The MK team’s favourite baking tools aren’t just handy – they’re game-changers. These kitchen MVPs will do all the heavy lifting for you! 

Liezl Vermeulen, Editor-In-Chief 

A food processor is a fantastic baking appliance. Granted, this is something you save for… but once you have it on your kitchen counter, you can never live without it again. Unlike a stick blender, which can fulfil some of the same tasks, a food processor has a wide surface area that really manages to mix things without immediately turning it into a fine crumb or pulp (like a stick blender would). It works great for everything from making homemade pastry to simply crushing cookies for your fridge tart. 

@food24_southafrica Love a good hack? So do we! ⁠ ⁠ We recently put one to the test and it’s a game-changer, especially if you don’t have a spice grinder at home! ⁠ ⁠ Did you know you can use a stick blender to grind small amounts of seeds and spices? It might get a tad messy, but the results are totally worth it! ⁠ ⁠ We were inspired by aruna_vijay_masterchef to try this awesome hack! ⁠ ⁠ Give it a whirl and let us know what you think.⁠ Visit the link in our bio for more foodie hacks! #food24_southafrica #SAMA28 #foodhacks #foodtipsandtricks #viralhacks #spices ♬ original sound – Food24_SouthAfrica

Lichelle May, Food Editor 

There are two baking tools that I cannot be without – a digital kitchen scale and a dough cutter. Goodbye “cup” guessing; the digital scale gives the perfect ratios every time. I also love dough cutters, which can be used like bench scrapers. They make lifting, dividing and cleaning up dough stuck on a counter effortless.  

@bakingbycece How to use a digital kitchen scale! #baking #howto #bakingbasics ♬ original sound – bakingbycece

Sjaan van der Ploeg, Deputy Food Editor 

I love an electric hand mixer (or a stand mixer). Having some sort of electric beater that can combine batters or mixtures for your bakes really makes a difference. Of course, many bakes can be made using a whisk, wooden spoon or even your hands, but the extra power provided by a mixer transforms the end result from a dense cookie to a chewy one or from lumpy cake to light. The second tool I can’t bake without is a sieve. It really helps when it comes to adding flours or dry goods to your bakes. They don’t only prevent any hardened or dried pieces from making their way into the mixture, but they also aerate the flours, making the ingredients lighter and evenly distributed.  

@lotsacakes If you’ve ever wondered why it’s important to sift your dry ingredients. Well, here’s a video that hopefully answers all those questions! ##homebakery##baking##bakingtips##bakefromscratch##homebakery##bakerylife##bakery##cakedecorator##customcake ♬ original sound – LotsaCakes

Photography: Pexels

Also read: 3 Baking mistakes you may be making (and how to fix them) 

The post Tools that take our MK team’s baking to the next level  appeared first on MyKitchen.

From making giant ice cubes in a muffin pan to keeping a fry-up’s fat at bay with a colander, here are four clever new uses for old kitchen items.  

Colander as an oil splatter blocker  

Who says you only need to use your colander to strain rice and pasta? A metal colander is a great way to block oil splatters when frying eggs, bacon or chicken in an open skillet. Turn your metal colander upside-down on top of your open pan to block grease spray. Plus, the holes of the colander will still allow steam to escape from your fry-up.  

Meat baster as a pancake shaper 

Put your old meat baster to good use to make perfectly round flapjacks. Fill your baster ⅔ of the way with your delicious flapjack mixture. Then, gently squeeze the mixture in a circular motion in the middle of your pan. Do you have little ones at home? Use it to make different shapes. They’ll look forward to heart, star and animal-shaped flapjacks every time.  

Empty paper towel as linen organisers 

Keep your smaller table linen, like cloth napkins, tea towels and placemats, neatly stored (and without wrinkles) using empty paper towel tubes. After washing and ironing your linen, gently roll your wrinkle-free cloths around the empty tubes. Smooth out any bumps in your rolling process. Then, pack it away in their usual place and unroll with the help of your paper towel holder. A clever tip for larger linens like runners and tablecloths is to use empty wrapping paper tubes instead. 

Silicone muffin tray as an ice tray for jumbo ice blocks 

Want (really) big ice cubes? You don’t have to run to the shop to get a large ice tray, simply head to your baking cupboard. Fill your silicone muffin tray with water and leave in the freezer until completely frozen. To remove the cubes, run warm water over the back of the tray for a couple of seconds to pop them out. And voila! The huge ice cubes are perfect to keep your jugs of water and iced tea cool on a scorching summer day. A great tip is to place different pieces of fruit like cucumber, lemon and berries in the water before freezing it. The fruit will instantly add a touch of grandeur to your drink. 

@house.becomes.home Lemon ice cubes!!! Perfrct fhot summer days!! #healthadepopit #summer #summervibes #summerdrink #lemon #lemonwater ♬ Gold (Remix) – Kiiara

The giant ice blocks are perfect to use in these yummy iced tea recipes. 

Image: Shutterstock

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While there are many fancy tools and gadgets to use in the kitchen nowadays, there are still a number of old-school essential kitchen items that every household needs.

A NON-STICK FRYING PAN

Perfect for cooking (almost) everything, a pan is an easy go-to item for frying up some breakfast, meat, veggies, and more. Use it on the stove, gas stove, or open fire when making your food.

A SPATULA

A medium-sized spatula will help you pick-up, flip and turn the majority of items you want to pan-fry. While metal is stronger and more heat-resistant, silicon works well to prevent scratches or damage to the surface of the pan.

TRUSTY KNIVES

From a vegetable knife to a bread knife, there are many options out there, each with their own purpose. It’s best to try to get an all-round balanced set of knives to use in the kitchen for  all the chopping and cutting you require for cooking your everyday meals. But they can be pricey. In such cases, an all-purpose chef’s knife will see you in good stead.

A TIN OPENER

If you’re moving into a new home, or starting out for the first time, this little gadget is must-have for tinned foods (and pet food!)

A COOKING POT

You absolutely need a strong, quality heavy-based cooking pot in your home. These are used for preparing key ingredients such as rice, potatoes and porridge. Don’t be afraid to go for a more expensive option, it’s an amazing kitchen investment.

A GRATER

Best known for its incredible cheese-grating abilities, but can also be used for grating vegetables and fruit to use in yummy dishes, this one is definitely a keeper!

A PEELER

Another trusty tool to use for prepping all your fruit and veg for salads, roasts and other delicious meals; a peeler makes cooking prep much simpler and quicker in the kitchen.

THE WOODEN SPOON

This handy tool has a multitude of uses. Stir, mix, and dish-up your ingredients. The wooden material makes it sturdy and well-equipped for working with tough ingredients.

A CORKSCREW AND BOTTLE OPENER COMBO

These are one of those pesky items you can never seem to find when you need it but is a necessity if you’re someone who loves to entertain.

A WHISK

Bake up a storm in the kitchen with a strong metal whisk. Plus, it’s amazing for preventing lumpy gravies and sauces.

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