It’s no secret why silicone bakeware is some of the trendiest baking products today. From their bright colors, pleasing designs, non-stick surfaces, and impressive durability, these items are the perfect partner for all amateur and professional bakers. But just like every other tool that a baker uses, there are also pros and cons of using silicone cookware. And we’re here to let you know more about them.
Listed below are some of the pros and cons of silicone bakeware that you as a baker needs to know:
PROS
- Compared to the traditional bakeware and their plastic counterparts, silicone baking mat, silicone baking cups, silicone pans, silicone molds, silicone cups, and other similar baking tools cool down at a much quicker rate. This makes them safer to use as there are lesser chances of accidentally burning your hand.
- Since these bakeware are made out of FDA-approved food-grade silicone, you can be guaranteed that they don’t contain harmful chemicals that can put you and your loved ones in danger.
- Silicone cake pans, silicone baking mat, silicone spatulas, and other silicone utensils are also easier to clean compared to their metal counterparts. All you need to do is soak them in soapy water and then rinse with warm water.
- Silicone baking sheets are also known for cooking the food evenly, which is the exact opposite of what you could get when you use metal pans and other bakeware without oil, butter, or parchment paper.
- These baking tools are also easier to store since they are lighter and more flexible than regular metal bakeware.
- Silicone products such as silicone baking cups are also temperature resistant. Most of them can go as low as -40 C and reach a maximum temperature of up to 250 C.
- Another awesome thing about silicone bakeware is that they possess an impressive non-sticking capability, this means that no amount of sticky hot food and other nasty stuff can stay on its silicone surface for a long time. You can either run it under water or wipe using a clean napkin.
- It can be used as a replacement for paper liners, parchment paper, cupcake papers, a container for pound cakes, and more.
- Unlike some metal pans, silicone cookware can’t retain the smell of the food that was cooked in it. Which is great! Because the last thing you want is for your banana cake is to smell like a meatloaf.
Okay:
These are the pros of silicone bakeware, let’s look at the cons.
CONS:
- It is not a natural element. While yes, silicone bakeware – especially the ones that we have in BakersLove – are eco-friendly in many ways, they are still artificial.
- They are not as stable as metal bakeware so placing support underneath them such as a turntable is helpful.
- Silicone is a highly flammable material so you can’t use it near a fire. And while it has a pretty impressive temperature resistance, there is always a chance that it will meltdown while in the oven.
- Be extra careful when using a knife or anything sharp near silicone bakeware as you might accidentally puncture or slice through it.
These are just some of the pros and cons of silicone bakeware that you need to know. So now that we’re done, what do you think? Is Silicone Bakeware still a must-have for your kitchen? Well, considering that it brings more advantages than disadvantages, we still think it is!