I got a set of KitchenAid silicone bakeware for Christmas. It has a bread pan, one round cake pan, a "baking mat", and a stack of crinkled muffin cups. I have never used any silicone stuff. I am already fully stocked with metal bakeware however, I do find some of it hard to use and some of it is flaking stuff off which has me nervous. I do bake bread weekly and have two bread pans that i am perfectly happy with already. I have a few questions for people who have silicone stuff to help me determine if I should keep it:
1. What the heck is a "baking mat"? It is 9 x 13 inches and far too floppy to carry something on. If I have to put it on a pan, why would I not just use the pan to begin with?
2. Is this stuff safe? I realize silicone is not plastic, but it sure looks and feels like it to me and therefore seems a little odd to put in an oven.
3. The cake pan is also really floppy. It is deeper than my usual cake pans. Since I cannot even see why one would want one pan (don't you usually need two to make a cake) there must be some other use for this. Would you put a casserole or something in it? Can I make a double thick cake in it? Same with the one bread pan......
4. What is the general advantage of using this over regular pans?
1. What the heck is a "baking mat"? It is 9 x 13 inches and far too floppy to carry something on. If I have to put it on a pan, why would I not just use the pan to begin with?
2. Is this stuff safe? I realize silicone is not plastic, but it sure looks and feels like it to me and therefore seems a little odd to put in an oven.
3. The cake pan is also really floppy. It is deeper than my usual cake pans. Since I cannot even see why one would want one pan (don't you usually need two to make a cake) there must be some other use for this. Would you put a casserole or something in it? Can I make a double thick cake in it? Same with the one bread pan......
4. What is the general advantage of using this over regular pans?