silicone bakeware

Ok, I got nuts the other day and researched for 3 hours on the internet because I figured silicone bakeware was probably bad for you, leaching into food etc..  I could not find anything much negative so I bought some because my pan cupboard was always falling at my feet whenever I tried to find something.  I am hoping that it will cut down on the cooking sprays and oil and butter used in cooking.  Also it looks really non injurious when it falls on you. 

Does anybody have any hints as to how to use it, does it need anything special or do you need to adjust recipes or anything?

I have some silicone baking mats (that go on baking sheets when you make cookies or other sticky foods).  They're great and I don't usually need anything else (like cooking sprays).  And, professional chefs have used silicone mats for years (called Silpats - more expensive than the silicone bakeware available in regular stores).  So, I wouldn't be worried about silicone leaching into food.  You've probably eaten out at restaurants and eaten food off silicone bakeware before.

I have those baking mats too.  I'm thinking about trying the breadpans.  One of the nice things is supposed to be that it's naturally non-stick, so you don't have to grease it up with some kind of fat to get your creation out in one piece.

the thing is with things like muffins pans and bread loafs the food comes out kind of soggy.. not soggy as in wet, but u dont get the crisp, or slightly heard texture u'd get with the regular bakeware.

But its cool when the muffins just pop out :)

Thanks for the feedback, I got a set of them with muffin pans, loaf pans and cake pans along with 2 mats.  I think I will try them out this weekend.  I really want to get rid of all my old pans and make more room for storage.

I would keep a few flat cookie sheets if you have them, to place under your silicone bakeware.  If your racks in your oven are like mine, your creations will come out with a wavey look to the bottom.  I love mine, they are wonderful, I have even put casseroles in them and then frozen them.  The meals come out great.  Just  be sure you clean them well after use, they can be hard to use if they are left with any food residual.  I bought a few discounted red ones last holiday seaon and my daughter and I made cakes and decorated them right in them, the pans were meant to be part of the food gifts.  The people that we gave them to went out and bought more, they really liked them.  Hope you enjoy them.

Original Post by usbecca13:

I would keep a few flat cookie sheets if you have them, to place under your silicone bakeware. 

 Exactly.  They need to be on a firm base or you can find they disappear through the oven-rack!

I have used silicone bakeware for 5 years and love it.  For mini tarts, the cooked product pops right out.  The muffin pans are much easier to clean than the old aluminum pans. 

I have noticed that I need to adjust baking times for loaf cakes. Slightly less time in the silicone.

I also put on a cookie sheet, it makes it much easier to put in and take out of the oven.

For cookies, I just use parchment paper, nothing ever sticks and it is relatively inexpensive, cleanup is just throwing the paper in the garbage.

ok i am professional in baking i am doing it for 10 years.you can take my word on silpats.they are already in ,no professional kitchens exist without them.no need to change recpies.it is easy to use,easy to clean,easy to store.they are future for household but for professional kitchen they are already there,nobody even discuss about there demerits.as everbody know how usefull they are.

I'm glad you posted this. I bought a whole bunch of different silicon bakeware but i thought it was only supposed to be used in the microwave. You can use them in a regular oven? Even the bottom broiler?

Are they always so flimsy?

It wont melt or anything?

Thanks

 

 

 

you can use them in oven or any heating equipment which do not use direct flames or fire.

they are supposed to be flimsy as it will easy to take bake things out of it if they are not rigid.

no they will not melt most of them come with temperature they can withstand.otherwise you can search with the company name in internet and know more about there capabilties and limitation.

thanks