There's nothing better than the aromatic smell of fresh food wafting in from the kitchen.
Whether you're a professional chef or a home cook, baking is an enjoyable and fun way to spend your day.
However, some baking tools made of metal may not be ideal for your cooking.
Sometimes bread, cakes and other pastries can stick to the mold, damaging the surface of the food, and the mold can be difficult to clean.
However, thanks to advances in cooking technology, the best silicone baking pans can produce beautiful baked goods without the mess.
Among the many types of kitchen tools, the silicone category is hard to beat due to its versatility and ease of cleanup, especially when it comes to baking.
The best silicone bakeware is conveniently lightweight and non-stick, so it's no wonder it's an increasingly popular material in the kitchen.
How to find the best silicone bakeware
First, consider quality
Look for products that are only 100% food-grade silicone and contain no fillers or additives that change their properties when exposed to heat.
Products that meet FDA or European (LFGB) standards are proven safe for food use (either standard is food grade),
but LFGB testing is a more comprehensive process, so products are more expensive.
Like the best silicone bakeware made by infull-in.com, they are all food-grade safety compliant.
In addition to looking for these approvals, one way to determine if the silicone in question is of high quality is to use a pinch test.
Simply twist a flat surface on the item to pinch it; if you see the white color show through, you'll know the product is made of filler,
if not, you'll know it's pure silicone.
A notable exception to this rule is silicone baking mats.
While you can find 100% silicone baking mats, higher quality silicone baking mats have an internal fiberglass or nylon fiber mesh
layer to improve heat distribution; but rest assured that the food will only come in contact with the silicone layer.
Next, consider versatility
Silicone can be used safely over a wide range of temperatures, often including refrigerator, microwave, dishwasher and oven use,
but some baking sheets can withstand higher temperatures.
A safe option is to choose a piece that can withstand temperatures up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit (or higher) for baking versatility.
Some silicone baking pans are also versatile enough to be used multiple times.
Muffin pans can serve as fun snack organizers, and baking mats with macaron marker dots help keep food separated.
Here, we return to a central question: Why choose silicone baking pans?
While most chefs are accustomed to using glass and metal baking pans, silicone tops the popularity charts for its versatility.
First, when using glass and metal baking pans, pastries and baked goods tend to stick to the bottom of the pans.
Often, you must line your pans with baking paper or oil.
With silicone, there is no need to oil or lubricate your pans, saving you time and calories.
In addition, silicone is extremely lightweight, making it easy to carry to parties, events and family gatherings.
Silicone can be safely placed directly in the refrigerator or freezer.
No need to remove baked goods before freezing.
Compared to metal ones, it's so nice to not have to struggle to clean or remove baked goods!
These make life so easy!