Choosing the Best Silicone Bakeware

Answer 1

For years stone baking sheets and metal baking pans were the only options available to home baking enthusiasts. While these materials do work relatively well, there’s a new development in bakeware that many bakers have taken a strong liking to. Silicone bakeware offer a flexible, easy to store, non stick baking surface without the dangers of Teflon. Although flat, rectangular silicone sheets were the first bakeware offered in this new material, it’s easy to find any traditional baking pan or sheet in silicone now.

Silicone is heat resistant for up to 475 degrees, leaves no residue or taste in the food, and requires no grease or oil to prevent sticking. They also tend to allow more heat to circulate around food, shortening cooking times and offering a more even baking experience. They are extremely versatile, going straight from a freezer to the oven with no damage. They’re also microwave and dishwasher safe. The flexibility of the silicone allows baked goods to be popped out without damage.

There are a few downsides to silicone, many of which can be minimized by buying high quality products. Due to the soft, flexible material, silicone baking sheets and pans should be supported by a normal metal baking pan. When a soft muffin pan is full of baked muffins or uncooked batter, picking it up without something sturdy underneath to support it will cause a mess. Many of the higher quality silicone bakeware pieces on the market today now come with a metal tray or wire rack to offer support.

Also, you will need to watch your baked goods very carefully, as they will cook differently than in other materials. Use cooking times designated for dark metal cookware, and keep an eye on cakes or cookies to keep them from burning. Inexpensive silicone bakeware is often made with lots of variations in the thickness of the silicon, which can lead to uneven cooking. A higher quality piece will have less variation, and provide more regular heat distribution. Finally, don’t use a piece of silicon bakeware on an open flame or in an oven above 500 degrees. Although the material is tough, it can’t hold up to extremely high temperatures or direct heat.