The 12 Best Bread Making Tools in 2021

Best Bread Maker: Oster ExpressBake 2-Pound Bread Maker

4.3

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Take the intimidation out of bread-making with this affordable machine by Oster. This model features 12 settings, three crust settings, and can turn out loaves as big as 2 pounds (in under an hour if using the Expressbake feature). It also comes with recipes for a virtually fail-proof bake, so beginners don't need to worry at all. Best of all, it has a pretty compact footprint so it doesn't take up too much valuable counter space—especially important if your kitchen is small.

Ideal for: Homestyle loaves | White and whole wheat bread loaves | Fruit and nut loaves

Best Stand Mixer: KitchenAid Artisan Series 5-Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer

4.8

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The iconic KitchenAid stand mixer can do many things, including kneading up to four entire loaves worth of bread in one go. This model has a 5-quart mixing bowl and comes with a standard paddle, whip attachment, and most importantly, a dough hook that will make it easy to work your dough, aiding gluten production for a better rise. We purchased this machine to test out just how well it could handle mixing dough and were very impressed with the results. Our tester made both bread dough and pasta dough, without any difficulty from the mixer. The stainless steel bowl, whisk, and dough hook are all dishwasher-safe for easy cleanup. It is available in over 30 colors, so you can color-coordinate your mixer to your kitchen decor.

Ideal for: Mixing almost any kind of dough | A wide variety of pastry and savory mixing

Best Mixing Bowl Set: FineDine Premium Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls

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A good set of mixing bowls is essential to bread baking. When making fancier bread or the simpler quickbreads, you will often need more than one bowl for mixing the ingredients. This set by FineDine includes six sizes (ranging from .75-quart to 8-quart bowls) made from lightweight stainless steel. The flat bottoms offer great stability when mixing and are easy to clean by hand or in the dishwasher. The bowls also nest for easy and convenient storage.

Ideal for: Yeasted doughs and doughs that need to rest | Doughs and batters light enough to be mixed by hand | Scaling ingredients.

Best Bread Lame: Breadtopia Bread Lame

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Ever wonder how bakeries get those beautiful, raised-edge designs baked into their loaves? It's all in the scoring. While you can certainly use a sharp knife to slash your dough's surface—crucial for allowing proper expansion while baking—using a bread lame gives you greater control over the angle, depth, and design of your cuts. This lame by Breadtopia is simple to assemble and has an easy-grip resin handle (shaped like a baguette) for steady control and accurate scoring. It comes with five replacement blades and a storage box for when it's not in use.

Ideal for: Baguettes | Sourdough | Artisan breads

Best Bench Scraper: Norpro Grip EZ Chopper Scraper

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A bench scraper is a must for shaping and moving slightly sticky pieces of dough around on your work surface. This inexpensive model from Norpro is designed to easily scrape or portion out dough, but it can also be used for crushing ingredients or measuring and cutting pasta or cinnamon rolls, thanks to the blade's measuring guide. Made from durable stainless steel, this scraper features a Santoprene handle that helps you grip the blade comfortably for better control. Cleanup is easy—just hand wash with a gentle scrubber and mild dishwashing detergent.

Ideal for: Portioning dough | Handing dough | Chopping herbs | Frosting Cakes | Cleaning countertops

Best Proofing Basket: Bread Bosses Banneton Proofing Basket

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If you're trying to create the shiny, chewy crusts that are a favored characteristic of artisanal bread loves, this 9-inch rattan basket is a game-changer for home bakers. Traditional bakeries use this type of proofing basket, known as a banneton, that allows air to pass through and creates a skin on the surface of the dough as it rises and makes it easier to score. The ridges also leave a beautiful spiral pattern on the dough that shows up during the final bake. Also included are a bench scraper—a must-have for shaping—and a cloth liner to use for high-moisture doughs.

Ideal for: Yeasted doughs | Sourdough | Artisinal loaves

Best Pastry Brush: OXO Good Grips Silicone Basting & Pastry Brush-Small

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Some breads, like soft dinner rolls or brioche, require a final coating before baking. For this, you'll need a pastry brush to paint loaves with butter, milk, or an egg wash before the loaf goes into the oven (useful for getting poppy or sesame seeds to stick and to encourage a golden finish). This silicone brush by OXO has heat-resistant, easy-to-clean bristles that won't shed and a comfortable grip handle. The tapered outer bristles allow for brushing more delicate doughs and pastries, and the angled brush head keeps the bristles off the countertop. When you're done, you can just place the entire brush into the dishwasher for easy cleaning.

Ideal for: Egg washes | Butter basting | Finishing glazes | Dusting off dry flour or crumbs

Best Zester: Microplane Black Classic Stainless Steel Zester and Cheese Grater

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Lemon poppyseed cake and cranberry orange bread are just two examples of quickbreads that require citrus zest to add a boost of flavor that holds up through the baking process. This classic handheld grater from Microplane makes it easy to finely zest oranges, limes, lemons (and any other citrus), and also works well on hard cheeses like Parmesan to use in homemade breadsticks and gougeres. The ultra-sharp blade is made from surgical-grade stainless steel which resists rust and maintains its sharpness well. You'll also be able to use this for grating nutmeg and cinnamon into your favorite recipes for ultimate freshness.

Ideal for: Zesting anything, from citrus to spices, cheese, chocolate, and even garlic

Best Wooden Spoon: OXO Good Grips Large Wooden Spoon

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Wooden spoons are essential for hand mixing bread dough—they're more durable than plastic spatulas and aren't reactive like metal spools. This basic yet sturdy wooden spoon from OXO is made from a solid piece of beechwood with an oil finish and features a large handle that fits comfortably in the hand. Use it to gently mix dough, from this basic bread recipe to this vegan challah. To clean, hand wash the spoon and dry completely before storing.

Ideal for: Stirring medium to thick batters

Best Rolling Pin: J.K. Adams FRP-1 Maple French Rolling Pin

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Whether you're making sticky buns or cinnamon swirls, you’ll need a good quality rolling pin to roll out the dough. This French dowel-style rolling pin from J.K. Adams is made with slightly tapered ends, making it lighter than traditional pins for easier maneuvering. It is made from a slightly textured, sustainably harvested North American hardwood that holds a dusting of flour to prevent dough from sticking. This solid wood rolling pin is incredibly sturdy and will likely last for decades, but it is also backed by a lifetime warranty from the manufacturer.

Ideal for: Rolling almost any kind of dough or pastry

Best Loaf Pan: Chicago Metallic Commercial II Traditional Uncoated 1-Pound Loaf Pan

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Loaf pans are wonderful for making homemade sandwich loaves or baking decadent chocolate babka. This heavy-duty loaf pan is made from aluminized steel and features a reinforced rim that helps to prevent warping. This pan measures 8.5 x 4.5 x 2.75 inches and can comfortably fit a 1-pound loaf. For easier lift-off, line this pan with parchment paper before use. While the manufacturer says this is dishwasher safe, hand washing will help to extend the life of the pan and you'll be able to use it for years to come.

Ideal for: Loaves or pastries that need to bake in a form