This one topped our review of bundt-specific pans, and during our tests, we particularly liked its deeply defined ridges which produced a striking cake. The aluminum material is sturdy, and this company is a favorite among professionals.

"Nordic Ware pans are just special," says Matt Lewis and Renato Poliafito, who are the authors of Baked Explorations and Baked Occasions. "You can still feel the enthusiasm about the product from the company — it's still got a mom-and-pop feeling, even though it has grown to a global scale."

Price at time of publish: $58

To find the best pie dish for most bakers, we spent over 20 hours testing popular pans of various materials. The Pyrex 9-inch pie plate was not only our favorite, but it’s also the least expensive of all the pans we tested. The versatile 1.5-inch depth can be used for a variety of recipes, including a classic apple pie. The clear glass is helpful in checking on browning and eliminates the dreaded “soggy bottom” common in some fruit pies.

Slices release from the surface with ease, and you don’t have to worry about scratching the bottom with a knife or pie server. Simply put, this humble pan is the best you can get in terms of value and performance.

Price at time of publish: $18

Don’t be tempted to skip sifting flour if it’s listed in a recipe: sifted flour makes for light, fluffy baked goods without lumps. We consulted a former bakery owner to find the best flour sifters, and this hand-crank sifter from Bellemain was their top pick. It’s efficiently roomy, and can hold up to three cups of flour. It works equally well with powdered sugar, and the minimalist design is relatively impervious to breakage. It’s a classic, old-school design that just works.

Price at time of publish: $18

Whether you’re keeping home-baked cookies fresh or prepping ingredients for an upcoming bake, you’re going to need a set of quality storage containers. We prefer glass, which doesn’t attract scents and flavors over time. We tested 76 containers to find the best glass storage containers, and we recommend this set from Glasslock as the best bet.

Its 18-piece set (nine containers and nine lids) comes in a variety of sizes and shapes, including a petite 0.7-cup round container and a roomy 6.3-cup rectangular bin. The seal is impressively tight and resistant to spills, even when tilted or dropped. The price is attractive, too.

Price at time of publish: $50

Food & Wine / Awa Dia

Another pick from OXO’s Good Grips line, this 11-inch balloon whisk won Best Overall in our review of the best whisks. Chef Katie Briggs, chef at Eclectik Domestic in Philadelphia and West Philly Bunny Hop, notes that the stainless steel wires incorporate more volume when whipping, and the comfy silicone handle combats fatigue. It’s dishwasher-safe, sturdily-constructed, and under $15. No wonder the pros love it so much.

Price at time of publish: $12

Rochelle Bilow is a food writer and editor with over a decade of professional experience. Previously a senior associate editor and social media manager at Bon Appétit and Cooking Light magazines, Rochelle is also a novelist, a culinary school graduate, and a former professional baker and line cook. In researching this article, Food & Wine reviewed and tested dozens of products, and consulted with baking experts.

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25 Essential Baking Tools, Tested by Food &amp; Wine

25 Essential Baking Tools, Tested by Food & Wine