Baking With a Silicone Mold - 7 Key Tips and Full Guide

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Silicone molds are a game-changer when it comes to baking. They are a great alternative to traditional baking pans and allow you to get creative with your baked goodies without worrying about them getting stuck to the pan.

So, how can you bake with a silicone mold? Silicone molds are super flexible and incredibly easy to work with. All you have to do is make sure they are clean, and with proper greasing and the right temperature, you should be able to use them with ease.

Read on for a complete guide on baking with a silicone mold and 7 key tips for baking your treats to perfection every single time.

Advantages of Using a Silicone Mold for Baking

A silicone mold is a type of baking pan made from FDA-approved food-grade silicone. It is an excellent tool that is incredibly flexible and comes in various shapes and sizes.

From basic shapes to more complex designs, silicone mol ds are ideal for all types of bakers including amateur home bakers as well as experienced pastry chefs.

Here are the advantages of using silicone molds for baking, particularly in comparison to traditional bakeware:

Silicone molds are made out of durable material and can be used over and over again without you worrying about them getting ruined.
They do not get damaged due to rust or corrosion.
There are several different shapes and sizes of silicone molds available in the market, allowing you to find ones that are perfectly suited to your needs.
Compared to other types of bakeware, silicone molds are lightweight, making them easier to use and store.
Silicone molds are relatively non-stick and prevent the food from sticking to their surface.
Silicone molds are easy to clean and are also dishwasher-safe.
They can withstand temperatures up to 440°F and can be used in the oven, microwave, and freezer.

7 Key Tips for Baking With a Silicone Mold

A silicone mold is durable, flexible, and naturally non-stick, making it a great tool to have if you love to bake.

Here are a few simple tips and tricks to follow to ensure you get the best results every time you bake with a silicone mold:

1. Make Sure the Silicone Mold Is Pure Silicone

To get the most out of your silicone mold, make sure that the one you use is made of actual silicone. If you’re new to it, it may be difficult for you to differentiate between silicone molds made with silicone rubber and the ones made with regular plastic or other unsafe materials.

Silicone rubber is food-grade material and is safe to use in the oven, which is why you must buy the right type of silicone mold so that you can use it safely and the way it is intended to be used.

You can check the authenticity of the silicone mold in several ways. For starters, always purchase your bakeware from trusted brands and manufacturers. Try the Silivo Nonstick Silicone Baking Mold Set which is made with high-quality eco-friendly 100% pure food-grade silicone.

Another way to tell if you have the right silicone material is by giving it a good whiff. If the mold has a distinct plastic smell when you first take it out of the package or after you put it in the oven for a few minutes, it is not made of silicone rubber.

You can also test it by bending it. A good-quality silicone mold will revert to its original shape without leaving any white streaks or marks. If it leaves a white streak across the area where it was bent, it is proof that it is made up of a different material.

2. Get the Right Silicone Mold Shapes and Sizes

Silicone molds come in a variety of shapes and sizes – from simple cupcake molds to more decorative molds perfect for an event or occasion.

If you are a beginner, it would be wise to start with a small silicone mold that is perfect for little treats. It is less expensive compared to large molds and offers more versatility in terms of baking.

You can handle it easily and bake several different desserts in it such as muffins, cupcakes, and small cakes perfect for parties and small gatherings.

Depending on your baking needs, you can build a small collection of silicone baking molds so that you have all the different types to make all your favorite treats.

You can invest in a silicone baking mold set that has molds of different shapes and sizes perfect for baking all types of cakes, bread, and desserts. These sets are available in 3 basic shapes to more extensive sets such as the Encounter Store 41 Pieces Silicone Baking Molds Set.

3. Clean the Silicone Mold Before and After Using

Like any new cooking utensil or bakeware that you purchase, you need to make sure you clean the silicone mold after taking it out of the package.

You might notice that it may be dusty and covered in manufacturing residue, which is why it is very important to properly clean it before using it.

The cleaning process is very simple. All you have to do is rinse out the silicone mold with soap and cold water, making sure to not scrub it with a rough sponge as it may ruin the structure and integrity of the silicone.

Once it is dry, cover it with a thin layer of oil and put it in a preheated oven for 10 to 15 minutes. Take the mold out and check for any bad odors.

Wash it properly once more to get rid of the oil and let it dry properly. This simple hack will get rid of any chemicals on the mold and make it ready to be used for baking.

Other than this extensive clean-up that needs to be done once after unpacking the silicone mold, you need to make sure you clean it every time with mild soap and water before using it.

This will get rid of any dirt, impurities, and food residue and give you a perfectly clean silicone mold to work with. Also, you need to make it a habit to clean the mold after every use. Avoid leaving it dirty for too long and try cleaning it as soon as you’re done using it.

Toss the silicone mold in warm, soapy water immediately after use and let it soak for at least 30 minutes. Rinse it thoroughly before letting it air dry to prevent any stains. Give it an additional wipe with a damp cloth to get rid of any residue and you’ll be good to go!

4. Grease the Silicone Mold Properly

Although silicone molds are non-stick, it doesn’t necessarily mean that they’ll work perfectly every time, right? They may also lose their non-stick properties over time after multiple uses, especially if they are cleaned in the dishwasher.

For this reason, it is best to grease the silicone mold lightly so that the food never gets stuck to it. It also makes cleaning a breeze. It is a preventative measure that will save you a lot of time during clean-up!

You do not need a lot of oil like for some types of bakeware. A little spray or a dash of your favorite cooking oil should do the trick. You can use any type of cooking spray or oil such as vegetable oil and canola oil.

To do so, simply apply a thin layer of cooking spray or oil on the inside surface of the silicone mold. Use a silicone brush or paper towel to evenly spread the cooking oil or spray over the surface of the silicone mold.

5. Prop the Silicone Mold Against Something Sturdy

Since a silicone mold is made of softer and more flexible material, it needs to be propped up against something sturdy to prevent it from drooping.

When the batter is poured into the mold, it is important to note that the edges of the mold will expand causing it to stretch. This is more common with bigger silicone molds than smaller ones since they have a larger unsupported surface area.

Large silicone molds can be supported in many ways. For example, if you are using a flat silicone mold, you can put it on a metal sheet pan, roll a few large balls using aluminum foil, and place them around the mold. Doing so will ensure that the mold won’t droop when the batter is poured in.

If you are using a round silicone mold, you can use a large cooking pot as support. Not only will this prevent the sides of the pan from drooping but also give your cake a nice shape.

Just make sure that the pot is oven-safe, including the handles, and use the right-sized pot that can easily fit the silicone mold without bending or squeezing it from anywhere.

6. Use the Silicone Mold at the Right Temperature

Different types of silicone molds have their own manufacturer-recommended temperature ranges, with most of them able to withstand anywhere from -40°F to 446°F.

Using your silicone mold at the right temperature is crucial when it comes to baking and is one of the first things that you must make sure of.

Since silicone molds absorb less heat than regular baking pans, they take much longer to bake your desserts. This might tempt you to crank up the heat of your oven, and while it may seem like a workable idea, it is recommended to wait it out and bake it at the recommended temperature.

Use a wooden toothpick to check if your baked goods are ready by poking it in and gently taking it out. If it comes out clean, you can take the baked goods out of the oven. If you see that the batter is sticking to the toothpick, they probably need a few more minutes in the oven.

7. Carefully Peel the Silicone Mold

Taking the baked goods out of a baking pan can oftentimes be a hassle, but with silicone molds, it is much easier. There are, however, certain best practices when it comes to peeling the silicone mold so that the baked goods come out of it with ease.

For starters, avoid banging the silicone mold on the countertop as it will most likely damage the shape of your baked item and cause it to collapse in itself. You mustn’t overstretch the mold or you will risk tearing it.

Simply pinch and pull each side of the silicone mold away from the center to separate, making sure to do this a few times until the edges start to separate.

Next, put both your thumbs on the bottom of the silicone mold and your fingers on the top to invert it. Use a plate if you’ve baked a large cake. In the case of cupcakes or muffins, grab them with your fingers as the mold inverts.

If you still feel that the baked goods aren’t coming out as easily, gently pull each side a few more times till they become undone.

Is a Silicone Mold Better for Baking?

When it comes to choosing the right bakeware, there are several options including steel, glass, clay/stone, and silicone, and they all have their pros and cons. Which one is better comes down to personal preference and the item you are baking in it.

Silicone molds offer several benefits such as flexibility, durability, versatility, variety, and ease of use. There are, however, a few drawbacks to using silicone molds for baking.

In terms of bake time, since silicone is a poor conductor of heat, it takes much longer to reach the desired temperature and may require some trial and error to perfect.

Silicone doesn’t manage very high temperatures very well and has a temperature limit. It can melt if it is exposed to very high temperatures for too long and must never be near an open flame or heat source.

There is a bit of a learning curve with silicone molds as they are known to be slightly temperamental. Also, since they are insulators, they may not heat up as evenly as metal pans.

Keeping all the pros and cons in mind, silicone molds are a good option for baking, but since they require some practice to perfect, start by baking little treats such as cupcakes and mini muffins using a small silicone mold.

Then, make your way up to big cakes once you’ve got the hang of it and feel more comfortable and confident in your baking skills.

Baking With a Silicone Mold – 7 Key Tips and Full Guide