Bakeware Buying Guide

Home-baked goods always taste better than anything you can buy in a store. After all, finally sitting down to a warm muffin or a slice of cake after you've worked on it for an hour (or a few hours) is very rewarding! Making sure you have the right bakeware  for the task is important. Don't forget, you'll also need plenty of mixing bowls,  measuring cups,  an apron,  and maybe even a hand mixer.  Get ready, get set, get baking!

Bakeware Materials

When it comes to bakeware, there are a few different materials to choose from. Traditional choices like ceramic  and metal  are joined by relative newcomers like silicone  and glass.  (Of course, oven-safe glass isn't all that new - Pyrex ® was introduced to the market in 1915.) How do they compare?

Ceramic Slow to warm, but holds heat for a while. Often attractive enough for serving. Can't be used on an open flame. Shares many properties with glass cookware, but unlike glass it may not be safe to use with metal utensils. Unfinished stoneware  is a popular choice, but can be difficult to clean.	Metal (Non-stick) The quality of a metal pan depends heavily on the finish. Dark finishes will absorb heat better, making for better browning. Some non-stick finishes are not safe for use with metal utensils. Look out for pans with air insulation -- you may not get the browning results you want.	Glass Glass is a great choice for baking finicky dishes since you can see how your food is progressing. Glass heats slowly but retains heat well. It is also much easier to clean than unfinished stoneware, and is safe for metal utensils.	Silicone Silicone is the latest in bakeware technology. Flexible pans mean that baked goods are easy to remove. Silicone has the advantage of being more non-slip than other kinds of pans, but watch out -- a greased silicone pan can still be very slick!

Essentials

Jelly roll pans  are wide, shallow pans for making thin layers of cake.	Baking sheets  are flat and may or may not have a lip.	Muffin pans  usually make 12  or 15  muffins. Mini-muffin pans  make small muffins!	Tart pans  are like pie plates, but shallower.	Pie pans  or pie plates  are good for sweet and savory pies,  as well as cheesecake!

Square cake pans  are handy to have around for casseroles.	Round Cake Pans  make layer cakes easy.	Springform pans  can open up when the cake has finished, allowing you to get it out of the pan without damage.	Loaf pans  are useful for breads,  loaf cakes, and meatloaf.	Bundt® cake pans  make beautiful, dome-shaped cakes with ornate fluting.

Specialized Bakeware

Madeleine pans  are great for making those perfect little cookies.	Popover pans  allow plenty of air circulation so each popover is a perfect puff.	Ramekins  are great for individual custards or other pudding-like desserts.	Custard Cups  are similar to ramekins but are usually made of glass. (Also good for ice cream. )	Pineapple upside-down cake pans let you make this classic retro dessert with ease.

Baking Accessories

Mixing Bowls  in a variety of sizes are an absolute must for any kitchen.	Rolling Pins  make even, flat sheets of dough or pastry.	Pastry Scrapers  are good for moving dough around on a surface.	Pastry Blenders  are necessary for the perfect pie crust.

Cookie Cutters  come in all kinds of shapes, from basic round  to complex, seasonal  patterns.	Pastry Brushes  allow you to delicately brush on a glaze or an egg wash.	Cooling Racks  represent the final stage in baking.	Cake Lifters  are like giant-sized spatulas and let you lift a cake  or pie without damaging it.

Crème brûlée torches  are the finishing touch for this delicate custard.  (They're also handy for roasting red peppers. )	Pastry bags  are meant to be filled with frosting  or icing and attached to a pastry tip.	Pastry tips  allow you to decorate cakes with different shapes and sizes.

Bakeware Sets

Sometimes when purchasing bakeware, it's just easier to buy a set that has a few basic pieces you might need for your kitchen. Check out the sets below.

T-Fal WEAREVER 08512PX 3 PC Bakeware Set  This set comes with varying sizes of cooking sheets to suit all of your baking needs. The aluminum material won't rust and these can be cleaned in the dishwasher.	T-Fal WEAREVER 68217T 5 PC Bakeware Set  This set includes one loaf pan, two round cake pans, one medium baking sheet and one square cake pan that all come complete with a nonstick and scratch-resistant surface.

 

Related Guides

Sifters	Kitchen Mixers	Measuring Cups and Spoons	Spatulas	Whisks