Cake Pans

New age cake pans for the new age home maker

For a lot of people who don't know much about baking, a cake pan would mean a simple circular, square or rectangular metallic dish into which you put the cake batter and then place in a hot oven to bake your cake. That is the truth to some extent, but there's much more to cake pans than just that! Modern cake pans come in every conceivable shape and size and in a range of materials that ranges from that traditional aluminum and tin to the futuristic silicone and everything in between.

Different types of cake pans

There are several varieties of bake pans that can be used for baking cakes and it is critical that you use pans that are suitable to the recipe, occasion and time required to bake the cake. The following are the most popularly used bake pans, each with its specific usage:

• Springform pans: This pan comes in 2 pieces that snap together to form the pan and can be detached. This facilitates even heating and the easy removal of the baked cake. This kind of pan is perfect for cheesecakes molding mousse cakes and layered cakes. This pan is typically non stick and made of shining tin but there are newer kinds of springform pans that come with a colorful exterior finish. One of the most important things to look for when buying a springform pan is that the metal which is usually coated steel should resist sticking and should be easy to clean. It is also important that the pan does not collapse under the weight of the batter.

• Angel food pans: This is a kind of tube pan which has a detachable side and cone, and no bottom. These are used only for angel food cakes. The pan requires no grease while baking. Angle food cakes need to be in close contact to the sides of the pan. After they are baked you need to cool them upside down. You then have to carefully run a knife between the cake and the sides of the pan to get the cake out without damaging its shape.

• Ring pans:These are usually made in plain aluminum. Some of these pans come with have a central opening and some are without the opening. Some are non stick and others are not. They are suitable for most kind of cakes and need to be oiled before you put in the cake batter.

• Bundt pans: Introduced in the market in the 1950's this pan is extremely popular type of bakeware. The versatile Bundt bake pan is usually made of aluminum, cast iron or silicone and comes in various sizes and shapes. You can use it to bake muffins, cupcakes, cakes, gelled deserts and meatloaf. Bundt cake pans are available with or without a non stick coating. These also need to be greased before you can bake in them. Cakes baked in these pans cook evenly both inside and out, are very attractive, have different shapes and are relatively easy to garnish.

• Regular shape pans: These are the normal shaped circular, square and rectangular pans. They are usually made of aluminum or tin and come with/without a non stick coating. Round pans are great for layered cakes and come in various sizes. The square and the rectangular pans produce slightly uneven cakes where the centre portion is thicker and more mounted than the sides.

• Uniquely shape pans: There is a great demand for bake pans in innovative shapes and designs especially for kids birthdays parties and other special occasions and festivals like weddings, baby showers, anniversaries, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter and Valentine's day. There are pans shaped like children's favorite cartoon characters as seen on TV and in books. There are pans that enable you to bake sports based cakes. Heart shaped cakes are of course an all time favorite for baking Valentine day cakes or cakes for any other romantic occasion. Christmas cake pans come in the shape of the fir tree, star, Santa, the Christmas stocking and more. Easter cake pans let you create cakes in the shapes of the Easter bunny or the Easter egg. There are bake pans to make each of these occasions a little more special.

• Muffin pans: These are special pans used for baking muffins. These are usually made of aluminum or cast iron and have a non stick coating.

• Cup cake pans: Yummy cupcakes can be made in cupcake pans or molds that consist of interconnected cups which are lined with foil or wax paper for easy removal of cupcakes. Cupcake pans are similar to muffin pans though they have smaller cups. There are pans that make miniature cup cakes and other that make regular sized ones and still others that make giant cupcakes. When you buy a cup cake pan make sure you buy the shiniest one available. These produce more evenly baked cup cakes.

• Loaf pans: Loaf pans are ideal for any baking loaf shaped cakes and loaf bread. These typically come with an aluminum body and a non stick inner surface.

Know how to select the right kind of pan for your baking needs

Choosing the right kind of cake pan is the first important step when you set out to bake a cake. They say a good cake pan makes a good baker. Choosing the right cake pan would take some effort as there are scores of cake pans available in the market and knowing which one's right for you isn't easy. However knowing a few basics could make this challenging task a lot easier.

• Baking Pan Material: Cake pans are usually made of made from enameled metal, metal or glass. Though some people use it, glass is not really the best material for cake baking. It is more appropriate for other baked dishes. These days silicone cake pans are becoming very popular. The advantage of silicone pans is that they can be used to bake at very high temperatures, allow even cooking and the cake can be unmolded without any sort of fuss. Silicone pans even allow bakers to freeze or chill cakes while still in the pan as silicone tolerates extreme cold conditions as well as it tolerates heat. Even when it comes to cleaning, silicone pans score very well. They can be easily put in the dishwasher and do not attract grease and dirt like normal metallic cake pans. Silicone though a bit expensive than the normal metallic or glass pans is the best baking pan material available in the market for the modern day baker.

• Shape: Shape is important for the occasion for which you are planning to bake the cake. If it is a routine everyday baking that you are looking at, regular round, square and rectangular shaped pans would do. But if you need to bake cakes for special occasions like birthdays and festivals, cake pans in shapes like animals, triangles, hearts, diamonds and other geometric shapes would be ideal for you. Novelty cake pans may not be useful as regular cake pans but to make an occasion special and to see a smile on the faces of your loved one, it's worth the investment. These cake pans also make the creation of exclusive cakes a lot easier.

• Size: Choosing the right sized cake pan is also very important. If you do a lot of baking it makes sense to have cake pans in different sizes which allows you greater flexibility. It also allows you to get really creative and make layered cakes or tiered cakes. When buying a certain sized pan for regular use, you need to consider the number of family members that the cake will be baked for. When buying a pan for a special occasion, you need to account for the number of guests you are going to have over. Baking a small cake in a large pan is as bad an idea as baking a big cake in a small pan. The right size is very important for the perfectly baked cake.

• Frequency of baking: When buying cake pans, consider the type of baking you do and how often you do it. If you do not bake too often, a small collection of two or three shapes and sizes would be appropriate. You could also buy a few doubles of medium sized pans for layered cakes. If you bake regularly or want to do so, you will need wide range of cake pans in various shapes and sizes for your kitchen.

• Usage instructions: When buying cake pans for your home, keep in mind that there are special usage guidelines for certain type of pans. Some pans are only designed for cold cooking like souffl?s and some cream desserts and not for baking. Never try to use these for baking otherwise you will end up not just ruining the cake but the pan as well. Skilled bakers will tell you that best cakes are the ones that not just taste good but look great too. Cake pans contribute in a big way in the creation of a perfect cake by giving it the desired form, shape and texture.