Every baker knows that even the best skilled bakers need the right tools by their side. In this guide, we’ll explore the ten most important baking utensils every professional baker should own. That includes digital scales, scotch scrapers, piping tools and proofing baskets. Each one has its place in a well-run bakery, helping you maintain high standards while keeping production smooth.
Bakery cutters are an essential part of any busy bakery. To create decorations and produce consistent shapes for cookies and pastries, you will need the right cutters as part of your selection of professional baking tools.
What type of cutters do I need in my bakery?
Different bakery tasks will require different types of cutter, which is why you need more than one type of cutter, especially in a commercial bakery.
Standard pastry cutters
These are simple handheld cutters with fixed shapes such as circles, stars and fluted edges. They are perfect for cookies and small decorative pieces and are a core item in any set of essential baking equipment.
Multi-wheel cutters
Multi-wheel cutters use several wheels in a frame so you can cut long strips of dough or multiple lines in one pass. They speed up production on a busy tray line and are useful in commercial kitchens.
Specialised cutters and peelers
There are cutters for specific tasks such as coring and peeling apples for tarts or large dough cutters used in bakery production.
Kitchen and pastry scissors
Kitchen scissors are handy for trimming fondant, tidying dough edges and slicing decorative pieces in a hurry. They are one of those pastry utensils you will reach for every shift.
A thermometer is one of those small baking utensils that makes a big difference to your results. A thermometer gives you an accurate reading so you know exactly the temperature of the flour or of the dough . They help you produce high quality bread and check the temperature of savoury products after baking. Many bakers keep one permanently inside their pocket so they can regularly spot check their products .
For oven‑specific tools that improve performance and consistency, see our article on the five essential oven accessories.
Or, dive deeper into temperature control with our article on the different types of baking thermometers used in professional kitchens.
A good set of scales is one of the most important baking utensils in a professional kitchen. Recipes are written giving weight measures, so a reliable scale makes the difference between a great bake and an inconsistent one. Digital scales have a high capacity that still reads to the gram.
Why are digital scales better for commercial bakeries?
Digital scales are better for commercial bakeries providing precision, speed and consistency with every batch. When you’re producing loaves, cakes or pastries at scale, small variations in weight can impact the outcome. Using digital scales eliminates guesswork. Their tare functions let you measure multiple ingredients in one bowl, cutting waste and cleaning time.
Piping bags are needed for anyone who decorates cakes or pastries. They’re used to hold icing, buttercream or whipped cream. You can pipe these through different nozzles to create a variety of patterns and finishes. Each nozzle produces its own design, and can be used for borders, rosettes, lettering and detailed decoration. Most professional baking tools use metal nozzles for precision and durability, while plastic options are handy for quick jobs and easy clean-up. Having a good set of piping bags and tips in your bakery utensils collection lets you work efficiently and add details to your work.
For more detail on selecting piping bags, couplers and nozzle sets, see our full guide: Your Inside Guide to Piping Tools.
Palette knives are essential baking utensils for anyone serious about the presentation of their cakes and baked products. Once your buttercream or whipped cream is ready, this is the tool that helps you spread it smoothly across the surface of your cake. A palette knife makes it easy to create even layers and clean edges. They come in different lengths and shapes, so it’s worth keeping a few sizes in your collection of professional baking tools. The more you use one, the more control you’ll develop, turning every cake into a polished showpiece.
A Scotch scraper is a basic professional bakery tool for anyone who works with dough. They help divide, shape and move dough with minimal sticking and little fuss. A plastic bowl scraper bends too easily when you need pressure, so many bakers prefer a metal scraper for heavy doughs. Stiff metal scotch scrapers don’t flex under the weight of your arm and stand up to repeated use.
Why is a scotch scraper better than a knife at cutting dough?
A scotch scraper makes cutting and handling dough quicker and tidier than using a knife. Knives tend to collect sticky bits of dough along the blade, which slows you down and creates additional cleaning. A scraper lifts and portions dough in one clean movement, saving time.
Adding proofing baskets to your set of professional bakery tools helps improve both the texture and appearance of your bread. Proofing baskets are used when making artisan bread. They help the dough keep its shape while it rises so it lifts upwards rather than spreading across the surface. The basket also leaves a subtle pattern on the crust that gives loaves their traditional bakery look. Many bakers line their baskets with a light dusting of flour to stop sticking and to create that rustic finish.
PTFE tray liners are some of the most useful baking utensils you can have in a professional kitchen. They stop food from sticking and make cleaning trays much quicker.
PTFE liners are incredibly versatile and can be used for:
• lining round or rectangular cake tins
• protecting worktops from food colouring or sticky mixtures
For professional baking, reusable PTFE tray liners are a smart investment. They’re pre-sized to fit standard baking trays, easy to wipe down and can be used again and again.
Professional bakeware matters because the right tin shapes the bake and controls how heat travels through the product. Using the correct size makes a big difference to texture and finish. A few essentials bakeries should keep on hand are baking trays for pastries and cookies, loaf tins for bread and various moulds for cakes and tarts.
Baking tray
A baking tray or sheet pan is a shallow, rectangular pan used for baking cookies, pastries or pizzas. It’s one of the most versatile pans in the kitchen.
Bread tin
A bread tin is rectangular and used mainly for baking bread. It’s often made of an alloy of metals including aluminium and steel
Why is Alu-Steel the best for professional bakeware?
Alu-steel is the best material for professional bakeware because it stands up to constant use without rusting or warping. It spreads heat evenly, giving your bakes a consistent finish every time. It’s strong and easy to clean, which makes it one of the most practical and affordable choices for essential baking equipment.
A good pastry brush is another piece of essential baking equipment every baker needs. It’s used to apply butter, oil or egg wash to pastries and bread, giving them a golden finish in the oven. Brushes can be round or flat and are made with either coloured poly-bristle or natural bristles. Poly-bristle brushes are durable and easy to wash, while natural bristles hold more liquid and give a lighter touch.
At Creeds Direct, we have over six decades of experience supplying bakeries of all sizes throughout the UK with professional bakery utensils and machines. We understand first-hand what it takes to keep a production line running smoothly, to maintain consistency and to present work that looks as good as it tastes.
From the smallest essential baking equipment like piping bags and PTFE tray liners to full scale mixers and ovens, every item in our range is suitable for your commercial kitchen or bakery.
Browse our full selection of professional baking tools and utensils for tools that work as hard as you do. Contact us today for tailored advice for your business or recommendations.
Explore our guide to the essential food preparation equipment every bakery should own to support your daily operations.
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