Tricks to Make Any Pan Nonstick

All bakers are guilty of making a little mistake once in their lives while baking. When a cake sticks to a pan, with each piece that falls apart a little piece of your heart is crushed. If there is not a non-stick to bake with we must improvise with other baking tools, which are just as good as having a fancy non-stick pan. These other tricks do not harm the cake or change the flavor, unless you use too much.

Some of the ways you can keep your cake from sticking to the pan include:
Flour - Flour is great for coating a pan that you will be using for thin batters that can caramelize to the bottom of the pan. For an 8 or 9” pan you only need about 2 whole tablespoons of flour for coating the sides and bottoms. Be sure that all areas of the pan are covered with flour in order for it to be effective. After you feel you have sufficiently covered the surface you can turn over the pan and tap out excess flour that is not needed.

Butter - Butter is known for imparting a light sweet flavor to the item you are cooking in a pan. It is a common choice for chocolate desserts and breads as well. To use butter it must first be softened to room temperature in a bowl. Once softened use a pastry brush or even a paper towel to evenly spread a coat of butter around the inside of your baking pan. There should not be excess butter at the bottom of the pan! If you are really worried about sticking you can cover that thin layer of butter with a light coating of flour.

Crisco (or other shortening) - If you have shortening in your pantry it is an easy way to ensure that your pan is non-stick. The most common brand of shortening is Crisco, and it is brushed over the inside of a pan similar to the way you use a pastry brush with butter. Be sure, before you use your shortening that you check the date on the container and that it has been appropriately stored in the refrigerator. After you use shortening there is no need to use butter, flour, or any other non-stick methods.

There are other options that do not involve food products to help you create a non-stick finish. Using parchment or wax paper is common, as is foil. Both of these are done with cut outs measured with the pan and then lined on the bottom and sides of the pan you will be using. Some people will prefer to use some form of grease to help hold the parchment paper in place, however this is not necessary with foil. Keep in mind that if you are baking cookies you should not use wax paper! The exposed areas of the paper on the pan have been known to smoke inside the oven, which could ruin your cookies.

Hopefully, these few recommendations are remembered the next time you bake with a non-stick pan.




Criss White is an article writer for My Baby Shower Favors and enjoys baking decorated cookies and other holiday cookies. Criss also enjoys parties and shopping when not writing.