It does not have a nonstick coating on it, so be aware if that’s a priority for you. I have this pan myself, and just grease it or use parchment paper. I also appreciate their nonstick silicone coating, which is PTFE-, PFOA- and BPA-free. This pan in particular is a fabulous buy. The straight sides offer a nice, clean edges on your cake, cakes pop out without any sticking, and it’s easy super to clean. The darker your bakeware, the more heat it absorbs. The result is usually a darker, more heavily browned cake. If your cookware is very light, like silver, you’ll end up with lighter baked goods. So that gold color? It’s right in the middle, and the result are baked goods that are perfectly browned – not too light, and not too dark. Also, fun fact: the Williams Sonoma Goldtouch series is made by USA Pan! So you’re also getting all the terrific features of USA Pan’s silver aluminized steel cake pan shown above. Buy it: Williams Sonoma Goldtouch Nonstick Rectangular 9x13 Cake Pan, $40 from Williams Sonoma
Round Cake Pans
It’s made of anodized aluminum, which is not a chemical coating but rather a process. (So, note: this pan is not nonstick, but it is nonreactive.) The pan is extremely strong, durable, and thanks to the tall sides, versatile, too. Use it for layer cakes, sponge cakes, even cheesecake. It’s a steal at this price. For all the reasons already mentioned, you can’t go wrong with USA Pan cake pans. They’re made in the USA and come with a lifetime warranty. Cakes will be lightly browned and pop out with ease. Note: We recommend having at least two round cake pans!
The Best of the Rest
Chicago Metallic’s 8’ square aluminized steel square pan is perfect for brownies and bars. Straight sides provide crisp corners and the PFOA-free nonstick coating is long-lasting and really works. As I’ve mentioned, we prefer lighter tones in our bakeware to prevent over-browning, and the lighter steel produces bars that are evenly baked and browned. Fat Daddio’s springform pan is a solid choice, both because of its light color (no overbaking!) and anodized aluminum construction. A few features make this pan a true standout among muffin pans: the gold tone and textured bottom produces evenly browned muffins; the aluminized steel and ceramic coating mean those muffins will come out of the pan without any stress or strain; and my favorite feature, the extra space on the sides for gripping, mean no more oven mitt indentations on your muffins! Buy it: OXO Good Grips Pro Nonstick Muffin Pan, $26 from OXO Note: We recommend having at least two loaf pans!
