12/09/2010

Floppy bakeware


If you are as old mature as I am and anything like me, you laughed and scoffed the first time you saw these...silicone pans.

Actually, I said, 'Ewww!' the first time, and all subsequent times, I saw them. I thought, 'How could that possibly not melt!'  If Hubby was with me, he would point to them and mock, 'Ewww!' with a fake shudder to add effect. (What a sweetheart.)

Then we moved to this house. The fan on the oven never worked and the rental agent didn't seem to want to pursue the fact, so I just let it go. I figured that I lived without a fan in my oven all my life until I moved to NZ, so it shouldn't be a big deal.

Well, it turned out to be a bigger deal than I thought. Especially when I baked bread. This oven left the tops nice and brown but the bottoms quite doughy and white. 

And my mini meat pies in the Texas size cupcake pans...the tops looked wonderful, but the bottoms didn't look cooked at all. I was not a happy camper--the family looooooooves pies.

I tried baking everything a bit longer but that didn't work. I tried getting the oven super hot before I put the bread in. That didn't work either.

So, out of complete desperation, I tried one of these floppy pans...a small loaf pan. Just to see. And hope it would work. Fingers crossed (I know that doesn't help, but it made me feel like I was helping) and holding my breath (well, ok, just taking a deep breath as I put them in the oven). And then the wait. Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock. (yes, I know, clocks don't tick-tock any more, they sort of click along, but I was trying to add to the dramatic effect) Anyway......

Voile!

The pan worked beautifully. It distributed the heat much more evenly around the dough and my bottoms were brown. I was so impressed that I went out and bought several more, including (of course) mini pie pans.

I may be old mature, but I can still learn a trick or two!

14 comments:

chitra said...

Nice template Betty and life always teaches us a thing or two regularly.

Ann, Chen Jie Xue 陈洁雪 said...

Are these silicone ones? I was given a set but I don't dare to use them.

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

Embrace change! That's the way to stay a little less "mature." I'll have to try some of those pans -- they're very colorful as well!

merinz said...

I have two of these 'floppy' pans, they work well, but I do find them difficult to lift in and out of the oven.

The South African Kiwis said...

Oh man! I've had my eye on these for a few years now. One of these days I'll con someone into buying them for me - mark my words!

KB said...

Yay, I'm so glad everything worked out in the end.

Connie said...

I haven't tried them because I haven't needed pans in so long. Nice to hear a good review. I have tried the silicon ice cubes trays though, and was not impressed. They're too floppy, The ice expands and gets stuck. My hands get frozen just trying to pop the stupid cubes out.

Magdalen Islands said...

We have a couple silicone bread pans here and they do work fine. Never had a failure in them, but I still reach for the enamel and pyrex pans first.

Mika said...

Hi! I'm following from the blog hop.
I'd love a follow back at www.mikaspantry.blogspot.com

Thanks!
Mika

Menopausal New Mom said...

Sorry, this has nothing to do with silicone pans (which I laughed at too by the way), just found you and see you are located in NZ.

I live in Eastern Canada, from here but lived in Napier and Palmerston North twice (each was for 3 months while my hubby did wook in NZ).

I miss is so much (but not their drivers Lol!) I used to joke there were no overweight people in NZ because they had all been run over. It's so cold here right now, I can't help but think of the Christmas BBQ's they have there instead of our traditional turkey dinner.

Following you now and looking forward to seeing more views. Hope you make it to the South Island, it's fabulous but I did turn a little green on that ferry Lol! We did many walking hikes there, one was three days long while we slept in big barns like cattle.

Oh well, I could email for hours but just wanted to say how happy I was to find you :)

Hootin Anni said...

Now THIS was a great post. I too thought they'd melt. Hmmmmmm. Live and learn. I will go out and buy one and try it on your word only.

Thanks for stopping by and viewing my photo blog.

Su-sieee! Mac said...

Thanks for the post. I need new baking pans and I wondered if it would be worth my while to try one of these guys out.
Happy Holidays!
Su-sieee! Mac
This and That. Here and There. Now, Sometimes Then.

Empty Nester said...

Ok, I had the same reaction to them. And I have not purchased or used them...but now, I am curious.

Your photos are beautiful! I found you via Java's Over 40 hop!

Kimberly said...

Hi Betty - I got these baking pans as a gift and have never used them. I guess I should pull them out and give them a try!