Silicone cake pans are becoming increasingly popular with new generation cake decorators. The old guard is still skeptical to using them; this is mainly because it has a bit of a learning curve. But since they have many advantages, we think that learning how to use a silicone cake pan is a good idea.
We’ve encountered some bakers/cake decorators that received silicone bakeware as gift but haven’t ventured to use them. This was just because they didn’t know how to use a silicone cake pan.
This piece is written to help you make the transition to these next generation bakeware. They really come in handy for some recipes. Click here to read our article on silicone cake pans for more info on the wide range of recipes they can be used for.
Table of Contents
How To Use A Silicone Cake Pan – Advantages
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Below is a list of the advantages of knowing how to use a silicone cake pan
Temperature Adaptable Bakeware
Silicone cake pans are temperature adaptable. You can use them in the oven, dishwasher, freezer or fridge. Most silicone cake pans can withstand temperature as high as 428 to 500 degrees Fahrenheit. And can be moved from this temperature to the fridge without any issues
Versatile
This is an advantage that accrues from it being temperature adaptable. Since it can be used for both hot and cold recipes and in any temperature, you can use it for many recipes. Not only can you bake with it, you can store food items in the fridge. You can also make gelatos and other similar recipes.
What’s more, they can be used as serving bowls. In the case of silicone cupcake molds, you can use them to place separate lunch items in a lunch box.
The versatility of silicone cake pans makes it a great advantage to whoever knows how to use a silicone cake pan.
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Easy To Clean
Silicone cake pans are easy to clean. This is because they are nonstick; you can either grease the pans before use or not. Whichever you choose, your baked goods would always come out without any residue sticking to the pan.
Following from that, your cake pan would be easy to wash; no sticky residues to scrap out of the pan.
Easy Removal of Baked Goods
Another super advantage of silicone bakeware is the easy removal of baked goods or any other thing you make in them. This is due to the combination of the flexibility of silicone and the nonstick feature.
Food Safe Product
According to FDA, silicone is a food safe product. This makes silicone cake pans safe to use because they do not emit odor of any kind. Additionally, they do not leach into whatever you are making in them. This is unlike some metal products that might be reactive and can rust with time.
Even Heat Distribution
Silicone cake pans distribute heat evenly; this allows your baked goods to bake perfectly. Additionally, they also heat and cool fast. This makes your cooking and serving time faster.
How To Use A Silicone Cake Pan – Expert Tips
Cleaning and Maintenance
Always wash a silicone cake pan before first use with warm water and soap. Rinse well and allow to air dry before use.
Then whenever you use the silicone cake pan, wash with mild soap and warm water. Do not use harsh cleansing agents or scour with any abrasive sponge or brush. Just soak the pan in warm soapy water and then wash.
Although many silicone bakeware are advertised as dishwasher safe, they are best washed by hand. Washing silicone bakeware in the dishwasher shortens the lifespan. So do yourself a favor; wash by hand.
As time goes on, the acidic content of some of the food you bake in the cake pan might discolor it. Do not worry because the discoloration wouldn’t impact on the performance of the pan.
Mind The Temperature Instructions
Every silicone bakeware comes with instruction of the temperature it can withstand. Do not make the mistake of ever ignoring the temperature limit. If you do, you’ll be putting your bakeware and batter at risk of burning. Most silicone cake pans would be able to withstand at least 446 degree Fahrenheit. But if you are cooking/baking at a higher temperature, check the limit of your utensil.
Also bear in mind that you might have to adjust baking time for some recipes when using a silicone cake pan.
Never Place in Direct Contact With Open Flame/Heat
When you use a silicone cake pan do not place it in direct contact with heat. Always place your silicone bakeware on a baking tray before putting into the oven. This doesn’t only give structure to your cake pan, it also makes it easy for you to transfer it to and fro the oven.
Additionally, direct heat would ruin the silicone bakeware; so ensure that there’s a layer of specifically designed sled or bakeware between the flame/heat and the bakeware.
Start out With Smaller Silicone Cake Pans
It is best to start out with small pans, if you are just getting a hang of how to use a silicone cake pan; preferably cupcake molds.
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The smaller bakeware would allow you to conquer the learning curve of how to use a silicone cake pan before moving on to bigger pans.
It isn’t safe for your first attempt at using a silicone cake pan to be with a big birthday cake or worse a wedding cake.
To Grease or Not To Grease
Some manufacturers advertise that no greasing is required for their silicone cake pans. But from experience, we would say it’s best to just grease anyway. Our reason for this is simple; better safe than sorry!
If the silicone pan is superbly nonstick and you grease it, it doesn’t do any harm to the baked goods. But if it isn’t nonstick and you don’t, then you get some sticky residue after baking and may even ruin the shape of your baked goods.
Removing Finished Product
One of the important things to remember when you use a silicone cake pan is this. It gets real hot so always use an oven mitten when removing from the oven.
Another is this; never use a sharp knife to remove your finished product from the cake pan. It can puncture your silicone cake pan.
Third point is, allow the finished product to cool before attempting to remove it from the cake pan.
Finally, run a butter knife around the cake pan, invert the cake pan on a cooling rack and tap lightly to push out the baked good. For some designs, all you might need to do is let it cool and then peel it away from the baked good.
The video below is just a little visual on some of the points we discussed:-
How To Use A Silicone Cake Pan – Conclusion
Switching to silicone cake pans or bakewares should be a gradual process. It isn’t wise to just throw out all your other bakewares and go all out to restock with silicone bakewares.
Buy silicone bakeware one at time. First learn how to use a silicone cake pan before buying a set. Start out with small and inexpensive cake pans before graduating bigger and more high end products.
