Crafting wonderful loaves of bread from scratch using a wide range of ingredients and methods can be a really rewarding hobby. In many cases, it also has the potential to be a side hustle with little to none additional cost, as you already have the essential baking equipments in your kitchen.
Now, who doesn’t love freshly baked bread? It doesn’t matter if you’re a novice or a seasoned baker; the appropriate tools will make a huge difference in the outcome of your bread. If you are just starting out, it’s easy to get overwhelmed in deciding which baking equipments you should have. At least, I was. In this post, we’ll go through a variety of baking equipment and their alternatives so you can make an informed decision on what to buy.
Baking Equipments: Ovens
A reliable oven is essential to the process of producing bread, and it is one of the most expensive pieces of equipment.
If you want to bake bread successfully, you need an oven that can reach high temperatures and keep the temperature consistent. Additionally, the oven should be able to maintain the temperature it reaches.
Convection Oven | $$$
If you are serious about baking bread, you should think about purchasing a convection oven. A convection oven is a type of oven that uses a fan to circulate hot air around the cooking chamber. This allows the food to cook more evenly and often results in shorter cooking times.
Convection ovens can be used for a variety of cooking techniques, including baking, roasting, and broiling. They are often preferred by professional chefs and home cooks alike for their ability to produce evenly cooked and beautifully browned food.
Some convection ovens also have additional features, such as the ability to inject steam – which was so useful if you bake sourdough – or grill food, further increasing their versatility in the kitchen.
It is however rather expensive. So, if you are just planning to bake one bread a week or even less, and you’re not into baking that much, this oven is clearly not for you. Here’s one example of convection oven that I prefer:
Conventional Oven
One of the most familiar types of ovens is the conventional oven. This is the type of oven that is typically found in most homes and is used for a wide range of cooking tasks.
Conventional ovens have a heating element at the bottom of the oven and another at the top, which provides heat from both the bottom and top of the oven cavity. You’ll need higher temperature to bake in a conventional oven compared to convection one. Definitely less energy efficient.
Often, the lack of fan created hotspot inside the oven, resulting the need to switch or rotate your pan during baking. Conventional Oven comes in both gas and electricity model and it could also have a stovetop.
Steam Oven
The steam oven is one type of oven that is gaining popularity. Steam ovens are popular because the food they cook retains its moisture and flavor even after being cooked. Steam ovens are versatile kitchen appliances that excel at cooking everything from vegetables to fish and even baking.
Baking Stone
Another essential piece of equipment is a baking stone or pizza stone, some also called it a bread stone. Baking stones are flat, rectangular stones that are used in the oven to bake bread. Baking stones are made from natural materials such as clay or stone and are designed to hold and evenly distribute heat.
When placed in the oven, a baking stone will absorb heat and retain it for an extended period of time. This allows the bread dough to be placed directly on the stone, where it will cook evenly and produce a crispy crust.
The natural materials used to make baking stones are porous, which allows them to absorb moisture from the dough as it bakes. This helps to create a crispy, crusty loaf of bread with a moist, chewy interior.
If you’re watching YouTube videos of bread baking as much as I do, you must be familiar with it. Having a baking stone, supported with a flow of steam injected into the oven, is an alternative to using Dutch Oven when you’re baking Sourdough loaf.
Since they are so versatile and can be used for a variety of other baking tasks, I’d recommend to buy it if you have spare budget. If you are short on budget and looking for an alternative, check out my other post Bread 101: The Best Substitutes for Baking Stone
Bread Pan / Baking Pan
This might be obvious but I can’t help it, apparently not everyone have a bread pan just lying around in their kitchen. A bread pan is another important piece of equipment for making bread especially if you are interested in making sandwich loaf, and other kind of soft or enriched bread.
Bread pan comes in a variety of sizes and shapes to suit different recipes. If you are only able to get one, pick the long rectangle with lid.
Also look for a heavy-duty bread pan that is made of a non-toxic material such as cast iron, stainless steel, or glass (although the cast iron & glass pan will commonly come without the lid).
I am now trying to be more mindful about cookware and bakeware, and that steps includes leaving all the non-sticks pan in the past. Well, why? If you haven’t already, please check out this video on YouTube about DuPont & its scandalous Teflon case and we’ll see if you still want to use any non-sticks material in your home.
Dough Scraper
A dough scraper, or bench scraper, is a handy tool that is used to scrape dough off of the work surface and transfer it to the bread pan. It is also useful for dividing and shaping dough, and for cleaning up the work surface.
A dough scraper typically has a flat, rectangular blade and a comfortable handle. This is a cheap tool and having one will go a long way.
>>> Stainless Steel Versatile Dough Scraper
Proofing Basket or Banneton
Now, if you’re looking into making sourdough loaves, you need a proofing basket. Also known as banneton, it is a special basket used for the final rise of the dough before baking. It provides support and shape to the dough. It also what gives a beautiful, decorative pattern on the crust of the bread. Proofing baskets are typically made of natural materials such as cane or bamboo and/or are lined with a linen cloth.
>>> Local Proofing Basket + Liner
However, if you don’t have a proofing basket, there are a few alternatives that you can use.
One option is to use a clean bowl or container that is lightly greased with oil. Simply place the dough in the bowl, cover it with a damp cloth or plastic wrap, and let it rise in a warm place until it has doubled in size. When it is ready to bake, gently turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and shape it as desired.
Another option is to use a clean kitchen towel or cloth that is lightly dusted with flour. Place the dough on the floured towel, fold the edges of the towel over the dough, and let it rise in a warm place until it has doubled in size. When it is ready to bake, gently transfer the dough to a baking sheet or bread pan.
You can also use a colander or sieve as a proofing basket. Simply dust the colander or sieve with flour, place the dough inside, and let it rise in a warm place until it has doubled in size. When it is ready to bake, gently turn the dough out onto a baking sheet or bread pan and shape it as desired.
I bought my first proofing basket after months of baking sourdough. During that time, it wasn’t readily available in our market. So hard to find one with reasonable price! So I used what’s available, or what’s seemingly a good substitute. During that time, I found that we can use anything – literally – but it’s best to pick a container that will let the dough “breathe” during proofing. Below is a picture of different kind of container used as banneton.
Bread Knife
A good quality bread knife is another essential tool for making bread. This knife has a long, serrated blade that is able to easily slice through the crust of the bread without crushing it.
Look for a bread knife with a comfortable handle and a sturdy, sharp blade. A knife is an investment, better spend a few more bucks upfront rather than continuously buying a bad quality one.
Some of the best professional knives use X50CrMoV15 stainless steel which will put them on the “Sultan” level and let’s be real most of us aren’t. If you’re under a tighter budget aim for knives made from 440 and/or 316 SS.
Here’s an option for you who are looking for a more affordable options:
Baking Equipments Essentials Conclusion
In conclusion, baking bread at home is a rewarding and delicious experience. With the right tools and ingredients, you can create a wide variety of breads that are fresh, tasty, and satisfying. Some of the essential tools that every bread baker should have in their kitchen include a mixing bowl, measuring cups and spoons, a dough scraper, a bread knife, a bread tin, and a bread stone.
But do not fixated much on these tools. Yes, you will be well-equipped to tackle any bread-baking task and create delicious, homemade delicacies. But in moments where it’s not possible to obtain them, work with what you already have at home.
It’s said that the best baking equipments a baker could ever have is their hands and heart. Now, let’s get baking!
