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Archive for the ‘baking’ Category

You just spent hours in the kitchen baking and decorating your child’s birthday cake and now the only thing left is to transport it to the party location. You suddenly realize you have nothing to place the cake in to transport it so this is where the help of a cake box can be quite beneficial. Whether it is a birthday cake, anniversary cake or a wedding cake, cupcake and cake boxes are specifically designed to store and protect your cakes while transporting them to their final destination.

The boxes can be an inexpensive purchase depending on how fancy you want it to be.  A real fancy one may end up costing you around $50. Individual box prices can add up too depending on how many you need for the event.  Most of the boxes come in white or opaque and their size and shape will vary based on the dimensions of the cake itself. Wedding cake boxes come in two distinct categories which are individual cupcake boxes for wedding cakes made solely from a beautiful arrangement of cupcakes and cake slice boxes that are designed to hold one single cake slice from a traditional or tiered style of wedding cake.  Most wedding planners use such boxes because it enables them to prepackage and distribute cupcakes and cake slices much faster to a large amount of guests.  Some brides use the boxes as favors or gifts to their wedding guests.

If you are in search for a box to accommodate the wedding cake itself, make sure you have the correct dimensions before ordering.  Depending on the size and style of the wedding cake, the box may need to be custom ordered.  When shopping for boxes to distribute individual portions of cupcakes or wedding cake, you should definitely look for a company that sells bulk orders so you get the best price possible.  Bakery supply stores are a good place to start because most sell cake and cupcakes boxes wholesale to professional bakeries.

Whichever type of box you may prefer or need, keep in mind that the main purpose of the cake box is the protection and storage of the cake or cake portion within. You can purchase all kinds of boxes for cupcakes, regular cakes or wedding cakes.  You can even find many that are already decorated so all you have to do is fill them up.  Your final decision will likely be based on your budget but even then, use your creativity to make a plain box look like a million bucks.

Silicone bakeware is setting a new standard for baking. If you have been cooking for any length of time then you are familiar with glass and metal baking pans. The idea of using silicone bakeware may seem strange to you. The design itself is sure to catch your eye with their very colorful almost day-glo appearance such as the patented flexible silicon bakeware or the stunning red silicone bakeware sets.  But for most cooks it is their almost flimsy construction that raises concern.

Silicone bakeware is designed to be flexible and will not get too hot.  The advances in technology allow it to be non-conductive and resistant to oil and heat. You have nothing to lose by giving silicone bake ware a try in your kitchen.

One product that wins over many skeptics is the silicone muffin bakeware with ease of removal for creating the perfect muffin each time.  another favorite is the silicon spatula. They can easily replace a rubber spatula in your cookware arsenal. Again they are heat resistant and there is no need to trim them to get rid of worn out edges like you had to do with the rubber type. You can feel confident when stirring your scrambled eggs in a hot skillet that remnants of your spatula will not be left behind in your food. Even after prolonged use they will look almost as good as the day you bought them.

The next investment was a loaf pan, one piece of the overall silicone bakeware set. There is no need to add cooking oil to a silicone pan because it will not stick like conventional loaf pans do. Be prepared for effortless cooking and smooth removal of your food product. All that is needed is a quick twist of the pan and you have a yummy bread loaf ready for the eating with little or no messy cookware clean up.

Using silicone bake ware flawlessly bakes evenly without oiling the pan. An extra added benefit to this product is that they are dishwasher safe, you can freeze or refrigerant them and of course they are safe to place in a hot oven. Additionally you can store, bake and reheat all in the same pan and the bakeware will never stain or rust. With easy cleanup and a lightweight design they are perfect camping. You can stash them away in your pantry and they retain their shape indefinitely.

Make sure that your silicone bakeware is FDA approved. You will find the stamp of approval on the packaging label. The label should also provide the specifications for the proper oven temperature. When baking with silicone dishes ensure you comply with the manufacturer’s heat specifications. The pans are hot in the oven but cool down rapidly once removed.  Before using your pan the first time it is a good idea to wash them first.

Whether you need a cookie sheet or a cake pan, a mold or muffin tin chances are you will find a silicone bakeware set perfect for your cooking needs.