Bringing a culinary masterpiece to life is not the easiest task. In order for the dish to be perfect, it is necessary to have all the necessary equipment and cooking utensils are no exception. They play one of the leading roles in this regard.
This is especially true for baking. To prepare a dish, you need to have good baking pans, otherwise the dish may turn out completely different from what you wanted it to be.
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Advantages and disadvantages of baking pans
Each type of cookware made from a certain material has its own advantages and disadvantages.
In order to understand everything, we need to study this issue more carefully.
Let's consider silicone molds, which have a large number of advantages.
- First of all, it is worth noting that they are very easy to clean without the use of any special products.
- They do not require constant lubrication and will take up virtually no space in your kitchen cabinet.
- Silicone is also able to withstand both high and low temperatures.
But this material also has its disadvantages, which consist in the fact that when in contact with open fire, the dishes can be damaged. Also, cutting the dish also contributes to the deformation of the utensils.
The advantages of ceramic utensils are obvious and immediately noticeable.
- This cookware has thick walls and food practically does not burn.
- If you decide to make a soufflé, then a ceramic mold will be the best choice for this task, since this material has the property of allowing air to pass through.
- And what is important is that the dishes are heat-resistant.
There are practically no disadvantages to this material. All that can be said is that when preparing a culinary masterpiece, you should not use the stove. And such dishes take up a lot of space.
Glass forms are unique in that the dish has an unusual property of being baked evenly. The walls of such dishes are usually very thick, which is why the food cools down much more slowly. The main disadvantage is the possibility of burning the dish.
Also, it is worth paying attention to disposable forms. Finding them will not be difficult, as they are in almost any hardware store. As a rule, they are made of foil or parchment. The main and most important advantage is that they do not require any processing, since after use they will simply be disposed of. Such forms can be attributed more to confectionery baking forms, since mainly cupcakes and muffins are prepared in them.
Cast iron baking dishes are the highest quality and best, since it is almost impossible for food to burn, due to the fact that the dish is cooked evenly. This material is not afraid of high temperatures, as well as deformation when washing. It is very durable and practical.
The advantage of aluminum molds is their relatively low price. But otherwise, dishes often burn, and when washed, these dishes tend to deform. Also, baking is done unevenly.
Types of baking dishes
To prepare a dish, it is important to correctly understand how the baking dish should visually look.
The most common and frequently used is the rectangular shape. The material of manufacture can be very diverse: ceramics, metal, silicone. Due to its size, you can cook a large amount of food that the whole family can enjoy.
Although the round shape is much less common, it is no less popular among housewives. The use of this shape is preferable when making a cake or biscuit. As with the rectangular shape, the material of manufacture can be absolutely different.
The use of an oval shape most often involves cooking some meat or fish dishes, stews, casseroles. Most often, such forms are made of ceramic material or glass.
The types of forms can be very diverse. There are also non-standard forms, which are most often made of ceramic material, for example, pots, served in the form of portioned dishes. Also, on the market you can find a wide variety of silicone forms in the form of various hearts, stars or any characters. Dishes of this shape will please not only a child, but will also surprise any adult.
Dimensions and volume
In addition to the visual effect, baking pans differ in size. As a rule, large-volume pans are purchased by various establishments that need to serve a large number of people daily.
For an ordinary family, small sizes may be suitable, which can fully satisfy their needs. One of the most common models is 24 cm. They are in great demand and are often used by housewives.
Also, the following sizes can be distinguished: 18 cm, 20 cm, 25 cm, 34 cm.
When choosing a size, it is worth paying attention to the height of the sides, as this directly affects the capacity.
Types of forms by material
To prepare a certain dish, you need certain utensils, of a specific material. They differ significantly from each other, as they have their own characteristics in the form of heat retention and temperature withstanding.
A metal form is one of the most durable forms, designed for cooking fish and various biscuits. This material is not afraid of high temperatures, so you should not worry about the cooking time. As a rule, a metal baking form is made of aluminum or stainless steel. Some models have a non-stick coating, which allows you not to grease the form with oil. Like any other object, it requires special care to increase its service life.
Silicone mold is the most popular and convenient material, which is in demand among housewives. Due to the features of the material composition, it can have any visual dishes, without being limited in color. This dishware allows you to cook absolutely any dish, both desserts and roasts. The material is not afraid of either low or high temperatures and is safe for human health.
Ceramic form - a form that is intended for cooking almost all dishes: meat, fish, side dishes. The chemical properties of ceramics allow the dish to maintain temperature for a long time. And the sizes of such utensils can be very diverse. This material is able to withstand high temperatures without fear of deformation.
Glass form - transparent dishes, resistant to fire. As a rule, it is used for cooking all kinds of stews and pies.
Cast iron form - such cookware is used for cooking various types of meat. Due to the fact that the walls of the cookware are very thick, the food is heated evenly and does not burn at all. Another advantage is that the food does not lose temperature for a long time and is saturated with its own juice and aroma.
Paper form - such forms are used exclusively for baking all kinds of flour products: cupcakes, muffins. Such a form does not require special care, since it is disposable.
How to use baking pans
In order to increase the service life of your kitchenware, you need to follow simple rules. They will help to preserve the appearance of your dishes, which will serve you for a long time.
If your pan is made of aluminum and has a non-stick coating, then cooking any dishes using this utensil is limited to the oven only. Such tools are not intended for cooking on the stove, as they can become deformed and malfunction.
The metal form is not suitable for use in baking dishes in the microwave oven. Do not damage the utensils and equipment.
Also, you need to be extremely careful when washing your kitchen utensils. If they have a non-stick coating, they should be washed with a soft sponge, without using a hard brush.
If you have a new silicone mold in your inventory, it is best to lubricate it with oil the first time you use it, as you will not need it later. It is worth noting that it is better not to put this type of mold on an open fire, as it is not suitable for this.
To ensure gentle care, do not cut food directly in the cookware, as this may damage the utensils.
Do I need to grease the pans before baking?
Each housewife or establishment has different baking forms. Therefore, it is worth understanding specifically what and how to do for each material.
If you look at non-stick cookware, it's worth noting that some recipes recommend brushing the surface of the pan with butter and then sprinkling it with flour to provide a double protective layer.
Glass pans need to be greased first to prevent the food from burning.
As for paper molds, here you need to take care to grease the bottom with oil. Also, pay attention to the walls, or rather, whether they are covered with wax.
Disposable muffin tins are very convenient because they do not require any pre-treatment. After use, you just need to get rid of them.
It is not for nothing that silicone molds are considered very popular among housewives. In addition, this type of cookware does not require greasing. It is enough to grease it only before the first baking. No further actions are required.
If we look at the aluminum mold, it is necessary to lubricate it before each use. Also, to avoid rapid spoilage, it is necessary to exclude contact of the surface with forks and knives. This will damage the utensils, leaving scratches, where the dish will burn.
Ceramic forms are distinguished by the fact that their material is the most natural and environmentally friendly. This material is very easy to care for, so it is one of the best. In addition, you can not worry about the occurrence of defects when cutting a dish directly on the surface of the utensils. The appearance of cracks and scratches is excluded.
Each shape, material and size is designed for the preparation of a particular dish. They all have their advantages and disadvantages. All of the above aspects will help you figure out what kind of baking will be most preferable for you and your cooking. Having studied all the details, you will not have to regret the choice you made.
