Kitchen Benchtops Worth Baking For
Rolling, kneading, flouring – some benchtops are simply begging for a bit of baking action
A clean, white marble benchtop or a smooth yet rustic timber top are just asking to have dough rolled on them – and there’s nothing quite as delicious as the aroma of yeasty bread proving on the benchtop, and a loaf baking in the oven. Some benchtops are made for baking on and if you haven’t baked bread before, perhaps this is the time to start because, as well as that aroma, it’s one of the most satisfying things to do in a kitchen. So don’t pay a fortune for artesan baked loaves, have a go at baking one yourself.
Research recipes
Find a simple recipe that suits you if you’re starting out. Try baking fresh bread from scratch if you have the time – the kneading and flouring can be the fun part. In my cookery class at school, the teacher used to tell us to pretend the dough was someone we didn’t like, as we energetically kneaded and pounded it. We all pretended it was her. It was very therapeutic.
But if the idea of kneading away on a slab of dough for 10 minutes sounds all too hard, you can use a machine to mix your bread instead.
Find a simple recipe that suits you if you’re starting out. Try baking fresh bread from scratch if you have the time – the kneading and flouring can be the fun part. In my cookery class at school, the teacher used to tell us to pretend the dough was someone we didn’t like, as we energetically kneaded and pounded it. We all pretended it was her. It was very therapeutic.
But if the idea of kneading away on a slab of dough for 10 minutes sounds all too hard, you can use a machine to mix your bread instead.
Consider materials
If you’re designing a new kitchen, and are keen to do lots of baking, really think about the best materials for your benchtops. Natural and engineered stone offer easy-to-clean surfaces. A smooth stainless steel benchtop provides a lovely clean surface for rolling and flouring, pounding and kneading, while well-sealed timber is a good sturdy surface.
Read more: Find Your Idea Kitchen Benchtop Right Here
If you’re designing a new kitchen, and are keen to do lots of baking, really think about the best materials for your benchtops. Natural and engineered stone offer easy-to-clean surfaces. A smooth stainless steel benchtop provides a lovely clean surface for rolling and flouring, pounding and kneading, while well-sealed timber is a good sturdy surface.
Read more: Find Your Idea Kitchen Benchtop Right Here
Mix it up
Or try combining benchtop materials. This sealed concrete add-on would make a lovely surface for rolling out.
Or try combining benchtop materials. This sealed concrete add-on would make a lovely surface for rolling out.
Keep it clear
Try to keep benchtops, or at least some areas of them, as clear as possible – this is likely to induce a baking day. If it’s too cluttered, it might just seem all too hard.
When designing or renovating your kitchen, try to think of all the room you will need for baking if you intend to do lots of it, and ensure work surfaces are as long and wide as space will allow (but not so wide you can’t easily wipe them down).
Read more: Key Measurements to Consider When Designing the Perfect Kitchen Island
Try to keep benchtops, or at least some areas of them, as clear as possible – this is likely to induce a baking day. If it’s too cluttered, it might just seem all too hard.
When designing or renovating your kitchen, try to think of all the room you will need for baking if you intend to do lots of it, and ensure work surfaces are as long and wide as space will allow (but not so wide you can’t easily wipe them down).
Read more: Key Measurements to Consider When Designing the Perfect Kitchen Island
Add a baking table
Just because you’re not blessed with a huge kitchen doesn’t mean you can’t bake bread. Consider adding a special table for baking – such as one with a stone or marble work surface. These are perfect for rolling out pastries and doughs.
Just because you’re not blessed with a huge kitchen doesn’t mean you can’t bake bread. Consider adding a special table for baking – such as one with a stone or marble work surface. These are perfect for rolling out pastries and doughs.
In a large country kitchen, you may have room for an additional table that features its own stone top that’s ideal for baking.
Make room
If you feel there is insufficient space on existing benchtops, consider clever additional benchtop space underneath. Try mixing up surface materials.
Find out how you can double your kitchen workspace
If you feel there is insufficient space on existing benchtops, consider clever additional benchtop space underneath. Try mixing up surface materials.
Find out how you can double your kitchen workspace
Take your time
Clear some time; don’t rush it. I’ve ruined a few loaves by being too impatient to let the loaves prove. While you’re waiting for your loaf to sit on the benchtop and rise, do something else – prepare a cake, declutter a drawer or relax and have a glass of wine while getting to that novel you’ve been meaning to read.
Clear some time; don’t rush it. I’ve ruined a few loaves by being too impatient to let the loaves prove. While you’re waiting for your loaf to sit on the benchtop and rise, do something else – prepare a cake, declutter a drawer or relax and have a glass of wine while getting to that novel you’ve been meaning to read.
The magic of baking
There’s something truly magical about baking bread. You start off with some powdery stuff, add water and yeast. Mix it all together and knead, then leave in a warm spot to rise. Your home becomes filled with gorgeous aromas and hey, by the time you’ve finished what you were doing, your loaf has doubled in size, and is ready to pop in the oven where it will turn into a gorgeous, crusty edible delight – simply slather with butter and enjoy.
There’s something truly magical about baking bread. You start off with some powdery stuff, add water and yeast. Mix it all together and knead, then leave in a warm spot to rise. Your home becomes filled with gorgeous aromas and hey, by the time you’ve finished what you were doing, your loaf has doubled in size, and is ready to pop in the oven where it will turn into a gorgeous, crusty edible delight – simply slather with butter and enjoy.
Accessorise
Baking is a good excuse to go out and buy lots of great accessories for bread and cake making. Many of them may not be necessary though so consider what you need to help you along the way.
Read more: 10 Additions Every Foodie Needs in Their Kitchen
Baking is a good excuse to go out and buy lots of great accessories for bread and cake making. Many of them may not be necessary though so consider what you need to help you along the way.
Read more: 10 Additions Every Foodie Needs in Their Kitchen
Part of the decor
What could better accessorise your lovely benchtop than a freshly baked loaf wrapped in a towel. Use your freshly baked products, as you would fruit, leaving them out on the benchtop for decoration.
What could better accessorise your lovely benchtop than a freshly baked loaf wrapped in a towel. Use your freshly baked products, as you would fruit, leaving them out on the benchtop for decoration.
Task lighting
Ensure you have good lighting over the benchtop where you’ll be baking – either in the form of skylights positioned strategically or good pendant task lighting over the benchtop.
Ensure you have good lighting over the benchtop where you’ll be baking – either in the form of skylights positioned strategically or good pendant task lighting over the benchtop.
Consider storage
If baking bread regularly, you may want to add extra storage space for your loaves. There are now lots of clever drawers and storage spots for bread that can be built into your kitchen or directly into the benchtop.
Check out the these nifty kitchen storage solutions, designed to make life easier.
If baking bread regularly, you may want to add extra storage space for your loaves. There are now lots of clever drawers and storage spots for bread that can be built into your kitchen or directly into the benchtop.
Check out the these nifty kitchen storage solutions, designed to make life easier.
Collect recipes
If you’re a really keen cook/baker, you may like to consider an area under your benchtop specifically for your expanding recipe collection. Bread has been around for thousands of years so there are endless variations. Experiment with a starter sourdough if you’re getting adventurous. Or try fresh yeast sometime – while packet yeast works well and is very convenient, if you can get it, fresh yeast is a lovely product to use. Or try easy breads, such as Australian damper or Irish soda bread that don’t require yeast at all.
If you’re a really keen cook/baker, you may like to consider an area under your benchtop specifically for your expanding recipe collection. Bread has been around for thousands of years so there are endless variations. Experiment with a starter sourdough if you’re getting adventurous. Or try fresh yeast sometime – while packet yeast works well and is very convenient, if you can get it, fresh yeast is a lovely product to use. Or try easy breads, such as Australian damper or Irish soda bread that don’t require yeast at all.
Baking days
In days gone by, it was traditional to get the baking done in one day to save on power. Try a baking day – have a friend over, or if you have children, get them involved. Bake bread, cakes, quiches, tarts or pies. Freeze anything you don’t use. You’ll have lovely food and save lots of money, too!
In days gone by, it was traditional to get the baking done in one day to save on power. Try a baking day – have a friend over, or if you have children, get them involved. Bake bread, cakes, quiches, tarts or pies. Freeze anything you don’t use. You’ll have lovely food and save lots of money, too!
Give it away
If you get carried away and bake too much, a freshly baked loaf is a lovely thing to give as a gift. Take a loaf as an offering if you’re going over to a friend’s house for dinner or a barbecue. Along with wine and salt, a loaf of bread is also a traditional housewarming gift. Or bake up a storm for a friend who has had a baby – they’ll be hungry.
YOUR SAY
Do you have the perfect kitchen for baking? Tell us about it in the Comments.
MORE
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Forget Kitchen Triangles – Work Zones Are Where It’s At
If you get carried away and bake too much, a freshly baked loaf is a lovely thing to give as a gift. Take a loaf as an offering if you’re going over to a friend’s house for dinner or a barbecue. Along with wine and salt, a loaf of bread is also a traditional housewarming gift. Or bake up a storm for a friend who has had a baby – they’ll be hungry.
YOUR SAY
Do you have the perfect kitchen for baking? Tell us about it in the Comments.
MORE
12 Stylish (And Smart) Cantilevered Kitchen Benches
7 Easy-Care Kitchentops to Make Your Life a Breeze
Kitchen Trend: It’s Time to Marvel at Marble
Forget Kitchen Triangles – Work Zones Are Where It’s At
Does this scene make your mouth water? Freshly baked bread, some fresh herbs, a bowl of olives and some slices of yummy cheese? If you dream of freshly baked loaves as opposed to the pre-sliced stodgy stuff in a plastic bag from the supermarket, bear in mind that it’s not that hard to bake your own bread, but having a good clean benchtop is a good start.