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Bakeware! What do you love?


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ETA: Or ovenware? Not sure the technical category name - dishes for cooking food in the oven. :)

 

I have Pampered Chef stoneware. I don't like it. I want something that can go in the dishwasher.

 

I have one Pyrex 9x13, but I'm afraid of getting more because I've heard the new stuff shatters. (Although, mine is from 2001; I don't think that is before they changed materials.)

 

What do you love?

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Just go to a kitchen store or Target and look at stuff.  I have a ridiculous number of glass 9X13s (5?) and also a larger size (10X15?) that I love.  I just bought my cousin some coated metal cookwear because she's a newbie and needs to multi-purpose.  I bought myself some stainless steel stuff that I like.  The ss is uncoated.  I got jelly roll pans, pizza pans, roasting pans, small loaf pans, all sorts of things.  

 

If you have a corning outlet (or just head to the store), they have some nifty new Corelle bakeware.  It comes with a dish and 2 types of lids, one for baking and one for storage.  http://www.shopworldkitchen.com/search-local?searchBox=corelle+bake&x=0&y=0   I like how thin and light it is.  Suits a modern family, will go in the dw, and will look pretty on the table.  Ladies at the store were buying them up!

 

I received a dish from my MIL that I *think* may have been the new Corning line Etch stuff.  It's pretty, but whatever it was I broke it just setting something into a drawer, bummer.  The French White is tricky, because they've changed the formula.  Even though it's corningware and the white stuff, you can't use it on the stove top anymore.  So if you've heard of things breaking, that might be why. The only stuff that's rated for use on stovetop as well as baking is the stuff that actually SAYS you can.  I picked up some at the outlet last week.  They just make a dab of it anymore.  

 

Yes, I like my Le Cruset.  Tramontina at Walmart is just as good.  My Lodge enameled cast iron didn't last, but I'm really a lousy cook and tend to burn things.  Looked like the rest, but that one bit the dust, bummer.  I just bought a BH&G labeled enamel on cast iron from Walmart on clearance for $25.  

 

It's fun to go to stores and just look at stuff.  That way something can catch your eye and inspire  you to try something new!  It's not really about what is best so much as what pan will work best for what job.  The same recipe in a glass pan can give different results from metal.  So just try some things, buy a piece, see what happens.   :)

 

Oh, and not to give out my great secret, but I like old pyrex bakeware from antique stores and yard sales and whatnot too.   :)

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I've never had a Pyrex shatter. Mine are between 1 and 15 years old. I'm sure it happens, but I don't know that it is the new stuff vs the old stuff not being in the age of amazon reviews, kwim? :)

 

USA Pans are really nice. Hand wash and dry them in the oven (amazon review tip, lol) for a few minutes. I dislike dark, Teflon nonstick. For baking sheets, I like the rolled edge "commercial" aluminum pans. I used to get them 2/$8 at Costco, but they stopped carrying them. Sam's Club may still. I've picked up replacements at Home Goods. I have half sheet, jelly roll size, and quarter. They last for a loooong time, but I wash them in the dishwasher and eventually they just need to be retired. Or my kids take them outside to make rock gardens...

 

Edited because I confused sizes. Oops!

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I love my Denby baking dishes.  Pretty and functional. Several styles/sizes

 

I have 2 glass baking dishes that I got maybe 20 years ago, no idea the brand.

 

A couple smaller sizes of Pyrex.

 

Cast Iron Dutch Oven

 

Various stoneware dishes. 

 

Metal baking pans and Silpats for cookies.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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I have some French white that I use for casseroles, etc. -  they've been fine.

 

I *never* use glass/pyrex for breads/cakes/etc.  we only use aluminum.  (dear niece was determined to make dh's rolls for thanksgiving.  one of the reasons her's would not turn out was she was using pyrex.  she switched and had much better results.)

 

I've never played with copper bakeware.

 

my favorite 9x13 for baking is an aluminum professional cake pan.  I have a calphalon one, the only thing about it I like is it has a lid for storage.  I hate coated steel - it's heavy and I don't like how it bakes.  we have some other aluminum in larger sizes, but I'd love to get some better quality ones.  my round cake pans are also professional quality aluminum - not coated.  I'm very happy with results.  and it does make a difference. I use a slip bottom pan for cheesecake.  (with a pan of water in the oven.)    we made a bunch of cheesecakes one day and had borrowed some pans, so we used both springform and aluminum slip bottom. definite difference  slip bottoms hands down for performance.

 

actually, I like all of my aluminum better than the calphalon.   I've just been too lazy to replace them.

 

I confess, I want a le cruset dutch oven . . . .  but my goodness :ohmy:   

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This is the best bundt pan ever... I use it for double batches of quick breads as well as for cakes.

 

http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/anniversary-bundt-cake-pan/

 

This is the actual pan I have. There are a few models on Amazon, but I don't see this exact one. The Platinum Collection pan on Amazon has lots of good reviews though.

 

ETA: I was not-quite-mortified by the number of times I'd used the word "one." 

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I confess, I want a le cruset dutch oven . . . . but my goodness :ohmy:

Oh me too . . . Sigh. Sometimes I go visit them on the Internet just to look at the pretty colors! I think I'd leave it on my stovetop all the time. But oh the price!

 

I have a glazed stoneware Le Creuset loaf pan that I adore. I'll eventually replace all my loaf pans with them. I don't put them in the dishwasher, but they hand wash beautifully.

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This is the best bundt pan ever... I use it for double batches of quick breads as well as for cakes.

 

http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/anniversary-bundt-cake-pan/

 

This is the actual one I have. There are a few models on Amazon, but I don't see this exact one. The Platinum one on Amazon has lots of good reviews though.

 

Even Target and Walmart now sell NordicWare!  It's amazing what you can find, an excellent piece here, an excellent piece there, when you scavenge.  And for the people wanting a better price on le cruset, try the versions at Walmart.  For real, when I use my stuff side by side, I like the Walmart versions just as well.

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I have two LeCreuset rectangular dishes. I'm not sure what they are- 9x11 maybe. There is a lid that fits on either. We bought them on clearance, and I love them. I thought they could go in the dishwasher, but they are super easy to wash by hand. Nothing ever sticks. I have Emile Henry square and loaf pans. They also wash up easily. The bright colors of each of these pieces makes me happy, especially my cherry red, ruffle edged Emile Henry pan!  :001_wub:

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I have a wide assortment of glass cookware, not even sure what brands.  I know I have some pyrex, anchor, corelle, and 1 temptation.  The temptation was bought brand new (Christmas gift from MIL).  A couple other pieces I may have received as wedding gifts years ago but the rest are from my grandmother, yard sales and goodwill.

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I do love Nordicware. Since I'm in the upper Midwest I keep an eye out for it (rare) at garage and thrift stores. I've been lucky a few times. They also have an outlet in Minneapolis. This is my favorite right now, although I'd love to have a tulip pan (we had a spring wedding with lots of tulips). 

 

I don't keep to a specific brand otherwise, although I like having mini-loaf pans, glass 9x9 squares with covers (freezes well for lasagna), popover pans, and a pan of mini-bundts. 

 

Oh, and a cast iron dutch oven is very handy for soup, boiling down sap, making caramel, deep frying, baking bread in the oven. Almost a must have for long term projects (bread, sap, frying). It takes a while but it holds heat evenly and well. 

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I do enjoy using corningware when I can because I don't have think about serving dishes and I can toss them in the dishwasher. I've had the same set for almost twenty years and I use them several times a week on the stovetop and in the oven.

 

I'm seriously contemplating buying a set. I just spent two hours scrubbing the outside of all my stoneware pieces. They are all glazed. The insides are seasoned and beautiful, it's the outside that is a pain. They are now beautiful, but I don't want to use them and get them dirty again. Sigh.

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I confess, I want a le cruset dutch oven . . . .  but my goodness :ohmy:   

 

Oh, yes. :001_wub:   I did end up buying a Lodge and I am very happy with it, but still....

 

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I don't have any I'm passionate about. I've got a bit of Corningware and lots of Pyrex and they both do a good job. The only time I've had Pyrex explode on me was when it was my own darn fault.

Me too...I set it on a hot stove eye accidentally

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I see LeCreuset pieces fairly often at my TJ Maxx, Marshalls, Home Goods, etc.

They do have them, and they are often good prices, but they are also typically the 'made in China' variety of LC.

 

The pieces made in China have a poor reputation compared to the French pieces. The Chinese pieces are know for chipping more easily than the French made pieces.  

 

Staub and LC both have lines that are made in France and aside from a few feature differences seem to be of similar quality. 

 

If you are being swayed to buy LC from China, I would buy Lodge instead.   Save some money and is about the same quality or possibly better than the LC from China. 

 

 

 

That being said, one of my enameled cast iron pans has a small chip (Kirkland brand from Costco) and aside from making sure the spot is very dry before I put it away, it does not affect the function of it in the least.  It was a $50 Dutch oven instead of the $200+ LC version.

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I just bought 2 Le Cruset oaf pans and a sweet baking dish at the Williams Sonoma outlet - 40% off the clearance price. I used a loaf pan today - its awesome!!!

 

I do love my PC stoneware though. Mine is pretty seasoned, but I use a little soap and I've never had issues.

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