Baker's Delight: Indulge Your Love of Baking With Smart Storage
Roll out your pastry, knead your dough and stash your bakeware with ease with these clever kitchen tweaks
Charmean Neithart
24 December 2014
Having a baker in the family is a mixed blessing. Who doesn’t love the aroma of sugar and butter circulating through the house? That’s the good news: baking equals good-house vibes. The bad news: that’s a lot of calorie temptation to contend with on a regular basis. Yummy carbs are so hard to pass up.
Baking is specific; it’s really a science, if you think about it. Designing or modifying a kitchen for a serious baker requires some thought, even some field research. I recently put together some ideas for a baking enthusiast making some tweaks to her kitchen. Some ideas are suitable for small kitchens, while others work best in kitchens with a larger footprint.
Grab a glass of cold milk – the cookies are in the oven. Here are a baker’s dozen ideas to consider while you wait.
Baking is specific; it’s really a science, if you think about it. Designing or modifying a kitchen for a serious baker requires some thought, even some field research. I recently put together some ideas for a baking enthusiast making some tweaks to her kitchen. Some ideas are suitable for small kitchens, while others work best in kitchens with a larger footprint.
Grab a glass of cold milk – the cookies are in the oven. Here are a baker’s dozen ideas to consider while you wait.
1. Open shelves
Bulk storage of dry ingredients such as flour and sugar is easily accessed from convenient open shelves.
Bulk storage of dry ingredients such as flour and sugar is easily accessed from convenient open shelves.
2. Rolling cart
Design with function in mind. If you are short on wall space for cabinets or open shelves, consider a rolling cart placed close to benchtops that holds ingredients and equipment.
Design with function in mind. If you are short on wall space for cabinets or open shelves, consider a rolling cart placed close to benchtops that holds ingredients and equipment.
3. Tray and baking pan storage
Upright tray storage is ideal for bakers, because what’s inside is easy to view and access; cabinets made specifically for trays are narrow and tall. Tray storage can also be placed in upper cabinets above ovens or a microwave.
Upright tray storage is ideal for bakers, because what’s inside is easy to view and access; cabinets made specifically for trays are narrow and tall. Tray storage can also be placed in upper cabinets above ovens or a microwave.
4. Storage drawers and bins
Drawers are ideal for storage. Being able to view ingredients and kitchen equipment from above is practical. Also, bins with airtight lids keep ingredients fresh.
Drawers are ideal for storage. Being able to view ingredients and kitchen equipment from above is practical. Also, bins with airtight lids keep ingredients fresh.
5. Tool display
A collection of paint-dipped bread boards is hung just like an art installation here. Even if tools are just for looks, hang them out in the open. This could also work with rolling pins or cake moulds.
A collection of paint-dipped bread boards is hung just like an art installation here. Even if tools are just for looks, hang them out in the open. This could also work with rolling pins or cake moulds.
6. Roll-out drawer
Plan for a small roll-out drawer within your cabinet design. Use narrow drawers such as this for storing cookie cutters and measuring spoons.
Plan for a small roll-out drawer within your cabinet design. Use narrow drawers such as this for storing cookie cutters and measuring spoons.
7. Tech corner
Plan for a small space where you can wire in a TV, desktop or laptop computer or just display an iPad. There are thousands of recipes and how-to videos online. Include a tech corner next to your benchtop and bake right alongside your favourite demonstration video or cooking show.
Plan for a small space where you can wire in a TV, desktop or laptop computer or just display an iPad. There are thousands of recipes and how-to videos online. Include a tech corner next to your benchtop and bake right alongside your favourite demonstration video or cooking show.
8. Double ovens
If you have the space and budget, get wall-mounted double ovens; they’re dreamy for bakers.
Consider looking into convection heat as well. Convection ovens work with fans that recirculate heat, which is great for evenly baked cookies and crusts. Even baked goods such as croissants develop a crispy, even texture with convection heat.
If you have the space and budget, get wall-mounted double ovens; they’re dreamy for bakers.
Consider looking into convection heat as well. Convection ovens work with fans that recirculate heat, which is great for evenly baked cookies and crusts. Even baked goods such as croissants develop a crispy, even texture with convection heat.
9. Built-in step stool
If you have trays or pans stored in tall upper cabinets, consider a built-in step stool for easy access.
If you have trays or pans stored in tall upper cabinets, consider a built-in step stool for easy access.
10. Workstation
If you bake on a regular basis, go ahead: Set up a workstation right on top of the benchtop. Just like in a real bakery, make the benchtops your work areas. Solid-surface benchtops such as marble and granite are ideal for rolling out dough. Display your tools and equipment right where you use them.
If you bake on a regular basis, go ahead: Set up a workstation right on top of the benchtop. Just like in a real bakery, make the benchtops your work areas. Solid-surface benchtops such as marble and granite are ideal for rolling out dough. Display your tools and equipment right where you use them.
11. Cookbooks
Consider a bookshelf close to a working area. You may want to create easy access for frequently used books or recipe folders. A shelf next to a centre island, for instance, is practical and good looking.
Consider a bookshelf close to a working area. You may want to create easy access for frequently used books or recipe folders. A shelf next to a centre island, for instance, is practical and good looking.
12. Spice drawer
Keep the cinnamon, nutmeg and all the rest at arm’s reach. A drawer allows for a top view of frequently used spices and toppings. If you are into organisation, alphabetise the spices within their rows.
Keep the cinnamon, nutmeg and all the rest at arm’s reach. A drawer allows for a top view of frequently used spices and toppings. If you are into organisation, alphabetise the spices within their rows.
13. Pastry table
Plan a space for a pastry table in the main work triangle. Old-fashioned pastry tables are typically lower than standard benchtops. A marble or similar solid surface is ideal for rolling out pastry or bread dough.
YOUR SAY
Tell us how you make baking easier in your kitchen. Share your ideas in the Comments.
MORE
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Plan a space for a pastry table in the main work triangle. Old-fashioned pastry tables are typically lower than standard benchtops. A marble or similar solid surface is ideal for rolling out pastry or bread dough.
YOUR SAY
Tell us how you make baking easier in your kitchen. Share your ideas in the Comments.
MORE
Clever Cleaning: Why Baking Soda Is Your New Best Friend
So Your Garden Style Is: Cook’s Garden
Cooking With Character: 13 Personality-Packed Kitchens
Kitchen Charisma: 10 Ways to Give Yours a Lift
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I like to store so much n the refrigerator - all my flours - pastas - honey too - any nuts and seeds we have. I wouldn't have much use for open shelves with pretty glass containers for these kind of products. I also have a small kitchen so a lot of these ideas that I love, I can't use. I don't have a separate pastry table but I have a granite cutting board and a large wood cutting board. We manage. I do have a place for trays and baking sheets in a full depth cabinet above the refrigerator and I am so happy I did, we use it all the time.
LOVE this kitchen!
Love the look of it, is what I mean. It's very nostalgic. Reminds me of kitchens when I was growing up.