When you bake a cake, the type of pan that you use makes a big difference in the way that it turns out. The right pan will help to produce a light, fluffy, and moist cake.
The Nordic Ware pan performed well in our tests, producing a tall 주문제작케이크 cake that avoided dense and gummy spots and baked evenly throughout. It also has a sleek, reflective surface that looks good on a countertop.
Light-colored cake pans
Light pans conduct heat evenly and make cakes bake evenly, too. They also have rounded corners and are easier to butter and clean. They are also dishwasher safe, but we recommend hand-washing to avoid discoloration and damage. Use a soft sponge and warm, soapy water—avoiding abrasive tools, harsh sponges, and strong detergents to maintain the finish of your pans.
Light-colored pans are better for delicate tortes, streusel-topped cakes, and cheesecakes that require long baking times. They also work well for yeast bread doughs and other recipes that benefit from crispness.
Despite its lightweight, cheap price ($17 for two), Fat Daddio’s anodized aluminum pan rated the best in our tests. It produced a tall, fluffy white cake and Genoise sponge cake that didn’t dome excessively or produce dense, gummy spots in the center. Its rounded corners were less likely to stick than those of other pans, and it had the least-pronounced darkening at the edges. It was also the easiest to unmold.
Dark-colored cake pans
If you’ve tried baking a cake and it turned out wacky even though you followed the recipe to a T, your pans could be to blame. According to TikTok star Benjamin the Baker, dark-colored metal pans conduct heat more quickly and unevenly than their lighter counterparts.
When using dark-colored pans, the exterior of your cakes will brown and set before they’re fully baked through, leading to a domed cake. You can avoid this by opting for light-colored aluminum, anodized aluminum, or aluminized steel pans.
If you can’t avoid a dark-colored pan, the best workaround is to lower your oven temperature by 25 degrees Fahrenheit and check for doneness a few minutes earlier than your recipes instruct. This will prevent your cakes from overbaking and sagging in the middle. The rolled edges on these USA pans are a bit deeper than others we’ve tried, which makes them easy to grip and stack but might create nooks and crannies in your finished bake.
Cast iron cake pans
When making a cake, selecting the right bakeware is key. The best options are made of metal and are oven- and broiler-safe. They should also be lightweight and heat evenly. Fortunately, you can find all of this and more in the baking pans at Target.
The Lodge Seasoned Cast Iron Baking Pan was among the top-performing pans in our lab tests. Its evenness score was excellent, and its top surface stood up to abrasion and the heat of high-heat ovens. It scored well for durability as well. It was only outranked by two other pans in our test of Sheet Pans: the Chicago Metallic Nonstick 9-inch Round and the Cuisinart Chef’s Classic Nonstick 9-inch Round.
Enameled cast iron cookware is a popular choice for its ability to retain heat and create even cooking. It’s available in many different shapes, sizes and styles. It’s also affordable, though it’s heavier than other types of cookware and might need additional care and maintenance.
Silicone cake pans
Silicone bakeware is versatile, flexible and oven-safe. It’s easy to clean and comes in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. The possibilities are endless, from shaped cakes to individual treats and even conversation-inspiring ice cubes.
The flexible material allows you to bend and flex the molds, which makes it easier to pour batter and remove baked goods later. It also helps to avoid spills and overflow. When choosing silicone cookware, be sure it’s FDA-approved and says “food-grade.” This means the product has passed rigorous testing for safety and quality standards.
It’s best to grease the bottom and sides of silicone pans, just like you would traditional bakeware. However, it’s often not necessary, since the bakeware tends to be naturally non-stick. Greasing it can still help with baking times and consistency, though. It can also reduce the need for excess oil and fats in recipes, which can make your baked goods healthier. This is especially true of silicone muffin cups.