To get a tasty, complete baked treat, you need to take into account all the features of cooking. The quality of food largely depends on the container in which the food will be baked. Now specialized stores offer a large selection of various pots, cast iron pots, cauldrons and other products. They differ in volume, color, size, the material from which they are made. But not every housewife knows how to choose the right container for cooking in the oven.
Types of bakeware
Before purchasing a baking dish, you need to know its immediate purpose.
- Round. Various cakes, casseroles, pizzas, and pies are baked. When purchasing such forms, it is important to consider that the height of the sides when baking bakery products should be 6–7 cm, and 2–3 cm for other types of confectionery. As a rule, round forms provide uniform baking of the dish. Products rarely burn.
- Rectangular. Meat steaks are baked; river and sea fish; zucchini; pumpkin; cauliflower.
- Figured. They come in different shapes: stars, hearts, animals, letters, flowers. They are used when baking many desserts: cheesecakes, muffins, cupcakes, cruffins.
- Wavy. A wide range of cakes and pastries are baked from any type of dough. Before baking, all edges are greased so that the product can be easily removed and the wavy folds turn out beautiful.
- Detachable. Most housewives prefer detachable dishes when baking biscuits in them.They are very convenient, and most importantly, quickly removed from the container thanks to the removable bottom.
Baking utensil materials
The most important parameter when choosing baking trays, casserole dishes, and pots is the material used. It should not melt or burn. When the container is deformed, food may contain foreign tastes and aromas. Baking trays with a high-quality coating allow products to bake evenly and easily leave the surface. And also maintain full taste.
Silicone
Silicone models appeared relatively recently, but have already gained love and great demand among many women. Silicone is much cheaper than molds made from other materials and can be purchased at very low prices. The surface does not need to be greased before baking. Silicone can withstand temperatures from -40°C to +230°C, so many housewives freeze them. They bake a wide variety of dishes: cakes, cookies, muffins with fillings. Removing baked goods is very easy; silicone utensils can be turned inside out without much effort. The main disadvantage of silicone material is that they have a short service life. After 4-5 years, silicone releases a huge amount of poison that will harm the human body.
Cast iron
Perhaps this is the oldest form, which has been used by our great-grandmothers since time immemorial. Cast iron products are used to prepare lamb, risotto, chicken wings with vegetables, and stuffed pike. And sweets are baked extremely rarely. Treats bake evenly even at the highest temperatures. Cast iron is a durable metal that can last for many years.The dishes are stored together with other kitchen utensils. They are rarely subject to deformation. They can be cleaned with any detergents, sponges. The disadvantages of cast iron cookware include:
- quickly rusts from water;
- heavy;
- absorbs odors;
- looks unaesthetic on the festive table.
Ceramics
Ceramic or porcelain pots are suitable for preparing first and second hot dishes. Millet porridge with meat, pumpkin with cream, rice soup with seafood have a special pronounced taste. Due to the uniform heating of ceramic baking sheets, the food turns out very tasty, rich, healthy. Since all the necessary vitamins are preserved. The attractive appearance of porcelain containers allows you to serve treats from the oven directly to the dining table. Only the porcelain should be washed immediately after eating. Fat is quickly absorbed, making it difficult to clean. Ceramic containers have virtually no disadvantages, the only downside is the high price.
Glass
Glass baking sheets, roasters, and duck pans are in high demand among lovers of baked dishes. This is not surprising, since such dishes contain natural, environmentally friendly materials. Glass does not contain harmful substances or toxic compounds. Another advantage is that the cooking process can be observed through a transparent container. In order for the glass form to retain its original appearance, it is heated simultaneously with the oven. When buying dishes made of such material, you need to pay attention to its walls; if there are air bubbles, you should refuse to purchase it.The only downside to glass dishes is that they take too long to cool down.
Steel
Shops and markets provide a wide range of modern, inexpensive steel cookware that will last for many years. Thanks to the thin walls of steel baking sheets, cakes, Easter cakes, and cookies are baked very quickly at both high and low temperatures. When choosing steel forms, you need to make sure that the material cannot be bent and that the seams are tightly secured. Poor quality cookware can break or melt when heated. Which will lead to spoiled taste of the products. Also, when choosing forms, you should pay attention to the appearance: if the surface shines or shimmers, it means that the food will take too long to cool. Steel containers require careful care.
Teflon
The Teflon surface is pre-lubricated with fat before baking vegetable and meat dishes. When baking flour and confectionery products, it is not necessary to grease the baking sheets. In this case, the risk of the product burning is minimized. Teflon material very rarely affects the taste and smell of finished dishes. These molds are easy to clean thanks to modern anti-grease products. It is not advisable to bake foods at the highest possible temperatures. The disadvantage of Teflon containers is their short service life.
Paper
Paper forms are an indispensable thing for housewives who have absolutely no time to wash dirty dishes, and need to bake treats when guests arrive. Thanks to these disposable containers, delicious sweets are made: Easter cakes, muffins, cupcakes, desserts.Forms containing dough or any products can be stored on the shelves of the freezer. It is very easy to get the finished products, just tear the paper, then take out the baked cupcake. Advantages of baking dishes in paper:
- baked goods retain their shape;
- there is no need to lubricate the edges and surface with oil;
- products are not deformed during removal;
- presentable appearance;
- nicely low price.
To make the right choice when purchasing cookware for the oven, you need to know what types of baking sheets and containers exist. What are they made of and their purpose. And most importantly, the utensils purchased must be of high quality and without harm to the body.
