What in the world is a tube pan? That’s something a non-baker may ask, but if you’ve ever enjoyed the airy texture of an angel food cake or the rich denseness of a pound cake, then you’ve tasted the unique cooking method these baking pans offer.
How It Works
The thing that sets this baking pan apart from other cake vessels is that it has a tube in the middle of it, hence the name. The tube comes up through the center of the pan and does more than simply deliver a cake with a hole in the center.
- Creates more cooking surface
Because there’s more metal that gets heated, more batter is coming in contact with that heat and that creates a more even cooking method.
- Acts like a chimney
The tube is hollow with a hole at the top, which allows the oven’s hot air to wrap around the bottom of the pan and move up through the tube. Instead of baking only from the outside-in, like standard round or rectangular pans, the tube lets the heat reach the batter from both the perimeter and from the middle. This greater heat distribution will also help cakes obtain a greater browning effect.
- Encourages cakes to rise
Cakes that contain whipped eggs, like angel food, need to rise taller than your average layer cake. The taller sides and tube provide plenty of surface area for the batter to climb.
One or Two-Piece
This type of pan comes in two basic designs: the one-piece and the two-piece. The one-piece is self-explanatory. The two-piece has the tube attached to the bottom as one segment and the circular side as the other. Some bakers swear the two-piece makes for smoother removal of the cake; however, don’t use it for thinner batters because they can leak out the seams. Also, bake yeast breads in the one-piece because, as they rise, they could squeak through the seams.
Also, the pans are available in several material choices:
- metal
- nonstick metal
- silicone
Sizes are usually measured by dimensions or volume. These are the most common sizes sold:
- 6” x 3” = 4 cups
- 9” x 3” = 10 cups
- 10” x 4” = 16 cups
Tip: When baking any kind of cake in a tube, it’s important to not overfill the pan. Leave room for the cake to rise, so top it out at least 1 to 1-1/2 inches below the rim.
Chicago Metallic Non-Stick 2-Piece Angel Food Cake Pan with FeetThe three prongs on this pan act as feet to support the pan and cake when inverted to cool. The nonstick coating should make removal easy. It also features a heavy duty construction, is dishwasher-safe and comes with a 25-year warranty.
$15.09
Nordic Ware Platinum Collection Pound Cake PanBecause it’s made out of cast aluminum, your baked goods should heat evenly through to avoid burned or undercooked spots. It holds up to 16 cups.
$32.50
