Which cake pans to buy?

[sherri mae]

Good Morning! My daughter would love to have some good cake pans and am wondering what brands are best. She is mainly looking for round pans to do layer type cakes. Any input would be greatly appreciated. It's kind of cool to have my 17 year old ask for cooking items for christmas!!

[duonyte]

Very cool. I checked out Cook's Illustrated equipment tests. Their top choice was the Chicago Metallic Professional Nonstick pan, for 17.99 (2005 price). The very common Bakers Secret pan - you can find that one anywhere - was recommended with reservations - pan had slightly shorter sides and sides flared a bit, which they did not like, but the pan performed well otherwise - $4.99

[Molly53]

sherri mae wrote:
Good Morning! My daughter would love to have some good cake pans and am wondering what brands are best. She is mainly looking for round pans to do layer type cakes. Any input would be greatly appreciated. It's kind of cool to have my 17 year old ask for cooking items for christmas!!

Click on BASIC BAKING EQUIPMENT for some terrific ideas.

Most commercial-quality baking ware is made from 18 to 22 gauge aluminum. It's meant for durability and quality baking. Don't buy coated stuff (it always flakes), teflon (it always scratches) or galvanized tin (it always rusts).

You can source commercial quality baking pans that will hold up for many years to residential use at any restaurant supply store or at ACEMART (link)

FYI, you can use half-size baking sheets perfectly in residential ovens. Full size are too large.

[dunask]

SHERRI MAE:
Good morning. Sherri, I agree with your sentiment about your daughters interest. Sherrie, as you know a 17 year old does not always know what they want. Today's interest may or may not be tomorrow's interest.
Therefore I would suggest buying WILTON brand bake pans 2,inch high. This brand is popular because it is popular priced. You can buy this brand at Walmarts super duper store. I have (3) 6,inch pans I use for cheesecake baking. They are more then satisfactory. I also have the better kind much more expensive. If your daughter is still intersted in learning about baking some years later on you then can invest in the better equipment.

Good luck to you & enjoy the rest of the day young lady.

~DUNASK.

[Molly53]

Dunask: You'd be very surprised at how reasonable commercial quality bakeware can be.

[PaulO in MA]

Duonyte ...

Was the Williams-Sonoma Goldtouch pan also included in the Cools Illustrated test?

I bought two Goldtouch loaf pans to replace our dark pans because they won the test at America's Test Kitchen. Really like them.

http://www.williams-sonoma.com/shop/bakeware/cake-pans/

I posted a black cat picture in the "last barbeque of the season" thread I started in Grilling & barbeque.

[duonyte]

Not in that test - they highly recommended in the loaf pans or some other later test. I have heard very good things about that pan.

[PaulO in MA]

I reallty like Goldtouch loaf pans. I highly recommend them. I'll use them this afternoon for a couple of loaves of garden herb loaf from breadworld.com.

I sent a couple of them to my mother, too.

We want to get the cake pans, too. They used to have Goldtouch pans at the Williams-Sonoma store at the Premium Outlets here. But, they haven't had them the last few times I've been there.

[sherri mae]

Thanks you all so much for the input. Time to start shopping!

[kpinky]

To tell you i make my cake in pressure cooker http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90akldKolS8 you wanna try it