KitchenAid Silicone Bakeware Heart Cake Pan, Red

Silicone bakeware is hard to believe; for many, it takes an act of faith to use it for the first time. But after that, it's hard to remember using anything else. The red KitchenAid heart-shaped cake pan is for baking festive heart layers for Valentine's Day, anniversaries, or other occasions when a romantic dessert might be appreciated. And even though it's made of floppy silicone rubber, it does as good a job (or better) than any metal or glass pan. For one thing, it's easier to release a cake from a silicone pan once it's done baking; just invert the pan, exert a slight pressure to the bottom, and peel the cake away from the pan. And since it's made of resilient silicone, this pan can handle the use of metal spatulas or utensils without its permanent nonstick quality being affected; don't use anything with a serrated edge, though.

Baking times from recipes may need to be adjusted slightly for use with silicone pans, since they heat up so much more quickly than conventional pans. It is safe to move silicone baking pans directly from the freezer to a microwave or preheated oven; there's no need to worry about gradual temperature increases since it won't buckle like metal or shatter like glass. The pan can be placed on a baking sheet or directly on the oven rack while baking. Do not use it on a gas or electric burner or under a broiler.

KitchenAid silicone baking pans are dishwasher-safe; if washing by hand, do not use abrasive cleansers or scouring pads. Some acidic foods might stain the silicone, but this will not affect the pan's performance in the oven. The KitchenAid silicone round cake pan measures 9 by 9-1/2 inches across (11 by 12 inches counting the 1-1/2-inch rim) and 1-1/2 inches tall. It has the same volume capacity as the 9-inch round cake pan. KitchenAid guarantees the pan with a one-year hassle-free replacement warranty as well as a lifetime limited warranty. --Garland Withers