Bakeware Buying Guide

Baking can be a truly happy experience, bringing backmicrowaves making them extremely versatile.
memories from childhood, thanks to our olfactoryHowever, when putting them in the oven, it is likely
senses. From cakes, muffins, meat pies, and lasagneyou will need at least a traditional baking tray to put
to breads, pancakes, tarts, and brownies, baking canthe mould on and you can’t use them on the
be a fun thing to do, especially if you and your familyhob. Jamie Oliver and Bakers Pride have an
are food-lovers.assortment of moulds for muffins, loaves, cakes, and
However, baking can be a cruel pastime and whentarts.
results don’t go according to plan, such as aNon Stick Bakeware
case of a cake not rising or having a soggy bottom,Non-stick bakeware can be made of both aluminium
it is particularly annoying. But this may not be yourand steel, but characteristically has a non-stick coating
fault. As Delia Smith said: “….there is a lot ofapplied to allow food to be easily removed from it.
pile-it high, sell-it-cheap rubbish out there, that claimsSuch a bakeware is suitable for baking items like
to be baking equipment…” and “…tin sizelayered cakes, cupcakes or muffins where the food
is where 99% of cake making goes wrong….”has to be served after removing it from the baking
Hence, to avoid turning a great dish into adish. This bakeware can provide excellent results, but
heartrending failure, here are a few tips and pointersthe non-stick coating will wear with use and hence
that will help you select the ideal bakeware.lose it’s performance over time and they can be
The Materialssusceptible to hot spots. Anolon and Bakers Pride
Bakeware comes in various sizes, shapes andseries of bakeware include loaf pans, cake tins, pizza
materials. Each material will have a varying effect onpans, roasting pans, muffin cups and springform pans
the dish. Some of the materials available are anodizedof the non-stick variety. If you are someone who
aluminium, silicon, non-stick, glass, stainless steel,does not do too much baking and do not want the
stone and tinned steel.expense of the hard anodised and silver anodised
Hard Anodised and Silver Anodised bakeware –bakeware, this may well be the solution for you.
for those who bake regularily.Types of Bakeware
Anodized aluminium comes in two varieties- silverThere are several types of bakeware available. The
anodized and hard anodized. Made of aluminiummost basic is the baking dish, available both in square
through an electro-chemical process, which hardensand rectangular varieties. It is a versatile bakeware in
its outer surface, anodized bakeware is rust, peel andwhich you can cook a range of dishes like lasagne,
blister resistant, and is highly durable. Hard anodizedroasts, poultry, fish, etc. Another simple bakeware is
bakeware is ten times harder and hence morethe cake pan that comes in rectangular, square and
durable than silver anodized, but both are excellentround shapes, meant for cakes and savoury dishes.
conductors of heat, owing to the presence ofBaking sheets or cookie sheets are flat metal sheets
aluminium. This property ensures quick and evenwith one or two turned ends and are used to bake
heating, essential when wanting the best resultscookies, biscuits, meringues etc. Bread pans or loaf
when baking and it is generally agreed that this typepans, as the name suggests, are meant to bake
of bakeware is amongst the best available.breads or meat loaves.
Furthermore, both can be used on the hob. However,Bundt pans are heavy-walled with decorative
as with most high quality cookware there is a slightindented curvature and a hollow tube in the centre
downside. Avoid using sharp knives on anodizedfor uniform rising and baking of cakes. Generally used
bakeware as this might lead to scoring and this kindto make coffee cakes or sweet cakes, the
of bakeware is not dishwasher friendly. You will havebakeware is turned upside down for the cake to fall
to hand-wash it with hot soapy water. Food particlesout into a decorative shape with a golden crust.
on its surface can be removed by soaking it in water.Doughnut pans are shaped to bake doughnuts, and
Checkout the wide range of silver and hard anodizedmuffin tins, cups and pans for baking muffins.
bakeware such as pans, trays, moulds and dishesThere are numerous other baking wares such as flan
from Silverwood, or take a look at the hard anodizedpans, brioche pans, French bread pans, jelly roll pans,
bakeware from Mermaid.pie plates, shortbread pans, popover pans, tart pans,
Silicon Bakewaretube pans and springform pans.
Oven, microwave and freezer friendly SiliconThe choice is endless, and all you have to do is
bakeware is comparatively a new addition to thedecide what to buy, depending on what you need.
kitchen range, but has caught on soon enoughPrices will purely depend on the quality each
because of its easy storage capability and durablebakeware offers plus the number of pieces you
nature. With a capacity to withstand temperaturespurchase. Hard anodized is the most expensive,
ranging from 40 to 580 degrees F, silicon bakewarefollowed by silver anodized and silicon, and in reality
transfers heat to the food without absorbing it. Thethat reflects the quality of the product. Finally, make
second food is out of the oven, the bakeware stopssure when you don’t have the most suitable
the cooking process, avoiding further browning at thebakeware for a particular dish, go for one that is
bottom or edges. Flexible and bendable and madeclosest to the size of the ideal baking dish. This
from silicone, silicon bakeware is mostly used asensures even cooking and therefore, the best results.
moulds and can be used in dishwashers, freezers and