Bakeware - Cooking 101 - Home Cooks Classroom

What is Bakeware?

In the simplest of terms, bakeware is a type of container in which food is cooked in and occasionally served on. However, unlike cookware, which we covered in two previous lessons, bakeware is not used over a stovetop. Instead, it is used for baking foods in an oven, thus its rather unoriginal name, bakeware.

What materials are bakeware made out of?

Just like cookware, bakeware is made out of a number of different materials. And knowing the differences between these materials will definitely help you out in deciding which is best to use for a particular dish.

Metal – Probably the best-known feature of metal is its ability to heat up and cool down quickly. This makes it an excellent material for cooking things at high heat for a short amount of time such as cookies and biscuits. Another great aspect of metal is its durability, as it is almost impossible to break them. The only real drawback of metal is the fact that cleanup isn’t the easiest. That is why it is always recommended that you grease metal bakeware with butter or oil anytime you bake with them.

Glass – While glass will typically take longer to heat up compared to metal, it will keep its heat for longer and spread it out more evenly. This makes it a great material for baking things like cakes, which need a lower and more consistent heat. The only drawback of glass bakeware is the fact that they are often heavy and can break easily if dropped.

Ceramic – Similar to glass, ceramic is great at retaining heat and distributing it evenly. Ceramic is also often colored and designed beautifully which makes them great for presenting meals at parties. But probably the greatest feature of ceramic bakeware is that it’s typically coated with an enamel finish which makes clean up super easy. However, ceramic has the same drawbacks as glass, they’re heavy, and they can break easily.

Silicone – Definitely the newest member of this list, silicone has quickly become a favorite of many. For starters, it requires no spray because it is non-stick and dishwasher safe. Silicone can also withstand drastic temperature changes quite easily, so no need to worry about taking it straight from a freezer to an oven. The only drawback of silicone is that it can rip if handled improperly, so keep it away from anything sharp.

Types of bakeware

Baking sheet – Also known as a cookie sheet, or sheet pan, these are flat rectangular shaped pans. These are great for baking just about anything in your oven but are especially known for making cookies, rolls, or sheet pan dinners. They are commonly made out of aluminum metal.

Recipes to try: Oatmeal Cranberry Cookies, Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookies, Baked Asparagus, Cheddar Chive Drop Biscuits, Baked Buffalo Wings

Loaf pan – These are rectangularly shaped pans with deep walls. As their name suggests they are mainly used to bake loaves of bread or meatloaves. They are commonly made out of metal, though glass and ceramic ones also exist.

Recipes to try: Pumpkin Bread, Classic Meatloaf, Lemon Loaf

Pie pan – These are round pans that have medium-sized walls that typically slop outward. As their name suggests these are mainly used to bake all sorts of pies. They can be made out of a number of materials, but are often made out of glass, or ceramic.

Recipes to try: Turkey Pot Pie, Homemade Pie Crust, Apple Pie, Pepperoni Pizza Dip

Casserole dish – Also known as a baking pan, these are often rectangular, or oval-shaped dishes with medium sided walls. They are most commonly used to bake up casseroles, gratin, cobblers, and lasagna to name a few. They are mostly made out of glass or ceramic.

Recipes to try: Scalloped Potatoes, Chicken Enchiladas, Stuffed Bell Peppers, Baked Apples, Zucchini Cake, Asparagus & Proscuitto Breakfast Casserole, Southwest Breakfast Casserole

Bundt pan – These are circular pans with a small circular opening at their centers. They typically have fluted sides that curve up from the middle. Once again there is very little originality when it comes to naming bakeware, as the bunt pan is mainly used to bake bundt cakes. They are almost exclusively made out of metal.

Recipes to try: Lemmon Bundt Cake, Vanilla Bundt Cake

Muffin tins – These are flat sheets that typically have 12 cup-shaped recesses. These recesses make muffin tins great for baking single-serve desserts such as muffins, cupcakes, and miniature cheesecakes. They are also great for making single-serving egg dishes. They are traditionally made out of metal, however, silicone ones have become quite common.

Recipes to try: Banana Nut Muffins, Cinnamon Muffins, Mini Cheesecakes, Breakfast Egg Muffins

Springform pan – It is actually composed of two separate pieces, a flat circular base, and collar with can be opened or latched tightly around the base. They are must-have items for baking cheesecakes and are also quite good at baking other things like deep-dish pizza. They are always made out of metal.

Recipes to try: Turtle Swirl Cheesecake, Layered Roasted Vegetable Torte, Peach and Blueberry Yogurt Cake

Tart pan – Just like the springform pan a tart pan is made out of two separate pieces, a flat circular base, and a collar with short fluted sides. This design makes them great for baking and then serving tarts. They are most often made out of metal.

Recipes to try: Cheesecake Fruit Tart, Quiche Loraine, Lemon Tart, Black Forest Tart

Ramekin – These are small circular dishes that feature medium-sized straight walls. These are often used to bake souffle, creme brulee, and macaroni and cheese. They are also the go-to item to serve french onion soup in. Traditionally they are made out of ceramic, however, you can find some made of glass or silicon.

Recipes to try: Individual Breakfast Casserole, Lemon-pots-de-creme

Honorable mentions:

Pizza stone/steel – Pizza stones/steel are flat sheets that come in both circular and rectangular shapes. As the name suggests they are great for cooking pizzas because they are capable of holding heat better and distributing it more evenly. This makes them able to produce pizzas with crispy crusts. And while some are actually made out of stone the name is misleading because most are made out of ceramic.

Recipes to try: Calzones, Frech Bread Pizzas, Homemade Pizza Dough

Tagine – Both a type of dish and the name of the pot in which the dish is cooked in. It is commonly found in North African cuisine and features two pieces. A flat circular base with flaring walls, and a cone-shaped lid. The traditional ones are always made out of ceramic.

Recipes to try: Chicken Tagine, Vegetable Tagine

Cooling rack – While this isn’t necessarily a bakeware item, It is definitely something that everyone who bakes should own. They are essentially what their name suggests, wired racks on which baked goods can cool down. They are always made out of metal.