What should a bakeware set comprise of is something we hear at Kitchen Solution many times. In fact, if we had a cookie for every time we heard that question, we’d have to spend an awful lot more time on the treadmill to run of the excess calories!
There is no real standard type or number of pieces for bakeware sets. The simple reason for this being the different needs in the kind of baking each each person does. If your baking for yourself or just a couple your needs may be met with a small 3 or 4 piece set to which you may add an extra pan or two as needed. This can mean a nice way to save a little money on your purchase of bakeware.
However if you are baking for a large family or group you be looking at a 5 to 10 piece baking set. For the serious baker the set will continue to grow as your skills increase. As you can see a set number of pans will only be found according to the needs of each baker.
Now for the different types of bakeware. Again the personal taste of each baker will determine what should be purchased. Kitchen Solution’s long time favorites are the glass bakeware sets from Anchor Hocking and Pyrex. The varied colors available from Anchor Hocking make for a beautiful and function filled set for your kitchen.
You will not find some items in glass such as cookie sheets which are supplied by makers like Calphon and Kitchenaid, along with many other makers of fine nonstick bakeware sets.
So for the best bakeware set, you will need to determine your personal needs and skills first and then do some research on the bakeware available. As always buy the best you can afford, not so much because it is pretty but rather how long it will last. That is how you save your purchase. Buying a cheap piece of bakeware will not likely make a happy baker. Only the happy baker will deliver those wonderful tasting cookies and bread. Happy baking!
Ever wondered how some people always seemed to bake the perfect cakes that looks as well as tastes delicious? Do you, on the other hand find that something always goes wrong whenever you try in spite having the best recipe? Maybe you should take a look at your bakeware and see if it’s the best for your kitchen needs. Invest in bakeware that’s of good quality, looks good and is ideal for your baking requirements. It’s also important to have a basic bakeware collection in place since different recipes require different kinds of baking ware. Here are a few ideas to select and maintain bakeware for an efficient kitchen.
What Should Your Basic Bakeware Collection Include?
Your bakeware set should ideally have –
o Loaf pan
o Cookie sheets
o Pie tin
o Cake pans
o Muffin tin
o Baking sheets and baking tins
The effectiveness of bakeware depends on the material it’s made of and quality of the material. Here’s a quick review of different kinds of materials with their pros and cons to help you decide what to buy.
The different materials used are anodized aluminum, non-stick, glass, cast iron, stainless steel, silicon, stone and tinned steel.
* Anodized aluminum is rust-proof and long-lasting; it absorbs heat well and enables uniform and fast cooking. This is an excellent material for your bakeware as well as cookware. The only problem with this material is, it’s not easy to clean. Often food particles stick to the bottom of the pan and have to be scraped out.
* Non-stick bakeware is convenient to use for greasy food and is easy to clean. This is ideal to use while baking cakes and other food items that need a particular shape. However, non-stick bakeware is not durable; the coating comes off and spoils the entire utensil.
* Glass is safe to use in the microwave and oven and enables you to see the food that’s being cooked. It’s easy to clean and doesn’t retain food odours. Glassware can also be used in the freezer. Another advantage is, glass is attractive; so it’s just easy to cook and serve when you use glass bakeware. The obvious disadvantage of glass however is, it has to be handled with caution and care.
* Cast iron is ideal for slow cooking. The process of slow cooking enhances the flavour of the food that’s being cooked; it’s the best way to cook meat since it brings out the natural juices. Cast iron also keeps food warm for long; enamelled cast iron cookware are easy to clean. The downside is, it’s heavy and not usually suitable for people who want their meal done in a hurry.
* Stainless steel bakeware looks good and is resilient; however, it’s usually costlier than other materials and takes long to heat up.
* Silicone is easy to use in the oven and is dishwasher friendly; it’s flexible to different temperatures and very convenient to use because of its light weight. Siliconeware is a good choice for your oven.
* Ceramic is another material that’s easy to use and acts as a good insulator of heat. It enables uniform baking and doesn’t retain odour. Ceramic’s attractive to look at and makes an ideal “cook and serve” material.
So while selecting bakeware, consider your needs and buy a combination of different materials that would facilitate different styles of cooking and baking.