Baking Essentials Review

A few years ago I posed a review on Mixing Bowls, Measuring Cups and Spatulas. I wanted to add an updated review with a few of my favorite baking products since some of them have changed.

My favorite mixing bowls are still the OXO Good Grips 3-piece Stainless Steel Mixing Bowl Set, so much so that I will probably purchase another set for myself. We use them so much for cooking, baking, marinating, and serving that it would be helpful to have 2 of each size. I can use my hand mixer in them too. I also let my pizza dough rise in them. I only use my other sets of mixing bowls if these are already in use. This set includes 1-1/2, 3 and 5 quart bowls. I like that they are stainless steel, but the white exterior makes them look nice, and the non-slip base is helpful to have when stirring and mixing. I also love that they nest together for easy storage.

My favorite spatulas are the Tovolo Flex-Core All-Silicone Spatulas. They are all one piece which means there are no little crevices for food or liquids to get stuck in. They are sold in a variety of colors, but I have the Deep Indigo ones. I prefer the dark color so they don't stain when using with tomato sauce and other foods that could stain them. You can purchase these individually in various shapes and sizes, but the most economical way to purchase them is in the 5-piece set. I find the various shapes and sizes to be very useful for different things. I used to love my OXO SoftWorks Silicone Spatulas, but I now use these Tovolo ones all the time and rarely use any of my others.

Two years ago I found the Sur La Table Stainless Steel Measuring Cups, Set of 8, which is a full set of measuring cups that includes a 2-cup size. This is such a helpful size to have for baking. What I love most is that this large set completely nests together so they are easy to store, and there are no crevices for food to get stuck in. This set includes 1/4 cup, 1/3 cup 1/2 cup, 2/3 cup, 3/4 cup, 1 cup, 1 1/2 cup, and 2 cup sizes. They also sell smaller sets of these cups which includes less sizes, but I highly recommend this full set. It is expensive but it goes on sale from time to time and is completely worth the money if you bake a lot! I like these so much more than the Williams-Sonoma stainless steel measuring cups that I originally loved, which had areas where food got stuck and were harder to clean, and also had rounded handles which made them uncomfortable to hold.

When I bought the measuring cups, I also purchased the matching Sur La Table Round Measuring Spoons, Set of 6 which includes a scraper, 1/4 teaspoon, 1/2 teaspoon, 1 teaspoon, 1/2 tablespoon, and 1 tablespoon sizes, along with the Odd-Size Measuring Spoons, Set of 7 which includes a pinch, 1/8 teaspoon, 2/3 teaspoon, 1 1/2 teaspoon, 2 teaspoon, 1/2 tablespoon and 2 tablespoon sizes. Again, they sell the measuring spoons in various sets, but I find it most beneficial to buy these two full sets so you have every size you could possibly need! It is really nice having the sizes that are not typically included with most other sets, like 1/8 teaspoon, 1 1/2 teaspoon, 1/2 tablespoon, 2 tablespoon. These sets go on sale as well. Both sets nest together into one, which makes these very easy to store. I still love and use my Williams-Sonoma stainless steel measuring spoons (an older set that is no longer sold), but I reach for these ones more and more since this set includes more sizes.

A new addition that I have not received or used yet is the Sur La Table Spice Measuring Spoons, Set of 6, which includes 1/8 teaspoon, 1/4 teaspoon, 1/2 teaspoon, 3/4 teaspoon, 1 teaspoon and 1 tablespoon sizes. These are narrowly shaped specifically to fit inside small spice bottles. These also nest together and like all of the measuring cups and spoons mentioned above, the sizes are etched into the stainless steel, so you don't have to worry about them rubbing off like they would on other sets.

For liquid measuring, I use Pyrex Measuring Cups. I have the 1, 2 and 4 cup sizes (these nest together for easy storage), along with the 8 cup with a lid, which I can't seem to find online anymore for a decent price. I use the 2 cup one the most, but find it helpful to have all of the sizes. This is a classic and timeless set of measuring cups that you can't go wrong with.

Sometimes it is more beneficial to weigh ingredients rather than measure them. I use the OXO Good Grips 11 lb. Stainless Steel Food Scale with Pull Out Display when I am making pizza or pasta dough. This scale is so great to have and I admit that I don't use it as much as I should. It is much better to measure ingredients for baking (especially flour) by weight to ensure accuracy.

Lastly, I love using my OXO Cookie Scoops for baking - I have the small, medium and large sizes. The small and medium I use for cookies and the large I use for muffins. These not only make it easy to scoop out batter, but they help give you consistently sized baked goods.

These are my most highly recommended baking essentials. These items have all held up very well over time, but I will add that I don't put any of them in the dishwasher. I hand wash them since it takes no time at all to do so. I hope this review has been helpful. If there is a specific baking item you are wondering about that is not mentioned here, feel free to ask!

Mixing Bowls, Measuring Cups & Spoons and Spatulas Review

To see my new review from January 2024, please look here!

This review is about some important baking items - mixing bowls, measuring cups and spoons, and spatulas! If you enjoy baking and want to update old sets of these items or don't know what to register for, keep reading!

I'll start off with mixing bowls. I have three sets, and use two of them all the time. The OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Mixing Bowl Set of 3 are my favorite. This set includes 1-1/2, 3 and 5 quart bowls. I like that they are stainless steel, but the white exterior makes them look nice, and the non-slip base is helpful to have when stirring and mixing. I especially like to use these when using my hand mixer.

The second set that I use all the time is the Melamine 3-Piece Mixing Bowl Set from Williams-Sonoma. The bowls are 2, 3 and 4 quart sizes. They come in a variety of colors (red, grey, blue, white, yellow, teal). The available colors of these items tends to change, sometimes depending on the season (for example, orange in the fall). I chose the blue to coordinate with the other navy items in my kitchen. This set is pictured below (the round bowls), but is no longer sold. They do still sell the Melamine Mixing Bowls with Spout, Set of 3, also pictured below, and which I also have. Out of the two sets, I prefer the round ones and use those more often, but I do use both.

My third set of mixing bowls barely gets used. It is the 10-Piece Glass Mixing Bowl Set from Williams-Sonoma. These bowls are very nice, but I use them less simply because they are less accessible when I am baking, and I prefer to use the other bowls rather than glass if I am using a hand mixer in the bowl. However, I have found that these glass bowls come in handy when making this delicious almond cake bars recipe because you melt the butter in the biggest bowl, and then mix all of the other ingredients into that same bowl with a spatula. I am sure I will find more uses for this set in the future, as the varying sizes are nice to have and would be great for entertaining as well as baking.

Now on to measuring cups and spoons. My favorite set to use are the Williams-Sonoma Stainless-Steel Measuring Cups & Spoons. These come in boxed sets by even or odd sizes. My husband and I received both sets as wedding gifts, and I absolutely love them. The only thing that would make this set better would be if a 1/8 tsp, 1-1/2 tsp and a 2-cup measuring cup were included or available to buy separately. Unfortunately, these are becoming unavailable online, but you might still be able to find them in the stores. Hopefully Williams-Sonoma will come out with a replacement set that is just as nice.

Williams-Sonoma also sells a set of Narrow Measuring Spoons, which are useful for fitting into spice jars and other narrow containers. I appreciate that this set comes with a 1/8 teaspoon size! I especially like that both sets of the stainless steel measuring cups and spoons mentioned have the measurements engraved into them so they won't rub off like some sets that have them printed on.

I also have a set of Tupperware Measuring Cups & Spoons that I purchased on eBay years ago. My mom used to have Tupperware parties all the time and always used them, so I had to get a set! I have been using them less and less since receiving the stainless steel set, but it is always helpful to have an extra set of measuring cups and spoons when baking!

Lastly, spatulas. I will admit that I have an absurd amount of spatulas. My favorite baking spatula is the OXO SoftWorks White Silicone Spatula, so much that I have two. I also love using the red version of this spatula for red sauce so my white ones do not discolor. The jar spatula is helpful to fit into narrow jars. I also have a white spoon spatula that I don't use that often. OXO is one of my favorite brands of kitchen utensils, and I bought almost all of mine for great prices at Home Goods and TJ Maxx!

I also enjoy using my Williams-Sonoma Silicone Spatula with Classic Wood Handle. I bought the matching spoonula and mini set too while they were still available in navy, to coordinate with the other navy items in our kitchen. If this full set came in navy, we definitely would have registered for it!

I love to bake and these are some of my most used and loved baking tools. I hope my review has been helpful!