More often than not, your bake hasn’t failed because you somehow mismeasured the flour by 0.005 grams, but because you’ve chosen the wrong baking tin.
Though it may sound surprising that something as seemingly unimportant as the baking tin or tray could affect your cakes, muffins, or loaves – choosing the right one could be the difference between a broken base and a perfectly presentable showstopper.
What shape is best for a baking tin?
The first distinction you’re going to want to make is between a squared and rounded baking tin. The most common type of cake-baking tin is the circular kind for a reason – it allows heat to be evenly distributed which ensures even browning and a uniform shape. You can buy round tins in sets for layered cakes, or just work with a single one. You can even get rounded tins which have an easy-release base if your faith in the non-stick is jaded.
Square tins, you may notice, brown quicker on the side while the middle remains lighter. Nevertheless, the sides of your cake can be trimmed away to ensure the utmost fluffiness if you prefer the look of a square cake. The squared tin is, however, perfect for creating gooey brownies with crisp edges.
If you’re already a master baker who has perfected their recipes, you might be in the market for a novelty-shaped baking tin, such as the heart-shaped kind, or a fun Bundt cake tin.
What about dimensions?
When it comes to dimensions, it depends on what you’re baking. According to the Hummingbird Bakery, you can use a 9-inch diameter loose-bottomed tart tin for tarts and a regular 9-inch pie dish for pies.
To release your sponges with ease, you’ll want a loose-base, springform or non-stick tin – though you should still line it with a circle of baking paper. The bakers at Hummingbird usually suggest tins which are 8-10 inches in diameter. If you’re a beginner, you might want to start out with a 6–7-inch round baking tin to minimise the possibility of overflow.
Square tins usually come in 20x20cm or -23x23cm sizes - or thereabouts. Once again, the dimensions you go for ultimately depend on what it is you’re baking. A deep, squared pan is great for a sponge, while an oblong 30x20x5cm tin or tray is perfect for a crumble.
What material should I look for in a baking tin?
- Aluminium: a great heat conductor which produces evenly baked goods.
- Stainless steel: easy to clean, doesn’t tarnish or rust – but not as good at conducting heat.
- Glass: a great heat insulator, which will keep your bake warm for longer, but a poor conductor of heat. This means that your recipes may take longer to bake.
- Ceramic/Enamel: similar to glass and also non-reactive with acidic batters, meaning it won’t affect the pH balance of your bake.
- Carbon Steel: heats quickly and evenly, allowing for a high level of control, over your bake.
- Aluminized Steel: durable, a good heat conductor, has non-stick qualities and is non-reactive.
- Hard Anodized Aluminium: efficient, even heat distribution and abrasion resistant.
Keep scrolling for a round-up of the best baking tins on the market.
Denby Quantanium Finish Square Baking Tin
- Dimensions: 24 x 24 x 5 cm
Finished with a Quantanium non-stick coating, this squared baking tin allows for fantastic heat-conduction with no mess and no fuss. It’s oven safe up to 250oC, and fits wonderfully even in smaller microwave ovens. Unlike most non-stick coatings, the bottom of this tin also has raised grooves in a criss-cross pattern to help your cake slide out of the tin that much easier.
Buy now £8.40, Harts of Stur
Le Creuset Non-Stick Rectangular Cake Tin Baking Tray
- Dimensions: Large: 33 x 23 x 5 cm, or Medium: 28 x 21 x 4.5 cm
When it comes to kitchenware, you truly cannot go wrong with a good Le Creuset set. Though not instantly recognisable as a trusted brand due to the lack of cast iron, this non-stick baking tray boasts an incredibly durable, PFOA-free non-stick coating. This ensures that your baked goods will release from the tray with ease, and that the tray itself cleans with just a little soapy water.
We’re particularly big fans of the wide rim on the outer edge of the tin, which features heat-resistant silicone inserts for added grip.
Buy now £30.50, Amazon
ProCook Non-Stick Loose Bottom Shallow Cake Tin 2 Piece Set
- Dimensions: 7-inch diameter
These loose-bottom shallow cake tins are a tried-and-true staple for the home baker. Ideal for making a double-layer Victoria Sponge at home, these 7-inch tins are coated with a double layer of ProCook’s own Ultra BK non-stick coating. They’re also constructed from an impressively robust 1mm heavy gauge carbon steel. Oven and dishwasher-safe, you can’t go wrong with this fantastic value bakeware.
Buy now £16.00, ProCook
Enamel Baking Dishes Set of Five
Though we wouldn’t judge if you bought these enamel dishes for decorative purposes only, this five-piece set by Falcon is incredibly functional. As mentioned above, enamel baking trays and tins are great for keeping your baked goods warmer for longer. They’re also non-reactive, meaning you can bake the perfect blueberry-lemon pie without fear of losing the acidity balance and flavour profile of the filling, which you might do with more reactive metals.
Buy now £93.95, Amazon
Wiltshire Rose Gold Square Cake Pan, Robust Baking Pan with Non-Stick Coating, Bakeware, Cake Mould, Dimensions
- Dimensions: 25 x 25 cm
Pretty in pink! This square, non-stick baking tin is a sure-fire win and a value-for-money investment in your kitchen. Though it certainly looks the part, this essential is incredibly heat-resistant and robust. Made from carbon steel, the coated bakeware is overproof and can withstand up to 220oC. If you can’t get enough of the oh-so shiny rose gold, you can complete the set with a Slice Tin and the Cookie Sheet by Wiltshire.
Buy now £8.99, Amazon
Tala Performance Silver Anodised Multi-Size Traybake Tin with Loose Base
- Dimensions: 30 x 2 0x 5 cm
For a true home baker with limited storage space, this wonderfully versatile and adaptable traybake tin is your new saviour. Ideal for making a variety of different-sized cakes – whether at the same time, or on different occasions – the sides and sections can be repositioned and removed depending on what you’re baking.
If you’re quite the confident baker, you can mix-up various shapes, flavours and colours of sponge and bake multiple layers at once. The tray is made from commercial-grade aluminium, which is a fantastic heat conductor and ensures an even bake.
Buy now £34.01, Amazon
Mackenzie-Childs Courtly Check Baking Pan
- Dimensions: 20 x 20 x 5 cm
Designed by American ceramicists Victoria MacKenzie and Richard Childs, this delightfully playful baking tin is made from enamelled heavy-gauge steel. The check design is hand-painted, meaning that no two pieces are exactly alike. Another knockout tray to add to your crumble-ready dinner party collection, we’re obsessed with the Alice in Wonderland vibe it adds to the table.
Buy now £124.00, Amara
Le Creuset L'Amour Heart Collection 25cm Springform Heart Cake Tin
- Dimensions: 26 x 25 x 7 cm
We adore this L’amour heart-shaped cake tin from Le Creuset. The perfect option for birthdays and special occasions, the springform, toughened non-stick tin bakes evenly and gently with excellent food release. All you’ve got to do is release the silicone-covered and heat-resistant clip to free the base so that the tin can be easily lifted away. Et voilà! A perfectly fluffy and romantic heart-shaped cake.
Buy now £24.75, Harts of Stur
Pyrex Classic – Set of 2 Heavy Duty Rectangular Glass Baking Dishes
- Dimensions: 38 x 25 cm/30 x 19 cm
These extra-strong dishes from Pyrex are a baker’s best friend. Resistant from temperatures ranging between -40 up to +300oC, these glass wonders are also anti-scratch and dishwasher safe. The only downside is that we find Pyrex dishes may tarnish quite easily at high temperatures – though it’s nothing a good wire brush and some Bar Keeper’s Friend can’t fix.
Buy now £17.49, Amazon
Circulon Momentum Springform Cake Tin – 9 inch
- Dimensions: 7.5 x 24.5 x 24.5 cm
If you’d like to follow your Hummingbird Bakery Recipe Book to the letter, you’ll want to scoop up this 9-inch non-stick tin by Circulon Momentum. With exceptional easy-release capacity and Ultra Total Hi-low Non-Stick coating, your freshly baked home goods are sure to be of the highest quality.
Buy now £14.99, Robert Dyas
