How to Choose Silicone Baking Mats – 6 Things to Consider

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How to Choose Silicone Baking Mats: The silicone baking mat is a novel kitchen, which has received special popularity among culinary specialists.

You are surely facing situations in which, apparently, everything has already happened, and it is not possible to leave the form without violating its integrity. Such kitchen utensils, like silicone mat, are designed to solve the above problem.

How to Choose Silicone Baking Mats

What is Silicone Baking Mats?

A silicone baking mat is a modern and productive thing. Unfortunately, many housewives, such as cooks, question their safety. In fact, unscrupulous manufacturers can produce such products with the addition of harmful substances that can harm health.

However, a silicone baking mat is a very practical assistant. Raw dough and cooked products do not stick. The non-stick coating provides protection for the dishes, and the products do not stick during cooking.

Such equipment for baking in the oven is inert; that is, it does not react with other ingredients and, more importantly, it does not emit dangerous toxic substances. It is worth noting that the production of silicone cookware is a high-tech process with strict requirements.

It is made of quartz sand and is a rubber of non-natural origin. The material must be heat resistant to withstand the temperature difference of – 40 to + 230 degrees, not cause allergies.

What Are the Advantages of Silicone Baking Mats?

How to Choose Silicone Baking Mats

Every year, cookware is becoming increasingly established in our kitchen. Flexible culinary accessories facilitate our work and significantly reduce dishwashing time. Many housewives still weigh all the pros and cons. Innovative development does not inspire confidence in everyone. We will understand the merits of silicone mats.

  • It offers the possibility of minimizing the use of oil and fat in food.
  • Food-grade silicone is not harmful to health.
  • Deformation resistant, non-corrosive.
  • Bake, meat, and fish baked evenly.
  • It does not absorb odors; without fear, it can be used for various ingredients.
  • The product is universal. You can not only bake but also roll out the dough.
  • It does not require special skills to maintain.
  • The soft material is easy to store.
  • Durable Use multiple, up to several hundred times.
  • Attractive price

What Are the Disadvantages of Silicone Baking Mats?

As for deficiencies, they are almost non-existent. Be aware of some weak points.

  • It does not keep the temperature above 240 degrees.
  • When heated, it maintains poor shape. Let it cool down a bit before leaving the oven.
  • Not suitable for cooking in electric and gas cookers.

Species

The modern table market is full of diversity. Flexible utensils are much more expensive than metal, but they are not obsolete on store shelves. In silicone products, it is very easy and fast to cook. The flight of fantasy is unlimited. Although a couple of years ago, they were used exclusively by professional chefs. A useful addition to the product is a marking mat.

Functional device for trimming the shape to the desired size. It can be circles of different diameters or a ruler on different sides of the sheet in centimeters and millimeters.

Practical minutiae get the substrate with the sides, which is perfect for cookie lovers. Due to the low edges, the dough does not drip, and the finished cake can be greased with cream or jam and rolled into a roll.

The perforation provides a high-quality kitchen. The micro-perforated mats allow hot air to pass through them. They make good cakes, bread, cookies, pizza. But it is not absolutely suitable for the batter jelly rolls, charlottes, meringues. The reinforced silicone mat among its peers is the most advanced material.

High resistance is achieved by means of special fiberglass, which is covered with it. Able to withstand temperatures from -60 to +250 degrees. Still flexible, but cheaper. For eclairs best suitable substrate with a notch. This option is presented to cook utensils in separate sections, allowing you to prepare beautiful figure cookies or meringues.

Thanks to the grooves, it is convenient to pour the dough, keeping a distance. For heat resistant rugs, silicone cooking is included, suitable for grilling meats, fish, and vegetable dishes. The sheets with cells in the form of frequent pyramids received a special demand.

When cooking, the resulting fat does not come into contact with food, so food has fewer calories. The relief of the pan improves air exchange, and the products cook evenly.

Types of Brands – (Overview)

Most cooks are convinced that you can cook a culinary masterpiece in anything. However, it is possible to implement this in a short time and without risks only with the use of high-quality and harmless dishes. A good silicone baking substrate seems to be common, but finding a suitable variant out of a thousand is not easy.

We often buy kitchenware chaotically without looking. Raw purchases are driving sales. We will try to understand the main manufacturers of silicone mats.

Martellato

The world leader specialized in the creation of confectionery and bakery products, as well as equipment for the production of ice cream. The company produces more than 7,000 items, including about 100 silicone baking items. The products are popular with professional bakers and confectioners, and lovers of home cooking.

Pavoni

First, the company produced plastic containers for the bakery industry. Later, after expanding their range, they began to produce additional attributes and equipment for bakers and confectioners. The main products are silicone mats and baking pans, tartlets, chocolate crystallization, etc.

Stainless Regent

The brand’s product line is represented by unusual silicone substrates and baking tins, luxurious durable metal utensils, comfortable cast aluminum, and cast-iron molds.

A large number of accessories are offered for cutting and storing products. It takes into account the manufacturer and the level of consumer prices, allowing the division of product groups according to the cost and technical characteristics.

Tefal

The international brand specialized in the manufacture of household appliances and tableware with non-stick coating. On the production line, silicone rugs and baking plates, ceramics, and carbon steel plates have a special place.

Flexipan Demarle

One of the world’s most recognized manufacturers of premium polymer substrates and forms. Professionals from all over the world prefer the products of this company, characterized by the highest quality.

The products are created on the basis of fiberglass and food-grade silicone, which allows them to withstand a long service life and significant temperature differences.

Pyramid bread

The manufacturers of these products are located in China. Despite skepticism about the quality of China’s products, the silicone substrate meets the high technological requirements. Pyramid Pan is a novelty that allows harmful substances and fat not to remain in the products during cooking.

Bradex

A constantly developing company dedicated to the development of low-cost and unusual consumer goods designed to make everyone’s life easier and more comfortable.

“Baker” silicone sheet is designed not only for baking, kneading but also for freezing and keeping semi-finished products in the freezer.

How to Choose Silicone Baking Mats? What to Keep in mind?

Today in hardware stores, there are several models of silicone baking substrates. In such a variety, you can lose. The main thing that should not be forgotten when choosing is the main purpose of the product. Therefore, the base should be only high-quality raw materials.

Keep in mind the main nuances, and you should pay attention to them when choosing a silicone baking mat.

  1. Decide on the goal, evaluate your tasks and expectations to choose a more profitable attribute of the kitchen instance.
  2. When you buy, don’t be lazy to smell the silicone mat. A strong and unpleasant odor should alert; it is better to reject such a thing immediately.
  3. Be alert for overly bright product colors. In this, synthetic dyes can be dangerous.
  4. Marking requires a lot of attention. It must indicate the manufacturer, its coordinates, the material from which it is made, with the mandatory symbol “for food products,” the safety class. If not, please store it securely, most likely a fake.
  5. If possible, try folding the sheet. There should be no white marks on the folds. His education suggests that there are many unnecessary impurities in silicone.
  6. The important parameters are shape, size, and thickness. The shapes are varied: round, square, rectangular. The sizes are numerous. It all depends on the size of the dishes. As for the thickness, then it is better not to skimp and buy a thicker carpet. So you will be sure that your favorite treats will not burn.

How to Use a Silicone Baking Mat?

The scope of use of the silicon substrate is not limited to baking buns, bread, cookies, and cakes. You can dry fruit, make sugar icing or chocolate decorations, and much more. The blade is also not afraid of freezing. Cooked cherry dumplings await their turn in the freezer without sticking to the surface.

Applying this kitchen inventory in life is simple. Put the silicone mat on a baking sheet, knead the dough, put cookies, muffins, croissant on a sheet, put it in the oven, and wait until the aromatic dishes are cooked. Single-sided and double-sided types represent kitchen options. The first is with two surfaces: glossy and matte.

And therefore the question arises – which side to put. The answer is simple: the products should be placed on the shiny side, the matte is applied to the baking sheet. The second type is more functional, and it is possible to exploit both sides.

Any utensil that requires care. So she is able to serve as long as possible. Silicone mat, despite its simplicity, this is no exception. Improper use will lead to frustration.

Simple recommendations on how it works will allow you to use such an indispensable assistant in the kitchen for a long time.

  • Do not cook the product immediately after purchase; heat treatment is required. Heat it in the oven for several hours on a baking sheet at a temperature of 230 degrees.
  • Place it only on a smooth, hard surface (baking sheet, tray). In no case should it be placed on the oven or grill? Avoid direct fire.
  • Microwaveable
  • No need to oil lubricates a silicone mat, and it has non-stick properties.
  • The coating is very sensitive to any mechanical damage. Cutting or drilling on the surface is strictly prohibited. This also applies to metal brushes.
  • It is desirable to wash a polymeric product without washing means or to prefer without alkalis since this substance is capable of destroying the work surface of the material.
  • As a general rule, the remains of the dishes do not stick, just wipe with a damp sponge or rinse with water. If the product is too dirty, then soak it for a short time, then dry it with a towel.
  • Do not fold the sheet multiple times; folds are formed that make the product unusable. Keep it on a roll.

User Reviews

In their opinions, user opinions are divided. Some have a neutral attitude towards cooking, especially in the case of pyramid-shaped baking sheets. A certain part considered them meaningless. But overall, the most positive feedback.

Everyone observes simplicity: it is much easier to use than parchment. The baking sheet is “always ready” for operation, no need to measure, straighten or lubricate: this thing – is the key to delicious dishes.

Among the shortcomings, users notice a slight manufacturing defect in the application of marks on the sheets, which may be different, for example, with molds for baking cakes. However, they are so insignificant that they are simply omitted.

Conclusion

According to the reviews, consumers strongly recommend that everyone buy indispensable kitchen equipment, like cooking homemade dishes of varying complexity. This is the best option for daily use. The fact that a silicone baking pad can come in handy can be learned.

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