What kind of loaf pans and muffin tins do you recommend for beginner bakers?

When beginner bakers start to stock their shelves with appropriate supplies for their craft, the question of loaf pans and muffin tins comes into play. With so many sizes and varieties available, exactly which are the best choices for beginners? Jennifer Bartos is the perfect person to answer such a question. As an expert in baking supplies, Jennifer owns and operates the All in One Bake Shop. Her advice for stocking up on muffin and loaf pans starts with relying on standard recipes. “There’s a standard,” Bartos explains. “A 4 x 9 inch loaf pan is what most bread recipes and pound cake recipes call for. Start by creating standard recipes. Some advanced recipes require different sized pans, but beginners will likely be starting with standards anyway.” It might be best to purchase a selection of loaf pans in this size. This is a good way for beginner bakers to experiment with what type of pan they most enjoy cooking with. From stainless steel, light glass, dark glass and non-stick coated pans, to today’s new and innovative silicone pans, the options and prices vary widely. Most kitchen stores or kitchen departments in mass marketing stores offer a reasonable selection. Loaf pans cost anywhere from a very few dollars to $40+ dollars. Beginning bakers need not splurge on the most expensive options. Mini-loaf pans are a fun addition to beginning baker’s kitchens. Be sure to measure their holding capacity with water before dividing standard recipes. Muffins tins are a must in any household, and certainly a requirement for a beginning baker. Bartos recommends individual muffins tins. “They are a must for the home baker,” she says. “This allows them to do muffins, cupcakes and all kinds of simple recipes.” Muffin tins have grown in their usage, however, in many of today’s modern kitchens. From simple baked eggs benedict to a storage tray for spices, condiments, decorations and party supplies—a good equipped kitchen needs a few top quality muffin tins. Don’t buy bottom of the barrel muffin tins. Occasionally bakers find they don’t have quite enough batter to fill all dozen cups in a muffin tin. Poor quality pans will smoke and burn when cups are left empty—even when trying the method of filling empty cups with water. Good quality heavy stainless pans—non-stick coated or not—withstand the heat and may steam when left unfilled, but don’t tend to smoke and burn. Four muffin tins means a beginner baker has an ample supply to begin cooking. Having extras means the baker can be filling cooled pans while filled pans are cooling from the oven. It allows a flow in the baking process, without the wasted time of emptying and cooling pans prior to refilling. From loaf pans to muffin tins, good basic staples are imperative to beginning bakers. Cost needn’t be a main factor in choosing such pans, as good quality pans are easily affordable and simple to find. Just check the aisles in department stores or kitchen stores and you will undoubtedly turn up more options than you’d even deem imaginable.