Silicone Bakeware

[mpal2]

Has anyone purchased silicone bakeware and what do you think of it? I saw a set at the store and have been contemplating buying them as a Christmas gift for a family member. I just wanted to do a little informal research on people's opinion of it.

[pilgrimsoul]

Some people swear by metal pans only, but I have several pieces and am very pleased with it. The only thing to remember is to place your silicone pan on a baking sheet before putting it into the oven (makes it easier to remove since the silicone is so flexible).

[timing]

We have silicone muffin cups that we use for cupcakes and muffins. They are easy to fill because they hold their shape. They bake very evenly. We bought one set to try and have added more (we now have 24).

[barbk]

Really like my Silpat for delicate cookies, especially lace cookies.

[orbitz]

It seems like batters baked in silicon pans don't rise as high as those bake in regular pans. I think maybe it's because the floppish nature of the silicon material doesn't provide enough support for the batter while baking, if that makes any sense.

[mpal2]

The only thing to remember is to place your silicone pan on a baking sheet before putting it into the oven (makes it easier to remove since the silicone is so flexible).

That's a very good point. I probably wouldn't figure out something important like that until I tried to take it out of the oven.

The packaging recommended using vegetable oil the first time baking and the possibility of some smoke and odor which requires soaking in soapy water. Did anyone notice any plastic or chemical tastes the first couple baking times until the items were "seasoned"?

[myhoneyhoney]

oooo, thanks for starting this thread! I've been considering silicone pans (my bunt pan NEVER releases my cakes properly no matter how much I grease/flour it). If you guys like it, I'll have to start looking around for one.

[Andrushka]

We have silicone muffin cups that we use for cupcakes and muffins. They are easy to fill because they hold their shape. They bake very evenly. We bought one set to try and have added more (we now have 24).

That sounds great...I bake cupcakes a whole lot.I might invest in those.

[danceronice]

I really like my silicone bundt pan, with one caveat--it is a pain to get clean after it gets older. Definitely has not lasted as long as a metal one would, but is a hundred times easier to get a bundt cake out of it than out of a metal pan.

And a Silpat is a must-have. I use it for baking, handling molten sugar, rolling sticky doughs...very worth the price.

[myhoneyhoney]

I really like my silicone bundt pan, with one caveat--it is a pain to get clean after it gets older. Definitely has not lasted as long as a metal one would, but is a hundred times easier to get a bundt cake out of it than out of a metal pan.

And a Silpat is a must-have. I use it for baking, handling molten sugar, rolling sticky doughs...very worth the price.

Great, I'll look for a bundt pan then. I also have a 20% coupon for Bed Bath and Beyond, I'll use that toward a Silpat since I've always wanted one of those too. Thank you!

[feetwerk]

I love love love my silicone muffin cups.

[nlyoung]

I love love love my silicone muffin cups.

I do too, though you have to remember that anything in the silicone won't "brown" so if you like crispy muffin sides you won't get them. The tops still brown nicely

[mpal2]

Thanks everyone. I bought a set today and I think it will be appreciated and used.

[AragornElessar]

Thanks for the info. I've also been considering silicone muffin pans due to we use them for mini quiche pans for Christmas Breakfast or Brunch if we've got a lot of company for whatever reason. The metal ones never do manage to clean all that well and/or don't always let the "bites" come out entirely whole. A pain in the patella. (I have two bad knees, so... )

Maybe next time I'm out and about in Sudbury, I'll have to do more than just consider them.

[Twilight1]

I only use silicone baking sheets, I also use the cake 'pans' for round cakes, pound cakes and muffins.

I tried making yorkshire pudding in them a couple times and the pudding didn't turn out. So I use my old bakeware with more success. Silcone items can't be in a temp over 400 fahrenheit with silicone.

Not sure if this is true everywhere but for people with a Canadian Tire store, there is a sale on right now for silicone bakeware (I just looked in the flyer today and it is $14.99). It includes a muffin 'pan', cookie sheet, pound cake and 12' square and the angel food 'pan'.

[nubka]

I have a silicone bundt cake pan that looks like a sunflower. I don't know what I'm doing wrong, but both times that I have used it, I have problems getting the cake out of it (chunks of cake stick in the mold and break off.) It's really a bummer, cause it's such a neat looking pan.

[mpal2]

I have a silicone bundt cake pan that looks like a sunflower. I don't know what I'm doing wrong, but both times that I have used it, I have problems getting the cake out of it (chunks of cake stick in the mold and break off.) It's really a bummer, cause it's such a neat looking pan.

Did you use a vegetable oil on the pan to season it the first time you used it? The directions on the set I purchased said they needed at least one coat.