Cake Mixing tools – Baking Equipment in Kenya Explained

Here at Amari we’ve decided to start a segment called “Tips on Tuesday”.

At least twice a month on Tuesdays, we’ll offer baking tips that will help you be a better home-baker in your kitchen ^_^

For this Tuesday, we’re posting a third post on our series of Baking Equipment Explained. If you haven’t already them, you can read our previous posts on Baking Pans and Cake Decorating Tools.

This time we will address baking equipment used for the mixing process before baking.This post is helpful for those who may just have started baking and may not know all the tools available for mixing your batter.

1. Mixing Bowls

Mixing bowls are an essential part of mixing, they come in stainless steel or plastic material.
They are used during preparation to mix dry ingredients or wet ingredients separately.

Plastic medium bowl

They are also used in the mixing of batter or dough. It is recommended to get a set of 3 in your kitchen if you want to start baking. Get: small, medium & large sizes – one of each at least. They are available in major supermarkets in Kenya as well as bake-ware shops in Nairobi such as Topserve Ltd. They can also be found locally near major markets or stall shopping areas in plastic-ware or kitchen ware shops. They range from Kshs. 100 to Kshs. 2,000, depending on size, material they are made of and quality.

Stainless Steel mixing bowls (What we use in our classes)

2. Sieve/ Sifter

This is also an essential part of mixing since it is used to sift flour, baking or cocoa powder before mixing the batter. This is to ensure a smooth, lump-free batter consistency. Sieves are available in stainless steel or plastic materials.  They are also easily found in major supermarkets or bake-ware shops. Once again, they are also easily found locally near major shopping market areas in shops that sell kitchen ware or plastic-ware. They range from Kshs. 50 to Kshs. 1,000 depending on quality and size.

Stainless steel sieve

3.  Whisks

This tool is used to mix batter or mix dry ingredients like flour & baking powder together. It’s available in plastic or stainless steel material. It is an essential part of mixing ingredients before baking. A whisk can be used by itself, especially for home baking projects, to mix dry ingredients as well as to cream ingredients and mix batter in preparation for baking.Whisks are available individually or in sets of different sizes.It is recommended to have at least 2 or 3 sizes in your kitchen – small and medium. They are easily found in major supermarkets in Kenya as well as bake-ware shops such as Topserve Ltd. They range from Kshs. 150 to Kshs. 2,000 depending on the quality, size and material.

set of stainless steel whisks (kitchennice.ac)

4. Wooden Spoon

This is an important tool that is used for various bakery preparation and mixing jobs. It can be used if mixing any recipes that require heating of cream, milk etc, to stir. It can also be used to fold ingredients into batter such as dried fruits or grated carrots. It can also be used to scrape the sides of the bowl to clear all the batter into a baking pan. Since it’s made out of wood it is easily available in any supermarket, local kitchen ware shop or bake-ware shop as well. It ranges from Kshs. 50 to Kshs. 200 depending on size and wood quality.

Wooden Spoons (proprofs.com)

5. Spatula

This is another important tool used in the mixing process. Just like a wooden spoon it can be used to fold in dry ingredients into batter. It can be used to scrape the sides of a bowl to clean all batter into a baking pan. If it is a wooden spatula, it can be used to stir ingredients that have to be heated or melted before mixing. Spatulas are made of wood or rubber. Wooden ones are more reasonably priced i.e. Kshs. 50 to Kshs.100. Rubber/Silicone spatulas are a bit more costly i.e. Kshs. 250 – Kshs. 1,500. You can find rubber or silicone spatulas at Topserve Ltd on Accra Road. If you want wooden spatulas, you can find them at your nearby market as well.

Rubber Spatula set (pastrychef.com)

6. Pastry Blender

A pastry blender is an important tool especially when mixing pastries. It is used to mix solid fat into flour e.g. shortening and flour. It helps break the shortening into smaller pieces. It is especially useful for making pie crusts. The handle is made of wood with wire strips attached on both sides of the handle. This tool can be found in major supermarkets or bake-ware shops. It ranges from Kshs. 200 – Kshs. 400 depending on quality of the item.

Pastry Blender (wikipedia.com)

7. Electric Blenders

This electric kitchen appliance is useful in the mixing process. It is used to blend or puree ingredients before they are incorporated into the batter. You can use it to blend ripe bananas before mixing them into a creamed mixture to make a Banana bread recipe. You can use it to blend fruits and maybe herbs you want to incorporate into your recipe. Blenders are easily found in major supermarkets and house appliance stores such as Ramptons or LG Shops. They range from Kshs.1,800 to Kshs. 8,000 depending on size, quality or brand.

Electric Blender – smaller size (wikipedia)

8. Food Processors

This is another useful electric kitchen appliance in the mixing process. It is similar to a blender except for it has inter-changeable blades and attachments used for various mixing jobs e.g. chopping, blending, pureeing, shredding, mixing and kneading dough. It is a wonderful multipurpose tool. It can be used to chop nuts, blend fruits and herbs, shred cheese or assist in mixing multiple ingredients before incorporation into the batter. If one is making yeast bread, some food processors can knead dough for bread baking. Food processors are easily found in major supermarkets or appliance shops as well. They range from Kshs. 2,500 to 9,000 depending on size, quality and brand.
9. Hand Electric Mixer

This kitchen appliance is very essential in your kitchen if you plan on baking often. It is an alternative to mixing with a whisk. Most hand-held electric mixers come with 2 pairs of attachments; a pair of whisk mixers and a pair of dough hooks. Mixing whisks are for batter and the dough hooks are for kneading dough for yeast bread or other pastries.

Hand-held mixers are easily available in any major supermarkets in Kenya and also kitchen appliance shops as well. They range from Kshs. 1,500 to 8,000 depending on size, quality or brand.

10. Stand-alone Electric Mixer

This kitchen appliance is very essential especially for a seasoned baker or a busy bakery kitchen. It is an electric mixer that comes with a stand, mixing bowl and the 2 pairs of mixing hooks and whisks mentioned above. It is used for more heavy duty mixing than the hand-held electric mixer. It is very convenient to use since one doesn’t have to hold it while mixing, just put the ingredients into the mixing bowl and start it. However, it should always be monitored while in use at all times. Stand-alone mixers are also easily available in major supermarkets in Kenya and kitchen appliance shops. They range from Kshs. 2,500 to 15,000 depending on size, quality or brand.

Stand alone Mixer (courtesy of lydiabakes.com)

11. Commercial Electric Mixer

This  is a heavy duty bakery appliance that is used in commercial bakeries for mixing larger batches of batter. They range from counter top sizes that range from Kshs. 25,000 to Kshs. 50,000; to larger floor set ups that cost from Kshs. 200,000 to Kshs. 800,000.

The counter-top types are available in Kenya from major appliance & equipment vendors such as Caterina Kenya or Kitchen Aid Kenya. You can also get them from vendors such Topserve Ltd .

The larger floor set-ups are sold by factory and plant appliance vendors in Kenya such as Serviscope  Group Ltd. You can also search for second hand heavy duty mixers sold by commercial bakeries that have closed down or shop online.

Many of the above mentioned bakery mixing equipment can be found in major supermarkets like Nakumatt, Tuskys or Naivas supermarkets in Kenya among others. Bake-ware shops such as Topserve Ltd in Nairobi CBD. For kitchen electrical appliances, they can also be found in appliance shops such as LG Stores or Ramptons shops in Nairobi CBD.

Any other additions, suggestions or questions are always welcome. 
Thanks and happy mixing and baking ^_^!

We offer baking classes if you would like to learn how to bake.

For more information visit our Baking Classes page, e-mail: info@amaribakery.com or call/Text: 0701796688