Selecting the Best of Bakeware & Tools

A non-porous surface, such as glass, won’t absorb flavors and won’t react with salty or acidic foods. This means glassware is great for preparing dishes rich in acid, such as tomato-based dishes. Furthermore, there is no need to worry about glassware leaching any harmful chemicals during use. Glass bakeware is a great conductor, which means it warms quickly.

However, because of those properties, glass bakeware can be unpredictable for recipes with high sugar content. Sugars can actually harden or caramelize during the baking process, causing some baked goods to over brown from too much heat. It is also important to give glassware time to come to room temperature between freezing and baking, because if the glass changes temperature too quickly, it can crack or even shatter, though this is very uncommon. Once you have baked to your heart's content, the cleanup with glass bakeware is a breeze. In the event of sticking, simply soak with a bit of liquid dish detergent and water.

Ceramic bakeware comes in a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes and works for all ranges of service. Whatever level of formality and style you want to achieve, you'll find ceramic pieces that match. Like glassware, ceramic bakeware often comes with lids to keep food warm and makes traveling with prepared foods much easier.

Refrain from baking with your ceramic directly after removing it from the freezer. Instead, thaw it in the refrigerator before sliding it into the oven to keep it from cracking or shattering. Also, if microwave use is important for you, be sure to check the bakeware before you purchase it. Not all ceramic bakeware is microwave safe.

From savory to sweet, baked, frozen, or refrigerated, ceramic bakeware makes a great vessel for cooking up a variety of foods and creates a lovely display for everyday or special occasion use.

Stainless steel bakeware:

• is resistant to rust.
• doesn't transfer flavors between dishes.
• can stand up to frequent use.
• is good for almost any type of food.
• maintains heat well.

Aluminum bakeware:

• is resistant to corrosion.
• is light and easy to handle.
• heats up quickly.
• reacts with acidic food, degrading over time.
• can transfer flavors.
• least expensive metal.

Nonstick coatings are widely popular, especially with home chefs, because they can significantly reduce the time required to clean the bakeware after cooking. The two main types of nonstick coating are synthetic nonstick and ceramic. The synthetic nonstick coating must be handled with care; be sure not to use metal utensils with your nonstick pans to avoid scratching or marring the surface. Ceramic nonstick coating is also delicate and can be chipped. As soon as the coating is damaged, the bakeware will become less and less nonstick as it continues to degrade.

Nonstick bakeware enables chefs to use less fat and oil in their baking. Instead of spraying down a pan with oil to be able to remove baked goods, users can instead rely on the nonstick coating to get their cookies off cleanly. Nonstick bakeware must often be hand washed to prevent the harsh chemicals of a dishwasher from damaging the material. There are some options that are dishwasher safe, so consult the product details for your specific nonstick bakeware to see what type of care it needs. For many people, the convenience of a nonstick surface more than makes up for the added steps in keeping the pieces clean.

This sturdy material is quite heavy, so be careful and use both hands when lifting. Because of that weight, cast iron warms evenly and holds heat very well. This is great for browning meat or giving a crispy crust to baked goods. You'll definitely need a potholder for the handle, no matter if you’re cooking on the stove or in the oven. Cast iron is best for casseroles, corn bread, cobbler, pies, cakes, muffins, and frittatas.

Cast iron also has some specific maintenance requirements. Cast iron needs to be seasoned with oil to have a nonstick surface, and users can't put cast iron in a dishwasher or the seasoning will come off. Some manufacturers offer preseasoned cast iron, or even enameled cast iron. These provide the benefits of cast iron without the need to regularly season your bakeware.