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Whether youre a beginner baker looking to invest in bakeware or a seasoned pro looking to replace existing pieces.
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But, stocking a kitchen with the right bakeware can be a daunting task.
How many pieces do you need?
What pans are essential?
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It is the choice of material for professional bakers and pastry chefs.
We did notice some slight tarnish on all the pans, except the muffin pan, after use.
Overall, we felt this was a great value for the durability and variety of pans included.
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He adds, I am partial to the high-quality metal baking pans from companies like Nordic Ware.
Metal pans are lighter weight and easier to store than most glass or ceramic pans.
Everything came out evenly cooked with no underdone or overdone areas.
Even though this is a nonstick set, we did find we needed cooking spray.
We appreciated that after repeated use, none of the pans warped, and the surface remained unscratched.
During testing, we baked cookies, french fries, chicken nuggets, cupcakes, brownies, and cakes.
We appreciated the cooling rack to cool cookies and cakes.
Every food item cooked evenly and released from the bakeware quickly.
The bakeware did not warp at all.
We utilized wooden and silicone utensils and noticed no scratches or damage.
We washed all the pans by hand according to the manufacturers instructions.
Everything cleaned up with minimal effort.
We appreciated the two attractive storage containers to keep the bakeware set neat and tidy.
We do wish they included a pizza pan that would extend the bakeware sets versatility.
Everything came out evenly cooked, and nothing was stuck.
Cleanup is easy with a simple hand wash, and we noticed no stains were left behind.
However, we wish the pieces were nested.
We had to store them side-by-side in a cabinet.
In fact, in recent testing,it took overall best pick, as well as two other categories.
With this set, the venerable brand has entered the bakeware scene.
Lodge Bakers Delight covers most baking tasks with its heavy-duty casserole, pie, skillet, and baking pans.
Sorge even keeps one of these skillets on hand for, …crispy-crusted cornbread.
We did find the pieces heavy to move around, but that is expected with durable cast iron.
Everything cooked evenly and released quickly.
We found the cast iron tough as nails with no scratching or warping.
Each pan in this set comes pre-seasoned with vegetable oil.
Throughout testing, we baked cookies, banana bread, brownies, roasted vegetables, and cupcakes.
Everything cooked evenly with even browning.
We were careful to use only silicone tools to prevent scratching or damage.
The pieces came stacked and nested together, but the muffin pan caused other pans to slide around.
It has all the essentials with a convenient, easy-to-clean, nonstick finish.
We wanted to test various materials to see which worked best in which situations.
We included carbon steel, aluminum, cast iron, and ceramic.
We looked specifically at sets with a range of set sizes from four to 14 pieces.
We also made note of the bakeware sets design and ease of cleaning.
First, we evaluated the design of the bakeware sets.
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We noted the material and construction of the bakeware set, documenting whether it seemed high-quality and durable.
The last element of our design evaluation was ease of storage.
Finally, we thoroughly cleaned each piece in the bakeware sets, following the manufacturers instructions.
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In the end, we took all ratings across tests and evaluated the value of each bakeware set.
For Thomas, material durability is an important factor.
She adds, I tend to choose aluminum pans because they are heavier and more durable.
Like Thomas, you could opt for metals like steel, anodized aluminum, or natural aluminum.
It is not dishwasher safe but cleans easily by hand.
They are flexible, clean up easily, and offer built-in nonstick capability.
The downside is their lack of good heat conductivity, and the construction flexibility can make accidental spills easy.
Ceramic or stoneware is another option and what is mostly passed down from generation to generation.
It features excellent heat retention and even heat distribution.
You also can opt for cast iron, and probably havea skillet from your grandmothersomewhere in your collection.
Evaluating your needs before shopping is critical.
Bundt pans practically do the decoration for you.
When shopping for bakeware sets, consider what you like to bake.
Evaluate your needs and purpose for the bakeware and buy the set that fits that.
The other thing to consider is nonstick versus natural.
Nonstick makes baking quicker and easier, but naturals tends to deliver more evenly cooked food.
We did find some pieces could be replaced with more versatile items.
We also found the nonstick surface sensitive to scratches, requiring careful maintenance and the use of non-scratch utensils.
We appreciated the pieces nested into a compact stack, making them easy to store.
The pans performed well, especially for cookies.
Questions and Answers
What pans and dishes are considered bakeware?
There is a shade of difference between cookware and bakeware, though cookware can double as bakeware.
Cookware can be used on your stovetop and in some cases, segue to your oven.
Bakeware, on the other hand, is meant to be used in an oven almost exclusively.
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We rounded upthe essential baking pans every Southern baker should havein their arsenal.
They conduct heat differently, which affects baking times and the texture of the baked goods.
What materials do professional chefs use for bakeware?
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There is definitely a division among our experts on this front.
Both Sorge and Thomas prefer aluminum for its reliable heat retention and even cooking.
Look for heavy-duty aluminum pansthey wont warp in the oven, which is critical.
He eschews nonstick-coated bakeware for two reasons.
Im not always gentle with my bakeware, so I need something tough.
Uncoated heavy-duty aluminum is the way to go.
Its easy to butter your pan or line it with parchment paper if youre worried about sticking.
Lucas prefers heavy-duty nonstick pans.
If you dont mind paying a little premium, I would always go for a nonstick/Teflon pan.
How many pieces of bakeware do you need?
Much of this depends on what point in your baking career you are.
A square nonstick pan is ideal for brownies, focaccia,sponge cakes.
A round nonstick pan is perfect for baking small layered cakes like red velvet or black forest cake.
He adds that one or two silicone mats will make life easier.
Thomas suggests five pans is the right number.
How long does bakeware last?
This is very dependent on how heavy you use the pans and if they have a coating.
A good rule of thumb for nonstick-coated bakeware is five years with moderate use.
With baking sheets or cake pans, look for warping or stickiness on the pans.
For glass and stoneware, be on the lookout for chips and cracks.
How much should you expect to pay for bakeware?
The delta is wide when it comes to purchasing bakeware sets.
But with these affordable sets, you spin up the risk of warping and rusting after extended use.
Then theres the pastry chefs overwhelming choice: aluminum.
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Why Trust Southern Living?
Carrie Honakeris a food and travel writer who believes in eating dessert first.
She loves her Nordic Ware aluminum pans for tasks large and small, including the occasional wedding cake.
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We tested how easily food released from the surface of the bakeware with and without the use of cooking spray or liners.Credit:Southern Living
Our top pick, the Nordic Ware Naturals 6-Piece Set, includes a half-sheet pan with a nesting cooling rack, muffin pan, square cake pan, loaf pan, and eighth-sheet pan.Credit:Southern Living
The Williams Sonoma Goldtouch Pro set provided a nice selection of essential bakeware pieces. We just wish the pieces stacked better to make storage easier.Credit:Southern Living
