Who doesn’t love non-stick bakeware? This modern material has made baking so much easier when it comes to use and clean up.
How To Select Non-Stick Bakeware
Non-stick bakeware, like your cookie sheets, pans, and molds are generally covered with Teflon or polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon). It’s a modern synthetic compound that consists of carbon and Fluorine atoms and gives you a non-stick, friction free, non-slip surface for your bakeware. The coating is usually a conductive one and it allows some heat to pass through the cookware. Teflon is so popular because it prevents food from sticking to the cookware and it is easy to clean.
Your non-stick pans, bakeware and baking sheets can be made from a variety of materials including cast iron, aluminum, stainless steel, copper, brass, and other metal alloys. The materials are varied and can even be custom made by the manufacturer. There are also cookware made of ceramic, which are safe to use even in very low temperatures. Other materials that are safe to use with your non-stick pans include plastics, glass, ceramic, and enamel.
When you’re shopping for non-stick cookware, you want to make sure that it has an aluminum or copper core. This will help to prevent the formation of air pockets between your food and the pan that can cause burning. Aluminum and copper core non-stick pans and pots are lighter weight than metal alloys and they’re much easier to clean. You can even find pans that have non-stick tops but have a metal backing. The benefit of having a non-stick top is that it will allow you to mix batter more easily which will make your cooking more efficient.
Pay Attention To The Coating
When choosing the coating on your non-stick pan, you want to make sure that you choose a high quality coating. The best coating options are chemical and zinc-free, although some manufacturers use a little bit of each of these. Zinc coating is the least expensive and most commonly used, however it’s not scratch and heat resistant. If you’re going with a zinc coating, you should check for baking tests to make sure that your coating will hold up against heat and does not run or crack. Remember to use non-stick utensils like spatulas with this type of bakeware.
If you’re looking for non-stick cookware with a little more durability, consider a fiberglass or silicon coating. Both of these are fairly new and some experts claim they’re better for your health and the environment than the traditional zinc or copper alloys. They do cost more, though, so you may want to decide between them depending on your budget. Another alternative to fiberglass and silicon is to purchase a non-stick pan and a special coating for the bottom of the pan. These plans generally have a very long shelf life and a longer baking time, but they do require the purchase of a separate set of tongs to handle the cooking process.
One of the key benefits of using non-stick bakeware when cooking is that you can control the temperature and stickiness of your food. You can add or remove food without the risk of burning or scorching the food. You can also use them for baking breads, potatoes, rice, pasta, soup and desserts. Because you can control the heat levels within the oven, you can bake delicate foods like pies, cakes and apples without having to under-bake or over-heat the cake or dessert. Non-stick cookware is ideal for those who are allergic or sensitive to regular cooking oils and cooking spray.
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