Silicone Bakeware

Commercially silicone bakeware is already a well known and trusted technology, but it is still very new to the domestic market. It comes in a bewidering range of colours (red, blue, yellow, orange,pink, lilac, grey, black, ...) shapes and sizes – but what should buyers be looking for, and why change to silicone in the first place?

The advantages of silicone bakeware.

That is silicone with an 'e' - silicon is a mineral...

Silicone bakeware will not rust, crack, melt, dent, peel or warp.

Silicone is non-porous so it will not retain flavours or odours to taint your next dish.

Silicone moulds cool quickly when removed from the heat – but remember the food inside will still be hot!

Good quality silicone bakeware will heat distribute heat evenly, but see the note below about cheaper items. Silicone is generally a poor heat conductor so it should not over-cook  or char the edges of your cakes. On the other hand it make not give the crisp, crunchy crust that you want for some things, though greasing the mould may help. Our advice is try it and see.

Similarly you may have to adjust oven times and/or temperatures for a few recipies.

Silicone bakeware can be used in conventional ovens; both gas and electric.It is also suitable for use in the microwave.  Do not use on the hob or under the grill.

Not only can silicone bakeware be frozen to temperatures as low as -40°C it remains flexible at domestic freezer temperatures. It’s terrific for making chocolate cake decorations and fancy jellies etc. as the mould can be peeled away easily even when its fresh from the freezer.

Silicone bakeware can be put in a hot oven straight from the freezer (or vice versa but this is probably not a good thing for your freezer).

 What to look for.

Silicone’s flexibility can be a nuisance in some ways – especially when it comes to transferring say a large wobbly tray of un-cooked muffins to the oven. Different manufacturers have developed different approaches to this problem. Some make substantial moulds with re-inforcing ribs on the outside (such as the Innovake square cake mould or loaf moulds ). Others use a variety of metal sleds or supporting rings. The easiest way round the problem though is just to place your silicone mould on a conventional baking sheet. Cheaper items will always rely on this system and are often made from the thinnest, wobbliest material. If you bake in large quantities think about how many moulds you can fit on however many baking sheets you have and can fit in your oven.

Another point to beware of with cheaper items is that they may contain fillers that can cause hot/cool spots. The manufacturers warranty will often be your best guide in this area; all our Innovake range comes with a lifetime guarantee.

Maximum recomended temperarures vary from one manufacturer to another so always check.

Finally, read descriptions carefully! Check sizes – make sure they are as big as you think they are!

Using Silicone Bakeware in your oven or microwave

A Yorkshire Pudding baked in an Innovake 10" round cake mould

Wash in warm soapy water before using for the first time or if unused for a while. (Silicone can hold static and attract dust like your tv screen.)

Silicone is non-stick but some for recipies it may need to be lightly greased. We make Yorkshire puddings in silicone moulds, but we still use fat as normal and heat it to smoking point because thats part of the flavour of Yorkshire pud - the results are great!

Spread food evenly in the mould.

Place on a baking sheet before filling and transfering to oven. If microwaving place the mould centrally in the microwave or on the turntable.

Use oven mitts to lift food in and out of the oven.

Allow baked items to cool completely before removing from mould.

Remove baked / cooked items by inverting the mould and pressing on the base. The mould can be twisted gently or peeled back carefully to release.
Do not use sharp tools to cut or remove food from the mould.

Wash in warm water with your usual dishwahing detergent or in a dishwasher.
Do not use abrasive scourers.

 

Using Silicone Bakeware in your freezer

If freezing liquids make sure the mould is on a level surface until frozen.

Cover surface with foil or film in freezer.

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That's about it folks! If you have any questions feel free to visit any of our listings  and use the "Ask Seller a Question" button - we'll always do our best to help!

Ian Ibbetson
Home and Kitchen Limited