Inexpensive, practical and convenient silicone molds are a real find for those who love homemade baking. The soft walls prevent the dough from sticking and allow you to easily remove the finished product. However, in some cases, the molds have to be additionally lubricated: this improves the quality and appearance of the baked goods.
Silicone molds: rules for selection and use
On sale you can find forms of different sizes, densities, colors. For baking cupcakes, mini-muffins and muffins, use small grooved tins or larger sheets with cells that are filled with dough. Cakes for cakes, pies, large muffins are baked in large containers made of dense and durable silicone. The classic version is a round shape with a hole inside. It not only decorates the future product, but also contributes to better baking of the dough.
For special occasions, more original shapes in the form of a heart, flower, oval, star are suitable. Rectangular containers are much less common; they are used for making homemade bread. Children love cakes and pies in the form of animals, birds, fish, butterflies.
When choosing a shape, you need to pay attention to the quality of the silicone. The denser it is, the more durable the product. Cheap thin molds break quickly, besides the dough in them sticks to the walls more often. The color of the product is not important: for the manufacture of baking dishes, neutral materials with safe dyes are used, which without damage tolerate high and low temperatures, and frequent washing. After each use, the molds are thoroughly washed with warm water and degreasing agents. Silicone has a porous structure, so it is very important to free the container of even the smallest traces of food.
If the baking container has become shapeless, the surface has become friable, has lost its shine or discolored, it is time to purchase a new product. With intensive use, the molds are changed annually, this guarantees good baking quality and eliminates waste. It is easy to store silicone products, they can be stacked on top of each other, rolled up, without fear that the forms will break or deteriorate.
Do you need to lubricate forms: expert advice
The big advantage of silicone products is the smooth, soft surface to which the dough does not stick. After baking, it is enough to cover the dish with a damp cloth, and then gently turn it over onto a board or dish. Homemade muffins, pies or cake layers can be removed without problems, the surface remains intact. However, some housewives prefer to play it safe and still apply a layer of lubricant on the silicone surface. Professional pastry chefs recommend this if:
- the shape has corrugated edges, small indentations, bulges and depressions;
- the cake dough is very dry, which can crumble after baking;
- baking contains a lot of sugar, jam and other components that stick to the walls;
- the form is used for the first time after purchase;
- the dough containers are dishwasher safe.
For lubrication, you can use butter, margarine, any odorless vegetable fat. Solid oils are melted before lubrication, it is convenient to process the mold with a special brush made of silicone or synthetic bristles. Some housewives prefer to use a cotton pad or a piece of paper towel. It is important to distribute the oil evenly without dripping.
If the dough for muffins, muffins or pies is rather fat and dense, and the product itself has simple geometric outlines, you do not need to grease the mold. A small amount of oil will come out during baking and prevent the dough from sticking to the walls. You should not grease the molds when baking diet baking, as even a small amount of fat can increase the calorie content of the product.
How to cook in silicone molds: step by step instructions
Making cakes and muffins in silicone molds is easy. Immediately after purchasing, the containers should be washed with warm water and a mild detergent. Do not use hard brushes or washcloths. After washing, the containers are thoroughly dried. An important condition is that you do not need to wipe them, otherwise small fibers from the towel will remain on the surface.
The optimum temperature for baking is usually indicated on the packaging of the products. It is not recommended to exceed it, it will shorten the service life of the forms.
For the first time, the form must be greased with melted butter or refined vegetable oil. If overdose is avoided, it will not affect the nutritional value of the baked goods and will not increase the number of calories too much. Unrefined vegetable oil with a pronounced aroma cannot be used, this will spoil the taste of baked goods. The dough is poured into no more than two-thirds of the container; it rises strongly during the cooking process. You need to add all the necessary ingredients before filling out the forms, the proportions depend on the specific recipe.
It is recommended to place the dough forms in a preheated oven. The degree of baking can be determined with a toothpick. If it remains dry after sticking it into a cake or pie, the product can be removed. When baking the cake, the silicone must not come into contact with open fire or hot oven walls.
Before removing the finished baked goods, it is recommended to cool them right in the mold. If a cake or muffin needs to be impregnated, you can pour it over with syrup right after baking, without putting it on the dish. It is impossible to cut the product in the mold, sharp knives and metal spatulas can damage the silicone.
To remove the cake without deforming it, the pan can be slightly squeezed or turned out. A thin silicone spatula will help to gently reach the baked goods. Another little trick to quickly remove the cake is to cover the inverted pan with a towel soaked in cold water for a couple of minutes.
After use, the mold must be cooled and thoroughly rinsed by hand or placed in the dishwasher.
