Best Baking Molds
Whether your need to knead is a new-found hobby or a family tradition that dates back generations, having the right equipment is as important as having the right ingredients. In fact, without quality baking molds, you’re setting yourself up for disappointing results such as cakes that stick, scorched muffins, and too-dry breads. So, how do you ensure your end product showcases your culinary talents? You invest in quality bakeware that’s specifically designed for the task at hand.
What Are the Benefits to a Baking Mold?
A good quality baking mold not only prevents your cakes, loaves, and muffins from sticking, it can ensure even, thorough cooking. You’ll learn pretty quickly that you no longer have to over-bake products trying to avoid those doughy, uncooked centers – they’ll always be perfect. And best of all, gone are those anxious moments when you flip your mold and hope that your creation will come out clean and whole. You know it will.
What to Look for When Buying a Baking Mold
Design
Before you invest, consider how you plan to use your baking molds. If your specialty is cupcakes or muffins, you’ll want to check out some of the creative shapes and designs that silicone offers. For those who lean more toward traditional breads, the pan dimensions will be important. And if your culinary creations are all about whipping up a batch of brownies or squares, you’ll love the molds that produce a perfect, individual portion because you no longer have to measure, cut, and risk damaging your favorite pans.
Silicone versus Non-Stick Carbon Steel
If you opt for non-stick silicone, look for a product that is BPA-free and 100% food-grade. This highly versatile material easily transitions from oven to freezer, and because its dishwasher safe, it’s highly popular with cooks. Downsides include a flimsier fabrication that may require a separate base pan for added support as well as cooking temperatures that may need to be tweaked. With carbon steel, you’ll find they offer effective non-stick coatings designed to turn out a consistently perfect product. They’re also more durable than silicone and will maintain their shape for years. The main caveat with metal is that surface coatings can be damaged, compromising their non-stick capabilities.
Ease of Use
For standard bakes in an electric, gas, or convection oven, both silicone and carbon steel baking molds will deliver quality results. But if you’re looking for a quick prep / bake, the non-metallic silicone option is perfect for the microwave. And because muffin and cupcake molds can be purchased as single portions, you never have to worry about your microwave oven’s capacity. When it comes to maintenance, both are dishwasher safe, however with any metal pan, you’ll need to avoid removing baked goods with a metal utensil in order to avoid damaging the finish.
Top 6 Baking Molds
SILVIO 2-piece Food-Grade Silicone Bread and Loaf Baking Molds with Thicker Side Construction
Best for Bread and Loaf Bakers
For those who love to bake breads and loaf-style cakes, this set of two 100% pure food-grade silicone baking molds will make your life so much easier. Not only are they ultra flexible for easy release of all your favorite baked goods, but the non-stick surface is ideal for dessert loaves where sugary syrups can cause cakes to fuse to pan sides and break apart when dispensed. They’re great for sweet or savory breads, quiches, cakes, meatloaves, and even squares as they deliver a uniformly cooked product with a flawless presentation. And because these molds transition seamlessly from oven (electric, gas, convection, or microwave) to freezer they’re the perfect choice when cooking up large batches of food for future use. Hand-washable and dishwasher safe, clean up is a snap.
Who Should Buy This Baking Mold?
For those who enjoy baking sweet or savory breads and cakes, the silicone construction of these baking molds results in an always clean, perfect presentation without the scorching or sticking that can accompany standard metal pans.
Pros:
- 2-piece set
- Thicker sides help prevent bending
- 100% food-grade silicone construction
- No chemical coatings
- Dishwasher safe
Cons:
- Slightly narrower than standard bread loaf pan
LetGoShop 24-Piece Food-Grade Silicone Cupcake Baking Molds in Round, Rose, Star and Heart Shapes
Best for Those Who Want to Bake a Better Cupcake
Everyone loves a great cupcake – whether to celebrate a birthday, pack into a lunch, or just enjoy while on their own. And with these 100% food-grade silicone molds you never have to worry about broken, crumbly discards – each cupcake comes out perfectly shaped and ready to decorate. Setting these baking molds apart from the pack is their unique shapes including stars, rounds, roses and hearts that instantly elevate your offering to professional-grade. Designed for re-use, these fun, quirky molds are also ideal for but baking eggs, molding chocolate, freezing ice cream treats, or whipping up individual mini quiches. The possibilities are endless. And because these molds go from oven to freezer, you can prep multiple batches for future use. Dishwasher-safe makes clean up quick and easy.
Who Should Buy This Baking Mold?
These molds are the perfect choice for those that want to kick their cupcake baking skills up a notch. Unique shapes can be customized for any occasion while silicone construction ensures each and every mini cake comes up perfectly shaped and ready to cool, then ice.
Pros:
- 24-piece set
- Four mold designs
- Individual portions versus tray format
- Non-stick construction
- Microwave safe
Cons:
- Cookie sheet required when baking in a traditional oven
Nutrichef 10-Piece Non-Stick Carbon Steel Baking Molds and Pans with Heat-Proof Silicone Handles
Best for Those Who Want a Complete Bakeware Upgrade
If you’ve been struggling to produce a decent muffin, loaf of bread, or flan, it may be time to kick that old set of baking molds to the curb and replace them with something more functional. That’s where this 10-piece set of non-stick bakeware steps up to the plate. Not only does each piece feature a BPA-free non-stick coating to ensure your baked goods pop out cleanly and unbroken, but heat-proof handles make it safe to lift hot pans straight from the oven. Whether your expertise lays in breads, slab cakes, cupcakes, or even pizzas, this set of molds has you covered. Carbon-steel construction means they won’t flex or lose shape over time and with the non-stick surface, you won’t need to add butter or sprays when baking. Dishwasher safe makes clean-ups easy.
Who Should Buy This Baking Mold?
These carbon steel pans are perfect for those looking to upgrade their existing bakeware. Today’s technology makes for more effective, long-lasting non-stick surfaces, while clever touches such as the heat-proof silicone grips make them safer and easier to use than past designs.
Pros:
- 10-piece set
- Bread, cake, cookie, and pizza molds included
- Silicone grips protect from burns
- BPA-free, non-stick coating
- Long-wearing carbon steel construction
Cons:
- Not microwave safe
Boxiki Kitchen 13-piece Non-Stick Silicone Baking Molds with Measuring Spoons and Spatulas
Best Starter Set for Those New to Baking
If you’re new to the world of baking and don’t know how to begin stocking your arsenal of cookware, this 13-piece food-grade silicone set is a great start. Not only do you get the basic molds for cupcakes, loaves, round cakes, and squares, you receive a set of measuring spoons, silicone spatulas, and even 3 free eBooks with 180 recipes to help you fine-tune your culinary skills. And because each of the silicone baking molds sits within a rigid steel frame, you never need to worry about it losing its shape over time. Generous handles make it easy to lift pans in and out of a hot oven, while textured surfaces ensure your baked goods pop out cleanly without sticking or breaking apart. All pieces in this set are dishwasher-safe for an always quick and easy clean-up.
Who Should Buy This Baking Mold?
This set is ideal for those who are new to baking and looking for a fool-proof method of producing quality products. Non-stick surfaces, generous grips, and free recipes to encourage practice, make this a great option for beginners.
Pros:
- 10-piece set
- Non-stick silicone construction
- Steel frames prevent sagging
- 180 eBook recipes included
- Measuring spoons and silicone spatulas included
Cons:
- Not microwave safe
Wilton Non-Stick Brownie Pan Mold with 12 Individual Portion Cups
Take the trial and error out of cutting the perfect brownie, square, or cookie bar with a baking mold specifically designed to produce individual portions. Constructed from steel, with a non-stick, scratch-resistant EverGlide coated surface, this mold ensures your squares are not only perfectly sized but they slide out clean and unbroken. No need to waste time measuring, cutting, and then trimming those ragged edges – it’s all done for you. Best of all, each square has that coveted crispy edge that everyone loves. It’s ideal for volume production when you want to bake several batches, then freeze to enjoy later. While this baking mold is dishwasher-safe, for best results hand-wash in warm soapy water.
Who Should Buy This Baking Mold?
For busy cooks that appreciate time-saving features, this individually portioned baking mold is the perfect solution for squares and brownies. Not only do they slide cleanly out of the mold without the need to trim edges, they’re ideally sized for any type of square or bar.
Pros:
- 12-compartment mold
- Scratch-resistant, non-stick EverGlide coating
- Easy clean up
- Steel construction for added durability
- 10-year warranty
Cons:
- Should be hand-washed
CHEFMADE 2.2 pound Commercial-Grade Pullman-Style Baking Mold with Non-Stick Silicone Coating
Best for Perfect Bread
Every aspiring baker needs a great set of commercial grade pans and if you’re not sure which to buy first, start with this one. This pullman style baking mold is constructed from heavy-gauge carbon steel with a food-grade silicone coating that ensures your breads and cakes pop out cleanly and perfectly baked. What makes this pullman style mold so special is the non-stick cover that seals the top during the bake process. This step delivers the flat, perfectly square shape this iconic sandwich loaf is known for. And if you prefer your breads with the traditional raised surface, simply omit the cover and allow the dough to rise and bake naturally. A vented base features multiple small holes that allow hot air to circulate into the mold for consistently even baking. And while its non-stick surface makes it easy to hand-wash, its also dishwasher safe.
Who Should Buy This Baking Mold?
This is a perfect bread baking mold for those who appreciate the classic pullman shape. Its covered baking technique and vented base make it ideal for use with any type of bread dough, or for loaf-style cakes.
Pros:
- Bakes 2 styles of bread or cake – flat or raised
- Vented base ensures air circulation for even baking
- Silicone, non-stick coating
- Commercial-grade, heavy-duty steel construction
- 5-year warranty
Cons:
- Should be hand-washed
Bottom Line
For today’s busy households, investing in good quality baking molds not only ensures an end result you can be proud of, but it saves both time and money. With the new non-stick finishes featured on most designs, you eliminate the need to reproduce products that have been damaged as a result of sticking to pan surfaces. And now that so many of these molds are suitable for microwave use, it’s never been faster or easier to produce volumes of perfectly baked goods that your family can eat fresh or freeze for future enjoyment.