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c/baking-fails-and-wins•ray356ray356•1mo ago

Shoutout to the dollar store cake pan that saved my birthday party

Ngl I was in a panic last Saturday. My mom's birthday cake needed a 9 inch round and both my good pans were in the sink soaking from a prior fail. Ran to the dollar store at 7am and grabbed their $1.25 aluminum pan. Fully expected a disaster but that thing baked evenly, didn't warp, and the cake came out perfect. I think I'm gonna use cheap pans more often now. Anyone else had a win with bargain baking gear?
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3 Comments
karen_sanchez49
Wait, are we really acting like a dollar store pan is some kind of baking revolution now?
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avery219
avery2191mo ago
Dollar store pans are seriously underrated. I had the same experience last year when I forgot to buy a loaf pan for banana bread. That cheap aluminum pan handled better than my expensive nonstick one, and it’s still going strong after a dozen washes. The trick is they don’t hold heat like heavy pans do, so baked goods come out softer and less burnt on the edges. Plus you don’t feel bad tossing them if they get scratched up. Have you tried using them for brownies or bar cookies yet? Those come out great too with the same even baking.
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jennifer833
Oh boy, I gotta jump in here because there's a small but important detail that's bugging me. That trick about them not holding heat is true, but it also means you have to watch your bake time closely since they can cook faster than heavy pans and dry things out if you're not careful. Also @karen_sanchez49 might have a point about the hype - they're not a revolution, they're just fine for what they are. I've had luck with brownies in them but I still prefer glass for bar cookies since the edges don't get quite as done.
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