How to Use Silicone Baking Pans?

Do you know what the current hottest trend in the home baking world is?

Silicone baking pans!

While this trend is quickly becoming popular among baking lovers, many people still don’t really know how to use silicone baking pans or perhaps don’t have much experience baking with them.

If you’re curious to know about the right way of using silicone bakeware and its benefits, we’ve got you covered.

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Tips for Using Silicone Baking Pans

Whether you’re baking yourself a birthday treat or want to surprise your partner with a delicious anniversary cake, the following tips will help you have great baking experience.

Coat the Pan with a Cooking Spray

You must be wondering, ‘Isn’t silicone supposed to be non-stick?’

Well, it certainly is, but it may not always be entirely true.

This is why it is always best to coat your silicone baking pan with cooking spray before starting.

This simple trick will ensure that your bakeware remains non-stick throughout the process.

Use a Cookie Sheet

If you’ve ever worked with a silicone pan before, you would know how flexible they are.

Not only are they easy to store but they also make it almost effortless for you to get the cake out of the mold.

However, you need to be extra careful while pouring the cake batter because chances are that you’ll end up spilling it.

Things can get messy when you try to pick up a silicone baking pan full of batter.

The best way to avoid this issue is by placing your silicon pan on a cookie sheet before the batter goes in.

This will not only make the task of placing the pan in the oven easier but also taking the pan out after the cake has been baked.

Be Patient When Baking with Darker Pans

Quite interestingly, silicone pans that are darker in color require extra time during baking.

If you have such a pan, you may notice that your cakes, brownies, or whatever it is that you are baking takes a few extra minutes to cook properly.

Make sure that you read, understand, and follow the instructions mentioned for dark silicone bakeware in the recipe or on the cake before starting. Generally, it is only a difference of 5-10 minutes.

Follow the Right Oven Temperatures

One of the best things about baking with silicone pans is that they take high temperatures quite well.

This means you are free to use yours in the oven and in the microwave.

While silicone bakeware is safe to use at temperatures as high as 375 degrees, you must go through the instructions listed on the mix you are using, be it for cakes, muffins, or biscuits.

You will know the ideal baking time and temperatures to work with.

Peel Away the Cake

Since silicone pans are very flexible, you can easily bend them to separate the cake after you are done baking.

This is perhaps the coolest thing of using silicone bakeware.

All you have to do is to wait for the cake to cool down before you flip the pan and peel it away.

And because you have already coated the pan’s surface with a cooking spray, you don’t have to worry about bits of your cake sticking to the surface.

The surface will be perfectly clean when you flip the pan inside out.

Use the Top Rack of the Dishwasher

Another great benefit of using silicone baking pans is that you can wash them in the dishwasher without worrying about ruining them.

For best results, wash them in the top rack and they will always come out clean and shiny.

Don’t Serve Straight from the Pan

One of the biggest mistakes that you can make while baking with a silicone pan is to cut the cake while it is still in the pan.

Always remember that silicone bakeware is not impenetrable.

Both regular and butter knife can cut through the pan’s surface and damage it such that you will not be able to use it ever again.

Hence, always take the cake out of the pan and place it on a tray or plate before cutting it.

A Few Additional Tips

Here are a few additional tips that you may find helpful when baking with silicone pans.

While they cool down quickly, it’s always best to use hot pads when removing the pan from the oven
Place a metal baker’s sheet underneath when using larger pans
Wash the pans thoroughly with warm water and soap before use
Never bake on an open flame or a stovetop burner

Do You Need to Grease/Spray Silicone Pans?

While you don’t need to grease silicone pans (as these are non-stick), it would help if you apply a thin layer of oil to the silicone pan before baking.

You can also use cooking spray if you want.

I have used silicone pans for baking cakes and muffins, and in my experience, brushing a slight coat of oil in the silicone pan allows the food to out easily.

It also makes life easier when cleaning afterward.

Silicone pans and molds that are greased with oil or spray have a lot less food crumbs that stick to it (compared with what you would have if you don’t grease the silicone pan)

Are Silicone Pans Dishwasher Safe?

You must know that not all silicon baking pans are dishwasher-safe.

If you find one, you need to ensure it will fit into the dishwasher you have at home.

That being said, it is important to look for spaces and ridges where food can get stuck during baking.

How to Clean Silicone Baking Pans

If you are going to use silicone pans for baking, you must also know how to clean them properly for continued use.

Before anything, you must know that silicone bakeware does not absorb oil or grease because of its non-stick nature.

This means that you may notice a thin layer of grease on the surface of the pan after baking. It will likely create a sticky feel.

Getting rid of that greasy residue is neither difficult nor time-consuming.

It only requires you to follow certain steps for proper cleaning. They are mentioned as follows.

Also read: How to Clean a Muffin Pan? 3 Easy Methods that work!

Use Hot Water

Always wash your silicone baking pans with warm water and a dishwashing liquid or soap.

The cleaning agent must be capable of cutting through grease. Besides this, there’s no secret involved.

You simply have to wash the pan just the way you wash other dirty cookware.

Rinsing the pan with warm water will get rid of most of the grease. However, you might still be left with some because grease does not leave silicone pans easily.

Use Baking Soda

After the wash, do not let the pan get dry.

Make sure that it is still a little wet when you apply baking soda on areas that are still a bit greasy.

And please be generous when doing so; you need to create a thick layer of baking soda for the grease to go away.

Give Your Pan a Gentle Massage

The next step is to use a dishcloth to gently rub the baking soda on the pan’s surface.

Since the pan was still wet from the wash, the baking soda will start turning into a thick paste.

Continue the massage and keep working the creamy mixture into the oily areas.

At this point, you may be tempted to scratch the pan’s surface with an old toothbrush or a scraping tool but do not make that mistake.

It will only damage the non-stick covering of your pan.

That being said, baking soda is an abrasive but mild one that will not ruin your silicone bakeware given that you keep the massage gentle.

Set the Pan Aside

After you are done with the massage, it is time for you to rest for a while. Make yourself a cup of coffee or finish the chapter you were reading of that book while the layer of baking soda dries on the pan.

Please note that this step may take a few hours to complete depending on how thick a layer you created on the pan.

So, be patient and get yourself to do something while the baking soda does its job.

Final Wash

Once the baking soda layer has completely dried on the pan, it is time to repeat the first step for the final wash.

Fill your sink with warm water and dishwashing liquid or soap and rinse off the dried paste. Put the pan aside and let it dry completely.

Then, feel the surface of the pan with clean hands for any greasy area or oily leftovers. You should find that your pan is fully clean and smooth and is ready for your next baking adventure!

Things to Look for When Buying a Silicone Baking Pan

Ready to invest in a silicon baking pan?

Here are a few things that you should keep in mind.

Greasing

Despite being non-stick, many silicone baking pans require greasing before use.

However, some pans need to be greased only once after you buy them unless you wash them in the dishwasher.

Basically, you will have to read the instructions given by the manufacturer before buying a pan to understand its greasing requirements.

Firmness

Look for how firm a silicon baking pan is before buying. Do you think it will be able to carry well when you fill it with raw ingredients?

Also, you should look for firm handles. The sturdier they are, the easier it will be for you to lift the pan.

Reinforcing Ring

You may notice that some silicone bakeware comes with a reinforcing ring.

It basically provides you with additional support for convenient and comfortable use.

It is on you to decide whether or not you want your pan to have a reinforcing ring.

The Bottom Line

Offering more flexibility and temperature stability, silicone baking pans have quickly outclassed metal and glass pans.

Besides, what’s not to love about them?

They are non-stick, promote even baking, and most importantly, use less oil and grease. To make your baking experiences the best, you need to know how to use silicone baking pans correctly.

Oh, and we almost forgot, silicone bakeware is also super easy to clean.

We have revealed the five simple steps you need to follow as well as the key factors that you need to consider when buying a silicon pan so, you pretty much have every piece of information you need to know.

Happy baking!

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