Advice & inspiration
#loveleekes
Advice & inspiration
#loveleekes
Whether its a snack for one or a feast for the extended family, baking should be an enjoyable task. To ensure you are getting the most out of your culinary skills we have complied a list of some of the key things to consider before making that all important bakeware purchase.
Ceramic
These dishes are ideal for recipes that require a slow and gradual cook like bread and pastry. Ceramic dishes are heavy and durable, making them a great investment that will last for years to come.
Metal
Aluminium and stainless steel are the popular choice for baking tray and tins. The material heats quickly and cooks evenly making it perfect for baking cakes and biscuits. Metal is lightweight and often non-stick making it the ideal buy for beginners and budgets.
Silicone
This material is lightweight, flexible but also extremely durable. Able to withstand extreme temperatures, it is oven, freezer, dishwasher and microwave-safe. The flexibility of the material allows for bakes to be easily popped out, making it perfect for experimenting with shapes and sizes.
Glass
A great conductor of heat, which is ideal to reduce baking time. Easy to clean, and with little oil required, glass is non-stick, making light work of your cooking clean up. Not to mention glass is clear, giving you all around visibility throughout your bake.
Now that you have some idea what material you, you still need to decide what bakeware is right for you and this really does depend on what you will be using it for:
Cake tins
Cake tins, non-surprisingly are used for baking cakes. They come in a range of shapes and sizes so try to get the size recommended on the recipe – the depth of a tin can dramatically alter the cooking time.
Trays & stones
Trays and stones provide heat to a large flat area so are ideal for flat biscuits, cakes and breads such as welsh cakes, flapjacks and pizzas. Baking trays come in a huge selection of sizes, so ensure you get one that will fit comfortably in your oven.
Baking accessories
Although it is what is inside that counts, creating the perfect bake doesn’t stop there. Here at Leekes we have a selection of baking accessories from stamps to stands and mixers to moulds to ensure that your bakes look beautiful every time.
Pie tins
Are usually round, shallow tins that are perfect for creating crusty pastries for pies and tarts. Ensure that your pastry remains perfect with a non-stick or loose base tin for easy removal.
Cake tins now come in a variety of options so follow our rough guide below to find the perfect one for you and your needs.
Basic cake tins
These are created from one piece of material moulded into a desired shape. Effective greasing is crucial as removing your bake from the tin after cooking can be tricky.
Loose based tins
When upwards pressure is applied the base of the these tins it’s freed making the cake removal process much easier.
Spring form tins
These include a solid base and removable sides which can be unclipped allowing the cake tin to be loosened without damaging its content.
Cake & muffin trays
Ideal for dishing out perfect fairy cakes and muffin as the individual serving sized portions are perfect for holding cake cases.
Loaf tins
Available in a range of shapes and sizes, though are often long and deep for an iconic loaf look and are ideal for banana breads and lemon drizzle cakes.