In most kitchens, you will find quite an assortment of pans. There are round ones, square ones, and rectangular ones. Many of these have been dedicated to using for baking cakes. However, you can use them for far more than merely cakes.
A bundt cake pan is the round, fluted style with a center post. They were originally designed for baking special types of cakes called bundt cakes. They are an adaptation of the old style angel food cakes. These bundt pans can also be applied to many other purposes. Bread baked in them comes out as a crustier version than when baked in traditional pans. Meat loaf takes on a more formal shape when bundts are used. They will also serve as a gelatin mold to create an interesting dessert that is still simple enough for a weeknight meal.
Square cake pans are the perfect size for many different cooking projects. They work well as a biscuit pan or to bake cinnamon rolls. They are also the right size for many of the box dinners sold on the market today. A square pan can hold a batch of homemade fudge while it is cooling or a macaroni salad that needs to be refrigerated.
A rectangular cake pan is among the most versatile pan in your kitchen. It can be used to bake a cake that is very easy to frost. But it is also just right for most casseroles, such as a tuna or enchilada casserole. The lidded type offers an excellent way to safely chill down devilled eggs before you transfer them to an open egg plate for serving. It also works well for meat loaf or to bake lasagna, a pot roast, or chicken with rice.
Specialty pans, such as those in the shape of cartoon figures, make delightful gelatin molds. Some people also use them for baking corn bread or molding candy. Virtually any substance liquid enough to fill the pan before baking or cooling can become a fun, special treat.
Round pans are used most often to create layer cakes. However, they can also hold a deep dish pot pie or be used to bake the boxed, dehydrated potato dishes. If you just need to cook a few brown and serve rolls, a round pan will take up less room in the oven and dishwasher than a baking sheet.
Cooks often reserve their pans solely for cakes. These pans are sometimes of superior quality to other cooking utensils in the kitchen. By exercising the imagination, cooks can find a multitude of uses for their pans beyond baking cakes.
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