Bakers who are only beginning to delve into the field of cakes often make the mistake of being so eager to stock up their kitchen with the best baking tools that, in their haste, they purchase bakeware that won’t serve them well in the long run. While inexpensive pans are fine to use when you’re first starting out, you’ll want to upgrade your stash of cake pans before you get into any serious baking.
Below are a few qualities to look for when choosing your first set of high-quality round cake pans.
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As convenient as they may be, nesting cake pans indicate tapered sides, and this cake pan design is far from ideal for baking the perfect cake. Serious Eats points out a few key problems with these grocery store pans. First, the tapered sides make frosting the cake a chore. Secondly, the crust along the top of the cake will tend towards a wrinkled or crumpled texture while the bottom crust may end up too thick or browned. Instead, opt for professional, straight-sided pans.
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Many professional bakers will agree that aluminum is a great material for baking pans due to its quality as an excellent conductor of heat. Also, aluminum pans won’t rust, and you don’t have to worry about their performance if they get scratched.
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Round cake pans with more depth can do wonders for a delicate, fluffy cake with a smooth top crust. Plus, the added space between the cake’s top crust and the top of the pan provides more protection to the cake, especially important in ovens that may run too hot.
While upgrading your cake pans will require a bit more investment than purchasing pans at the grocery store, it doesn’t have to break the bank! Baking supply companies like NY Cake offer a full range of affordable, professional quality cake pans.
