The 27 Kitchen Tools Every Home Baker Needs

A Cookie Sheet

Nordic Ware Naturals Baker's Half Sheet

$30 $28 at Amazon $28 at Wayfair $40 at Sur La Table

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.

Silicone Baking Mats

Kitzini Silicone Baking Mats

$20 $11 at Amazon

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. After testing the best silicone baking mats and asking professional pastry chefs for their picks, we weren’t surprised to see Kitzini come out on top, even ahead of the well-established Silpat.

The Kitzini baking mat is made with fiberglass-reinforced, food-grade silicone, which excels at even heat distribution. You can wipe it clean by hand and toss it in the dishwasher, and the thoroughly sealed edges mean it won’t curl or warp, even after years of use. For a portion of the price of other mats, you not only get to reduce your parchment paper use, but also bake cookies, tarts, and other desserts more evenly.

A Spatula Set

U-Taste Silicone Spatula Set

$25 at Amazon $24 at Wayfair $25 at Walmart

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.

A Bread Cloche

Challenger Bread Pan

$299 at Amazon View on Challengerbreadware.com

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, so you can simply transfer your dough directly from a proofing basket onto the base.

A Hand Mixer

Breville Handy Mix Scraper

$130 at Amazon $130 at Target $130 at Williams Sonoma

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.

Oven Mitts

Big Red House Oven Mitts

$20 $18 at Amazon $20 $11 at Walmart

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.

A Food Scale

OXO Stainless Steel Food Scale

$55 at Amazon $56 at Williams Sonoma $70 $56 at Walmart

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.

A Whisk

OXO Good Grips Balloon Whisk

$12 $10 at Amazon $12 at Target $12 at Wayfair

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.

Mixing Bowls

OXO Good Grips Mixing Bowl Set

$28 at Amazon $28 at Target $28 at Wayfair

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.

A Measuring Cup and Spoon Set

OXO Stainless Steel Measuring Cups and Spoons Set

$33 at Amazon View on Webstaurantstore.com $33 at Belk.com

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 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.

A Stand Mixer

KitchenAid Pro Line Series 7-Quart Stand Mixer

$700 at Amazon $569 at Walmart

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.

All-Purpose Saucepan

All-Clad Saucepan

$120 at Amazon $120 at Williams Sonoma $120 at Nordstrom

A 3-quart saucepan is a workhorse for bakers. It’s the perfect size for an 8x8 tray’s worth of salted caramels (giving just enough room for the inevitable liquid rising when cream is added), ice cream bases, pâte à choux dough, and more. All-Clad pans are a bit of a splurge but stand the test of time and are a worthwhile investment.

A Paring Knife

Wusthof Classic Ikon Paring Knife

$115 at Amazon $115 at Williams Sonoma $115 at Wayfair

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 Splurge 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.

A Great Kitchen Apron

Hedley & Bennett Waxman Apron

$130 $104 at Amazon View on Hedleyandbennett.com

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!

A Muffin Pan

USA Pan Nonstick Muffin Pan

$32 $30 at Amazon $32 at Williams Sonoma $27 at Walmart

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 mini quiches and maple bacon popovers, this is the pan you’ll want for savory and sweet bakes. 

Rolling Pin

J.K. Adams Dowel Rolling Pin

$32 at Amazon $25 at Wayfair View on Breadtopia.com

Depending on how often you are rolling out cookies and doughs, ergonomics can make a big difference. This tapered J.K. Adams rolling pin is gentler on the wrists and is lovely maplewood to boot. It’s relatively low profile makes it easy to store as well.

A Pie Dish

Pyrex 9-Inch Glass Pie Plate

$16 $13 at Amazon $13 $7 at Walmart

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.

A Casserole Dish

Great Jones Hot Dish

View on Greatjonesgoods.com $90 at West Elm $90 at Urban Outfitters

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.

A Bundt Pan

Nordic Ware Bundt Pan

$44 at Amazon $44 at Target $50 at Williams Sonoma

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, 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."

An Anti-Fatigue Mat

Gorilla Grip Anti Fatigue Cushioned Comfort Mat

$60 $40 at Amazon

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. 

Glass Food Storage Containers

Glasslock Assorted Oven Safe Container Set

$53 at Amazon $130 $35 at Target $100 at Wayfair

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.

A Candy Thermometer

ThermoPro TP510 Waterproof Digital Candy Thermometer

$32 $20 at Amazon $23 $18 at Target $18 at Walmart

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.

An Immersion Blender

Breville Control Grip Immersion Blender

$130 at Amazon $130 at Williams Sonoma $130 at Sur La Table

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 could handle.

The trigger grip is well-placed and 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. 

A Waffle Maker

Cuisinart Vertical Waffle Maker

$60 at Amazon $60 at Target $60 at Walmart

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.

Ice Cream Scoop

Zeroll Original Ice Cream Scoop

$25 $21 at Amazon $25 at Williams Sonoma View on Webstaurantstore.com

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.

A Flour Sifter

Bellemain Stainless Steel 3-Cup Flour Sifter

$28 $18 at Amazon

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.

Spice/Nut Grinder

Cuisinart Electric Spice and Nut Grinder

$40 at Amazon $40 at Williams Sonoma $42 at Wayfair

Hear us out: you need a spice and nut grinder. Whole nuts are often a more cost-effective buy than chopped ones, and this will make chopping quick and easy. Pulse to your desired size, even down to fine nut flour. Not to mention, freshly ground spices will level up dishes like cardamom buns and open up a world of spice blend options for savory cooking.

The Cuisinart grinder made our list, due to its rave reviews from rockstars like F&W Best New Chef alum Nina Compton of Compère Lapin and Bywater American Bistro in New Orleans, as well as Celebrity Chef Donatella Arpaia. Easy to clean, strong enough to break down nuts and whole spices, and loved by renowned professionals, this is the all-in-one grinder gadget for all home kitchens.