Tips For Baking A Cake In A Disposable Aluminum Pan
1. Coat The Pan To Prevent Sticking
Most disposable pans are not made to be nonstick, so make sure to grease the pan with oil, cooking spray, or clarified butter to ensure the cake doesn't stick once it's cooked. Pay extra attention to the corners. Alternatively, you can also use parchment paper.
2. Don't Overfill The Pan
Fill the tray three-quarters of the way and no more. Most cakes need some space to rise without overflowing. Don't risk it even if you got a bit of leftover batter left in the bowl. Also, because the aluminum trays are thin, the bottom and sides of an overfilled pan will overbake, possibly causing the cake to bake on the top and bottom while staying raw at the center.
3. Spread The Batter Evenly
Use a spatula to get the batter spread evenly. If the cake batter has bubbles, let the pan fall on a table a few times before placing it into the oven.
4. Preheat The Oven
Before putting in the cake, it is necessary to preheat your oven to the required temperature. This helps maintain a consistent baking environment and prevents heavy and unevenly baked cake.
5. Take Care When Placing It In The Oven
Be careful when handling the pan, especially when it's full. Disposable aluminum pans are not as sturdy as traditional cake pans, so handle them with care and use both hands to protect your battery and the cake.
6. Be Mindful Of Baking Times
Since disposable aluminum pans are thinner than other cake pans, prepare slightly shorter baking times. Typically, you may have to reduce the bake time by 5 minutes.
7. Test Your Cake
A cake is done when the top becomes golden brown or when it springs back when lightly pressed with one finger. However, to make sure, check the cake by placing a toothpick in the middle to see if it comes out clean. If it does, it's ready; if not, add a few minutes and check again.
8. Protect The Top
If your cake is browning on top, but the skewer has batter on it, cover the top with a piece of kitchen foil or parchment paper to protect it while it finishes baking.
9. Allow To Cool Before Removing
Disposable aluminum pans are great for transporting and storing your baked goods. However, if you want to remove the cake from the pan, let it cool on a cooling rack for 5-10 minutes before attempting to remove it.