Baking Dishes

Choosing the right baking tray, pan or dish to do the job

A broad selection of baking tins, pie dishes, muffin or cupcake trays and baking sheets is an important starting point for any bake-at-home enthusiast. However, when it comes to choosing the materials of your bakeware, what is the best choice for your purposes? Glass, ceramic, silicone and metal baking tins, pans and sheets all have their own pros and cons, so here are a few things to bear in mind.

Metal

When referring to metal in cooking, we're talking about stainless steel, cast iron and aluminium. These materials are hard to beat when baking cakes, pies and cookies. As a general rule of thumb, the darker the metal, the darker the browning.

Be warned: Avoid storing food in metal or aluminium cookware because, after a while, the compounds react with the acid in the food, infusing it with a less-than-ideal metallic flavour.

Silicone

With its ability to withstand a range of temperatures, lining your dish with silicone ensures your baked goods can be removed from the dish or tray with ease. However, silicone does not offer the heat conduction that metals do, meaning your baked goodies tend to brown less.

Glass

Like silicone, glass dishes are great insulators, so things take longer to cook in glass. If your mixture contains a lot of sugar, it will burn before the rest of the mixture is cooked. If you make a lot of casseroles where browning is less of a consideration, glass bakeware provides excellent results.

Ceramics

The big advantage of ceramic is its versatility - a lot of ceramic bakeware can also be used for serving, as well as cooking, which means you get to take pies and quiches straight from the oven to the table. Ceramics have incredible heat-retention abilities, so they'll keep your food warmer for longer, meaning tastier food - and more satisfied eaters!

Look after your baking dish and it will look after you

Prior to your first use, wash all your bakeware in warm soapy water as preparation. Make sure any labels and adhesive have been scrubbed off, then rinse well.

Make sure you always wash your baking dishes and pans after they have cooled with warm, soapy water and a sponge. Washing while baking trays are still hot can lead to warping. Also, avoid scourers or steel wool cleaners and, if you're using a brush, go for one with nylon bristles. If there are burnt foods sticking to your dishes, particularly with ceramics, soak them for 30 minutes in hot water.

Do not put metal, aluminium or cast iron baking dishes and pans in the dishwasher. Silicone cupcake and muffin sheets are dishwasher-proof but still remove all crumbs before loading.

When popping your baking dishes away in the kitchen cupboard, make sure they are totally dry. Storing baking sheets and trays with a layer of wax paper between each one is a great tactic for protecting non-stick surfaces.

Find the right baking equipment at Spotlight

Ready to purchase? Shop through our extensive range of baking trays, pans and dishes and buy online. Our buying guide also provides heaps of practical tips and information to help you bake at home like a five-star chef.

Alternatively, head into a Spotlight store to speak with one of our friendly customer service team who'll be happy to answer your questions.