Do you find that your cakes and other baked goods stick to the pan? If this happens, your cake could break up as you remove it from the pan. Stuck-on pieces of cake or pie will also make your pan more difficult to clean.
The best way to prevent food from sticking to your pan is to thoroughly grease the pan before adding food. However, it is important to use the correct technique to avoid ending up with a burned mess.
So, let’s find out exactly how to grease a pan…
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How to Grease a Cake Pan
Greasing a pan is very quick and easy when you know how. Simply select your preferred grease and run it around the interior of your pan. Using your fingers will help to make sure that you have not missed any parts of the pan. Make sure that the grease coating is perfectly even without any lumps of fat. If you find it difficult to evenly grease the pan, you may prefer the parchment technique.
Cut a piece of parchment paper to the perfect size by tracing the edges of the pan on the paper. Grease the sides of the pan and then line it with the parchment paper. There is no need to grease the parchment; you can simply pour your cake batter on top of it.
How to Grease a Bundt Pan
The unique shape of bundt pans makes them a bit trickier to grease. It is important to note that parchment paper should not be used to line bundt pans. Parchment paper is likely to cling to the pattern of the bundt pan during baking and can be difficult to remove afterward.
Make sure that you grease your bundt pan carefully and thoroughly. The easiest option is baking spray, as you will be able to reach all the areas of the pan.
However…
You can paint the interior by hand with shortening if you are careful and thorough before dusting with cocoa powder.
It is best to grease your bundt pan just before adding your cake batter, particularly if you have a warm kitchen. Greasing the pan too early will cause the grease to drip down the sides and pool at the bottom. You can always pop the greased pan in the fridge while you mix the batter if you want.
Greasing a Non-Stick Pan
When it comes to How to Grease a Pan that’s non-stick, it needs specific maintenance as damaging the protective non-stick layer will cause it to degrade. It is important to remember to grease this type of pan with butter or oil before baking. The oil will help to keep your cake soft and springing without absorbing the oil or butter.
Greasing a Carbon Steel Pan
It is essential to grease carbon steel pans before using them for the first time. Wash the pan and heat it on the stove, then place some oil inside and wait for the oil to turn brown. After the pan cools, remove the excess oil and use your carbon steel pan in the usual way.
Greasing a Grill Pan
Because grill pans feature an uneven surface, they should be preheated to prevent food from sticking. After the pan has been preheated, use a paper towel to evenly spread out over the cooking surface. Simply pouring the oil directly into the grill pan will cause the oil to pool in the grooves.
Greasing a Springform Pan
Springform pans consist of an outer collar with a latch and a base that fits inside the collar when you close the latch. It is best to grease this type of pan with spray oil or a mixture of butter and flour. Run a knife along the edge of the pan before opening the latch to prevent your cake from sticking.
The Best Grease to Use
There are lots of different types of grease that you can use on your pan. Each of the options has feature slightly different properties that should be taken into account. You may need to try a few options before you find the right one for your needs.
Shortening
Shortening is created from a blend of different vegetable oils. And shortening can quickly and smoothly be rubbed across the baking surface of your pan. For the best results, sprinkle a layer of flour over the shortening after greasing the pan.
Butter
The fatty cells in butter serve to create a natural non-stick coating on the pan. All you need to do is rub a stick of butter around the cooking surface of the pan. Sprinkling a little cocoa powder and flour on top will keep the edges of your brownies crisp and brown.
Vegetable Oil
Greasing your pan with vegetable oil is a very quick and easy option. Simply pour a little vegetable oil onto a paper towel and rub it around the interior of your baking pan. Once again, it is important to make sure that the entire interior of the pan is lightly coated with oil.
Bacon Fat
Leftover bacon fat is a great substitute for other types of grease. Be aware that your baked goods are likely to take on a slight bacon flavor. Depending on what you are baking, this could be a bonus or could ruin your sweet treats.
Flouring a Greased Pan
Some cake recipes call for you to flour your baking pan. This helps the cake batter to cling to the sides of the pan so that it does not collapse. This is particularly important when you are baking angel food and sponge cakes that do not contain a leavening agent.
Simply sprinkle a handful of flour across the interior of the pan after greasing. Shake the loose flour particles across the pan so that they are evenly distributed. You can then invert the pan to remove any excess flour before adding your cake batter.
When Not to Use Flour
Flouring the pan can leave a light floury residue on the surface of your finished cake. Therefore, you may not want to flour the pan if you plan to serve your cake without glaze or frosting.
You may also want to avoid flouring the pan when baking brownies, even if the recipe calls for it. The flour can form an unappealing white crust on your brownies after baking. Instead, it is a better idea to add a little cocoa powder to the pan after greasing it.
Which are the best pans for baking?
That depends on the needs of your family. But for some of the best cookware available, check out our reviews of the Best Carbon Steel Pans and the Best Titanium Cookware Sets you can buy in 2023.
And for something really special…
Take a look at our Ninja C39900 Foodi NeverStick Premium Hard Anodized 16 Piece Cookware Set Review, our Gotham Steel Stackmaster Review, our Paula Deen Cookware Review, and our Scanpan Reviews.
We know you’re also going to love our Matfer Bourgeat Black Carbon Steel Fry Pan Review, our Made In Blue Carbon Steel Frying Pan Review, our Tramontina Cookware Reviews, and our All-Clad Copper Core Cookware Review.
Now You Know How to Grease a Pan
Whether or not to grease a pan before baking may seem like a judgment call. However, it will help to make sure that your cakes are quickly and smoothly released from the pan after baking. Even the performance of non-stick pans can be enhanced by greasing them.
However, it is important to make sure that you thoroughly grease the pan and do not miss any areas. You may find that it takes a bit of practice to get the technique just right. However, the reward of receiving perfectly baked cakes and other treats will be more than worth the effort.
Happy baking!
