Buying Guide for Baking Mats
Baking mats are one of the most important tools in the kitchen, used to line the baking sheets and baking pans. They ease the cleaning process and protect your baking surfaces. For that reason, having a baking mat should be a standard in every kitchen. The design of the baking mats is based on a silicone-like material, which is set on a non-stick silicone base. This silicone base is highly resistant to the cutting action of any food preparation utensils you might use. This feature makes it very easy to clean the baking mat after use. You can either wash it with just water or use some specialist cleaning products to make sure that the baking mat stays in shape and is ready for use again. You can browse through Amazon for exciting choices at great prices
Benefits of Baking Mats
Easy to Clean
Since nothing sticks to silicone baking mats, they are very easy to clean. A quick soap and water cleanup is all you need, there is no scrubbing, soaking, or other cleaning hassle. If you are baking something that is messy, with a lot of sugar or butter, for instance, you'll love them. They are perfect for turnovers or pocket pies. You do need to lay them flat, or hang them, to dry, though. They resist staining and odors.
Need Less Cookie Sheet
Normally, if you wanted to make many batches of cookies, you'd be laying out your cookies on one baking tray while another one baked in the oven. You need at least two cookie sheets for that, and if you are baking a huge batch with two ovens, fore example, you'd need up to four. With silicone baking sheets, you only need one or two metal baking trays .
Less Burning or Browning
Silicone baking mats have the same advantage that parchment paper can give you. There tends to be less browning on the bottom of baked goods, and less potential for burning. Silicone mats are especially good for baking fish on, as you won't have to worry about the fish sticking and tearing when you lift it off the mat. As well, if you are using any sort of sticky glaze, you'll appreciate the non-stick surface of the mat.
Good for Dough
On A regular silicone baking mat can be used to knead dough on. It's great for kneading pizza, bread, or even pie dough. The dough doesn't stick to the mat and, although you still need to use flour to incorporate into the dough, you don't have t o worry as much about sticky dough clinging to the kneading surface. As well, silicone pastry mats are available with measurements, to use for rolling out pie and other pastry dough. Professional bakers use silicone mats for working with fondant, chocolate, sugars, and other sticky things.
Factors to Consider Before Buying of Baking Mats
Size
As mentioned earlier, baking mats come in different sizes. To decide on the right size to buy, you should consider the type of baking pan you use frequently. You should make sure that you shop for the one that fits as snug as possible to the baking pan or to your cookie sheet. Ensure that the size of the mat is such that it does not either curl up or go beyond the tip of the baking pan. Even, you will come across some mats that are specially designed for the users to customize the size as per their pan size by cutting the mat. You can go for such a mat if you cannot decide on the right size.
Consider the Material
Also, when you compare baking mats, you will come across models made out of different materials. You will come across mats made out of aluminum, steel, and the other alternative when it comes to the material is silicone. Here, aluminum baking mats are undoubtedly an excellent material for baking. The reason is that it is a good conductor of heat. It means that it will help with even baking. Also, it will not rust and it is durable as well. However, you should remember that the shiny surface of the aluminum baking mat can prevent proper browning.
Dishwasher Safe
People feel that stay long when they are hand-washed. The reason is that they might be using a mat that is not dishwasher-friendly. Nowadays, you can find dishwasher-friendly variants that will ensure that you can easily wash the mat after every use or as per the product instructions.
Set
When you go for mats that come as sets, you can save on the shopping. For instance, when you buy the mats in the set, you can continue to use the one when you have added another sheet to the dishwasher for washing. So, units coming in a set can be a feature to consider.
Conclusion
This is yet another chemical used for the creation of non-stick coatings and as polytetrafluoroethylene. When you find that a product is PTFE-free, it means that it is produced without the use of PFOA. Also, some sheets come with a lid. It means that you will have the base pan, along with the sheet over which you can place the lid that comes along for even baking.
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