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Time to figure out how sourdough starters actually work.

Promising review: "I've been in the industry for 50 years, and these are the best pans I've ever used. Highly recommend purchasing." —David J Godwin

Get a six-piece set from Amazon for $134.95 (also available in sets of three or five).

Promising review: "Great, durable, quality measuring cups. They sit inside each other easily for storage. The handle is comfortable for pouring. Easy to read the measurements. I appreciate having a two-pack for both different capacities or measuring several ingredients in a single recipe." —Matthew Schneider

Promising review: "Wonderful for lining pans for desserts, breads, and rolls. You can be assured that nothing will stick, plus it’s so nice to have it pre-cut." —Helen

Get it from Amazon for $7.99+ (available in three sizes).

Promising review: "Perfect for beginners. This was my first time piping buttercream, and it was so easy to use. You just have to cut the bag to the perfect size so that it holds the tip and doesn’t slip out. I was using a good amount of pressure." —Alexa

Promising review: "This thermometer is accurate and simple to read. The dial gauge is great because of the large numbers and colors. At a glance, you can check the temperature from several feet away. The size is ideal and doesn't get in the way. There are several ways to mount or hang the Thermometer. These are a must if you want accurate temperatures for baking. My oven was 25 degrees off, and this solved the problem. I'm glad I selected this one; I wish I had it years ago." —Unbiased

Promising review: "I’m new to baking, and this rolling pin has been great. It’s smooth, easy to control, and works well for pie crusts, cookies, and pastry. It’s also very easy to clean and doesn’t take up much space, which is a big plus for storage. Simple, well-made, and beginner-friendly." —Practical Picks

Get it from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in two materials). 

Promising review: "I love my KitchenAid mixer. I bought the stainless-steel bowl as it doesn't break. I bake a lot more now because it makes mixing so easy. Mine is black and is the Cadillac of mixers as far as I'm concerned." —Wanda G

Get it from Amazon for $399 (available in two colors). 

Beginner-friendly recipes include Chewy Banana Walnut Cookies, Thick & Fudgy Brownies, Lemon Lavender Olive Oil Cake, and the Ultimate Fruit Crisp.

Promising review: "This book is the holy grail of baking. The tips, the tricks, the detailed explanations, the delicious recipes, and the amazing photos and how-tos all come together to make a fantastic textbook for your baking. Sally makes things simple to understand and execute. This is so much more than a 'cookbook'! I will keep this one forever for sure!" —Alice

Get it from Amazon for $14.99+ (available as a Kindle, hardcover, and spiral-bound edition).

Promising review: "Works great! You can even hang recipe cards with the weights. Holds large cookbooks. I bought two because we usually have a couple of cookbooks out at once. These are beautiful and very helpful." —HollyBelle

Promising review: "I use this scale 2–3 times/week for baking bread. Makes it so easy. Just weigh one ingredient in a bowl, hit the 'tare' button, add the next ingredient, hit 'tare,' etc., without ever moving the bowl. Saves so much time over measuring in a separate container. Very accurate. I can shake in 10 grams of salt and watch it tick upward as the grains go in. We also use this as a mail scale in lbs/oz. mode. Very easy to use." —Texas Birder

Get it from Amazon for $25.26+ (available in 10 colors/styles).

Promising review: "Love these magnetic measuring spoons! So much easier to store and use. With clear, easy-to-read markings, they are dishwasher safe and feel good (weight-wise) in your hand (not flimsy or cheap). They give you the option of two spoon types, elongated or round, so that you can pull a clean measure from any jar or container. These little guys are built to last! Glad I purchased them! Happy baking! :)" —Kathryn Levesque

Get it from Amazon for $8.49+ (available in 23 colors and in a two-pack).

Promising review: "These are wonderful!! They're not flimsy at all. In most cupboards, they would fit side by side; mine are staggered because of my griddle. I love these and would definitely recommend them!!" —Alisa

Get it from Amazon for $19.97 (also available in bronze).

Promising review: "Ok, these are a game changer!! They are perfectly non-stick, have a great price point, and are super easy to clean. Highly recommend." —Kristin

Promising review: "These are high-quality glass spice bottles. I ordered labels and a pull-out spice rack. They fit perfectly. They look so neat and tidy. I bought another set after getting these to put baking sprinkles, cinnamon sugar, powdered sugar, etc., in." —Spa Owner

Promising review: "I bought this for under-the-sink storage where I keep a lot of cutting boards. They were continually falling over, and I couldn't find the exact one I wanted. This added much-needed storage by attaching to the cabinet door." —S. Isselhardt

Get it from Amazon for $18.87 (also available in a two-pack).

Promising review: "This five-piece silicone spatula set is amazing. I absolutely love these! They’re sturdy, flexible, and truly food-grade quality. They scrape bowls perfectly, don’t melt, and feel great to use. I honestly wish I had these years ago — they make cooking and baking so much easier." —Melissa

Get the five-piece set from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in 18 colors and in sets of three or four).

Promising review: "These baking mats are absolutely fantastic. The quality is superb, and it's SUCH a good price. I use them for just about everything I put in the oven. From oven pizzas to cookies, you name it! I also love that, besides food sliding easily off the nonstick surface, they help protect all my baking sheets and such. It’s also super handy to just throw them in the top shelf of the dishwasher or even just wipe them clean. Also, an easy tip for storing these: You can cut off about one-third of an empty paper towel roll to use as a holder, and just roll up the mats and slip them inside the roll/ring for easy storage of the mats in a drawer. I highly recommend these!" —Jezzhani

Get a set of two from Amazon for $8.99 (available in two styles and in a set of four).

Promising review: "I bake cookies often and noticed that my black cooling racks were rusting after going through the dishwasher. I ordered these to prevent this from happening. I've run them through the dishwasher, and they came out looking great. Happy baking! :-)" —Melanie

Get it from Amazon for $19.79+ (available in five sizes, three shapes/styles, and in packs of one, two, or three).

Promising review: "Love these oven mitts! They completely protect my hands when pulling out hot baked items from the oven. They are also very easy to wipe clean. I like how high up they go on my arms, too. No more burning my arms." —Jessica

Get it from Amazon for $14.33+ (available in 18 colors).

Promising review: "I am obsessed, this is my favorite apron from here! I keep buying the aprons, saying it's my last one, lol. It’s so much cuter in person. I can’t wait to bake with my new apron!" —annxsara

You'll find lessons for yeast breads, sourdough, laminated pastries, pies and tarts, cookies, quick breads, and cakes.

Promising review: "What a wonderful format, especially for the beginner baker (like me!). Beautifully illustrated with excellent techniques clearly defined. This isn't a cookbook; it is a textbook for bakers of all levels. Really great reference book! And an enjoyable read." —Karole Lee

Get it from Amazon for $35.52+ (available as a Kindle, hardcover, or spiral-bound edition).

Promising review: "These are the only gel food coloring bottles that you need if you are a baker. They are easy to mix, and a little color goes a very long way. I have used them for holidays, like making rice crispy treats a fun color for Halloween, and have successfully used them to make gorgeous cakes. The food coloring does not affect the bake or the flavor of the food, which I have found with other brands or other types of food coloring." —Panda

Get a 12-pack from Amazon for $24.99 (also available in a six-pack).

Promising review: "These scoops are a baker's dream! The range of sizes is very useful, and they work flawlessly for serving ice cream and making cookies. The best part is the consistency: They make it easy to ensure every cookie is the exact same size. They feel sturdy, and I highly recommend them." —CarlaJo

Promising review: "I love these bowls!!! Great for popcorn due to the lids. Very sturdy. I've used these for so many different cooking uses — perfect for making whipped cream or recipes that require several bowls. I do not own a dishwasher, so I'm not sure about that part, but these are thick, sturdy metal, and I love the non-slip bottoms!! The lids are pretty durable as well. 100% recommend for the baker on a budget!!!" —Darkwraith

Get it from Amazon for $32.99+ (available in four colors).

Promising review: "I love that they are so easy to assemble! They are a great size (for my gift-giving needs) and sturdy enough. I sometimes use a cake board for more sturdiness. They are a decent value. And yes, they are big enough for cupcakes!" —DMB

Get a pack of 28 boxes from Amazon for $16.99 (available in two colors).

Reviews for this post have been edited for length and/or clarity.

BuzzFeed Shopping is service journalism first: our writers and editors spend all day shopping so you don’t have to, vetting products, fact-checking brand claims, and surfacing what actually helps in real life. We center readers over revenue, recommend products with authenticity (using real experiences, not ad-speak), and reflect our diverse audience, inclusive of a variety of price points, people, and needs. We cut through fake deals, favor useful info over glossy fluff, and recommend both budget and splurge options with context so you can decide what’s right for you — and still have a little fun along the way.

Kathleen Shea-Porter has been a freelance writer for BuzzFeed since 2020 and is always on the lookout for products that are the perfect blend of form and function — especially if it's in the realm of parenting, travel, and home goods and décor.