If there’s one baking tool and equipment you should not miss, it’s the baking pan. However, not every baker realizes how important this tool is.
But what exactly is a baking pan? How many types are there? What baking pan uses should you take note of?
In this article, we’ll talk about what a baking pan is, baking pan types, and baking pan uses.
What Is a Baking Pan?
As you may well know, a baking pan is used for making treats that require an oven.
An oven for baking involves very high temperatures, so you cannot use an ordinary tray or pan. Instead, you need to use this pan.
These pans withstand extremely high temperatures. While any baking pan can do this, the way they retain heat varies. The speed at which they heat up also varies.
For instance, clay and glass pans slowly become hot. However, once they become hot, they retain heat well. On the other hand, stainless steel and aluminum pans heat up more quickly.
In addition, baking pans hold runny batters such as cake batter. It can also hold the thick batter and solid food, such as savory baked dishes. Bakers can then serve the food using the baking pan.
Types of Baking Pans
There are many types of baking pans. In this section, we categorized the types of baking pans according to their material and use.
Baking Pan Materials
Here are the kinds of baking pans according to material:
1. Stainless Steel
Stainless steel is among the most common materials for baking pans.
On cooking shows, chefs typically use stainless steel pans. Pros use stainless steel pans because they heat up evenly and quickly.
They are also easy to wash. You can even throw these pans in the dishwasher. Plus, stainless steel pans are highly durable.
However, stainless steel is not non-stick. It takes preparation to bake with stainless steel pans. On the bright side, baking paper and oil save you from the sticky mess.
As an alternative, you can use some baking spray. It can save you time.
2. Aluminum
Another common material used in making baking pans is aluminum.
Bakers, especially in the Philippines, choose aluminum pans because they heat up quickly. They also distribute heat well. Plus, they are inexpensive.
Aluminum pans are commonly used for ensaymada recipes and leche flan recipes.
However, aluminum baking pans are not highly durable. Just like stainless steel pans, they are not non-stick.
If you want a more durable version, you can choose aluminum oxide pans. These pans went through a treatment process that makes them extremely durable. This process also makes them slightly non-stick.
Anodized aluminum pans are also durable and somewhat non-stick.
3. Glass
A less common yet durable material used for making pans is glass.
Bakers love glass for one main reason: glass does not rust or dent. A glass baking pan is highly durable. They heat slowly, but evenly.
For this very reason, cooks like using glass pans to make savory dishes baked macaroni. You can also use glass pans to bake bread and make casserole dishes.
Glass pans heat slowly, but very evenly. They are also perfect for baking bread and casseroles evenly.
In addition, glass pans are best used for baking acidic food such as lemon curd or tomato casserole dishes. Acid can react with metal. Hence, metal pans can result in a metallic taste.
However, you have to carefully use glass pans. If you are quickly cooking food at high temperatures, your glass pan might break.
4. Clay
Just like glass pans, clay pans heat slowly. On the upside, they heat up very evenly. Clay pans also retain heat well.
Bakers use clay pans for their non-reactive and heat-holding properties. Due to these properties, people use clay pans for making baked pasta, bread puddings, and gratin.
In addition, a clay pan serves as an attractive container. You can keep the baked dish inside the pan and serve it to your guests.
On the downside, clay might break at high temperatures. Just like glass pans, you have to carefully use clay pans. Handle them with care and do not use them for dishes requiring extremely high temperatures.
5. Silicone
Silicone baking pans recently gained popularity. For the past few years, many bakers switched to silicone bakeware because of its flexibility.
For one, silicone is so easy to use. It is non-stick, so you do not need parchment paper. They do not need additional grease as well.
Baked treats also easily come out of silicone pans. You can easily pop out your tarts, cakes, or muffins.
In addition, bakers like silicone’s flexibility. It can go from hot to cold and vice versa. On top of that, it is lightweight and easy to store.
Baking Pan Uses
Bakers use baking pans due to many reasons. Here are the kinds of baking pans according to use:
1. Sheet Baking Pan
Sheet Pan Definition
These baking pans, also known as baking sheets, usually come in a rectangular shape. Cooks use sheet pans to bake desserts with runny batter. While often confused with cookie sheets, sheet pans are different.
Sheet pans can also be used to bake slices of chicken and potatoes. So, you can use these pans for making savory dishes as well.
The most distinguishing feature of a sheet baking pan is its rounded rim. The rim ensures that the parchment paper won’t slide off. Due to its rounded rim, this pan also easily fits inside ovens.
Half sheet pans, the standard-sized ones, measure 12 by 16 inches. Quarter sheet pans measure 9 by 13 inches. Full sheet pans, the commercial ones, measure 26 by 18 inches.
2. Cake Pan
From weddings to birthdays, we celebrate special occasions with beautiful cakes. If you make cakes for personal or commercial purposes, you certainly need a cake pan.
Cake pans usually come in a round shape. However, you can also find rectangular and square cake pans in the market.
While cake pans come in many shapes and sizes, they all have high sides and flat bottoms. These features allow you to bake cakes to trim, level, layer, and frost.
Round cake pans, the most common ones, come in many sizes. The standard size measures nine inches. Bakers prefer this size because it produces cakes that bake slightly more quickly compared to eight-inch pans.
3. Springform Pan
Speaking of cake pans, you need to know about its most famous category― the springform pan.
A springform pan comes in a round shape. It features a removable bottom. A latch holds its sides together. It can be opened and removed once the cake is done.
Springform pans deserve a spot on this list for one main reason: it lets you easily remove cakes. Due to this, professionals use springform pans to make cheesecakes, ice cream cakes, layer cake, and tarts.
In a nutshell, if you want to bake treats with perfect sides, use a springform pan.
4. Tube Pan
Just a heads up, we will talk about another type of cake pan here.
Tube Center Pan Definition
As its name implies, a tube baking pan features a hollow tube in its center.
If you are not familiar with tube cakes, they are those ring-shaped cakes. While they do not usually have frosting, the chiffon delights many people.
Since tube cakes have to be cooked properly, the recipes call for tube pans.
Tube Center Pan Function
The said tube conducts heat. This allows huge, deep cakes to bake faster. It also allows the cake to release more easily and cook through the middle.
5. Bundt Pan
Contrary to popular belief, tube cakes and bundt cakes are not the same. Bundt cakes have fluted sides, while tube cakes do not.
Hence, these cakes call for different baking pans. Bundt cakes require bundt pans.
Bundt pans feature fluted sides. These give bundt cakes their decorative, sculpted shapes. Due to this cake design, bundt cakes do not require buttercream frosting.
In addition, bundt pans come in various materials— silicone, stainless steel, and aluminum, among others.
Whatever material you pick, bundt pans are best for baking thick, dense cakes with tender, moist centers. These include coffee, butter, and pound cakes.
Interestingly, you can also use bundt pans to make cakes with light and airy textures like angel food and chiffon cakes.
6. Pie Pan
Do you want to make the perfect egg pie? Start by finding the right pie pan.
Pie Pan Definition and Uses
Pie pans, also called pie plates and pie tins, feature a fluted rim or straight. They also have shallow, sloping sides.
Their fluted rim holds the crust in place. The sloping sides help bakers make beautiful brown crusts.
Moreover, the shallow feature ensures bakers that their pies cook in the middle. Since pie batter is thicker than cake batter, pie pans are designed to be shallow.
Pie plates come in many sizes and materials. The most common sizes measure eight and nine inches. The most common materials include glass and aluminum. However, you can also find clay and stainless steel pie pans in the market.
7. Loaf Pan
Bakers love loaf pans for their versatility. From light snacks to a breakfast meal, loaf pans help you produce delicious food.
In many kitchens, loaf pans are essential tools. You can use loaf pans to make savory meatloaf and sweet banana bread. They can also be used to make quick loaf recipes you can enjoy as a snack.
In addition, you can use loaf pans to make yeasted bread, which you can then use to make homemade sandwiches. The possibilities are almost endless.
8. Muffin Baking Pan
Yes, its name suggests that it’s used for muffins. However, you can use muffin pans to make cupcakes as well. From red velvet cupcakes to blueberry muffins, delicious treats await you― thanks to muffin pans.
In addition, you can turn many cake recipes into their cupcake versions. Plus, muffin pans can accommodate various cupcake designs. This makes the muffin pan more versatile and useful.
Conclusion
Baking pans are a life-saver. If you do not have them yet, you better shop for them.
However, most bakers only order one type of baking pan. While this is totally fine (especially if you only bake one type of dessert), it’s worth investing in other types or set of baking pans.
So, once you’re ready, bookmark or print this guide. This helps save you the precious time you’d rather use to bake more delicious treats.
About HICAPS
Over the years, HICAPS has helped bakers and businesses make delicious products by offering ingredients like ChiffonAide Cake Oil, Magic Whizk Whipping Cream, Red Velvet Flavor Emulco, and Instabake Brownie Mix.
HICAPS also provides tools and resources to valued partners such as the free “How to Increase Your Sales Amidst the Pandemic” E-book and free dealer locator that helps look for baking ingredients near me.
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