Let these baking experts teach you a thing or two

Baking is a science. There has to be the proper ratio of dryto-wet ingredients and then there’s the rising agent.

It could be yeast, baking powder or baking soda. And taste, that’s the most important thing. Does your baking taste as good as it looks? Mastering a good bake is helped by using good bakeware. Chicago Metallic has been making baking pans since 1898 so I’m thinking they know a thing or two about good bakeware.

The company is based in the United States and primarily manufactures commercial baking items for restaurants, bakeries and institutions. There is a division for domestic bakers, thankfully, as this is some of the best bakeware I have ever used. It’s heavy duty and non-stick construction in all the basic pans you need in a baker’s kitchen.

The bread pans are probably the best known, with two

choices for larger or smaller loaves. What does heavyduty construction mean in a bread pan, or any other pan? It means a rolled steel rim to keep the pan from warping in the heat. That ‘twang’ you hear from your oven when the pan does a twist. It often happens because there is not a lot of mass on the bakeware (like cookies on a cookie

sheet) and the metal expands in the middle. That twists the pan to relieve the stress expansion. The pans go back into shape when they cool but I have had cookies fly off a twanging pan.

Heavy duty also refers to the quality and weight of the steel used in the construction of bakeware. Heavier steel gives a more even bake, better

overall browning and consistency in the finished product. There’s nothing worse than a gooey, under-baked dough.

Chicago Metallic uses DuraShield ,a food safe polymer used in many applications such as water pipes and tanks, tankers that move liquids, and as a shield on bakeware. The polymer is strong, with no leaching, and it protects the

steel from rust, corrosion and stains. Without a non-stick surface, many bakeware items would have a short useful life. The DuraShield finish is tough and very durable. This bakeware can be cleaned in the dishwasher but you will get better results from hand washing. Dishwasher soaps are much stronger and can etch your non-stick surface over time.

Chicago Metallic bakeware is available in bread pans, round and square pans, and baking pans in three sizes. A fluted bundt is another option. Muffin pans come as mini, regular and muffin top. If baking is one of your hobbies or maybe a form of therapy, reward yourself with professional quality bakeware.