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How To Remove Cake From Pan Without Breaking

Baking is often an outlet to release stress for some people. However, mishaps such as accidentally breaking your perfectly baked cake while removing it from a pan can trigger you and make you go through the roof. So how can you avoid this and keep your cool while baking?

To remove cake from pan without breaking it, use a good quality or non-stick pan that’s greased and lined properly. Next, bake your cake for the correct amount of time at a suitable temperature, and allow it to cool. Finally, run a knife around the cake’s edges and invert the pan on a plate. 

Continue reading this article to learn tips on how to remove cake from pan without breaking.

How to remove cake from pan without breaking tip #1: Use a Good Quality or Non-Stick Pan

A good pan is essential in baking, whether it is non-stick or not. It contributes to the outcome and quality of everything you bake, including cakes. With that in mind, using one that ensures your cake comes out in one piece would be a good idea.

If you are a new baker or just want to upgrade your current bakeware, here are some foolproof suggestions (all are available on Amazon.com):

• Fat Daddio Anodized Aluminum Round Cake Pan: This brand is highly popular among amateur and professional bakers as it always provides great results despite not being non-stick. The Fat Daddio Anodized Aluminum Round Cake Pan has a higher heat resistance than other brands and can withstand up to 550 °F (287.77 °C). Aside from that, you get three different sizes for a low price, which is a great deal.
• USA Pan Bakeware Round Cake Pan: For non-stick cake pans, this brand is a crowd favorite, and rightfully so. It is coated by a well-known non-stick silicone coating called AMERICOAT, which allows your cake to release from the pan effortlessly. Plus, you do not have to put muscle into scrubbing off cake remains as it is very easy to clean.
• Nordic Ware Natural Aluminum Round Pan: This brand is another great option for non-nonstick pans and has plenty of sizes you can choose from. It uses good-quality aluminum that distributes heat evenly and produces a fluffy cake that you can release from the pan easily. Just remember that this pan is not dishwasher safe. Hence you would need to do a bit of handwashing.
• Cuisinart 9-Inch Chef’s Classic Nonstick Cake Pan: A brand that has created reliable kitchenware throughout the years, Cuisinart also carries durable bakeware, one being the Cuisinart 9-Inch Chef’s Classic Nonstick Cake Pan. This cake pan has produced countless perfectly baked cakes for its avid users and has become a staple in a baker’s stash. Plus, it is dishwasher safe which can lessen your cleaning load after baking.

2. Make Sure That Your Pan Is Greased and Lined Properly

Aside from using good quality bakeware, it is also important that you grease and line your pan properly for good measure. Doing this will help your cake come out easily and make cleaning easier.

Or, if the cake does stick by chance, you will not have a hard time removing it from the pan since there will be parchment paper between it and the pan.

Here are the steps to do this:

1. Measure and cut out some parchment paper the same size as the bottom of the cake pan.
2. Cut another strip of parchment paper that will fit the pan, and add a bit of allowance that can hang over it.
3. Grease the pan with some butter.
4. Place the bottom piece and flatten it to make sure it sticks to the pan, then do the same to the side piece.
5. Set your prepared pan aside until you are ready to use it.

You can also watch this video from Cake Me By Surprise’s YouTube channel to see how it is done:

If you do not have parchment paper available, you can also use flour or cocoa powder, depending on the cake you are baking. Here are the simple steps you can follow to use this method:

1. Follow steps one to three from the procedure above.
2. Get a good amount of flour or cocoa powder and pour it inside your greased pan.
3. Move the pan around until the inside is fully coated.
4. Dump out the excess flour or cocoa powder and set your pan aside.

Even though there is no such thing as too much butter, you can also use some cooking spray in place of it. But then again, the more the butter, the better, right?

How to remove a cake from pan without breaking tip #3: Bake the Cake Using the Appropriate Time and Temperature

The accuracy of time and temperature is a crucial factor in baking and can greatly affect the result of your baked goods, especially cakes.

If you use the incorrect temperature and time, you will end up with an underbaked, overbaked, or even a burnt cake — and nobody wants that. If that happens, you will be unable to successfully remove your cake from the pan.

So make sure you follow the time and temperature that the recipe you will be using calls for. But if there is no mention of either, the safest temperature would be at 350 °F (177 °C), and the baking time would be between 30 to 35 minutes if using a standard 9-inch cake pan.

In addition, having a timer and oven thermometer on hand will also come in handy to ensure accuracy.

4. Leave the Cake To Cool Before Removing It From the Pan

Cooling your cake completely before removing it from the pan will release it easier. This is because a cake that has just come out of the oven will still be soft, making it more prone to breaking.

Once the cake has cooled and been set, it will be firmer and easier to handle. I suggest you use a cooling rack for this method so air can hit all parts of the pan simultaneously and cool it faster. 

Plus, you would not want to burn yourself trying to remove the cake as soon as you take it out from the oven. Trust the process and be patient.

Since we are discussing cooling racks, here are some good ones to have in your stash (available on Amazon.com):

• Kitchenatics Round Cooling Rack: This round cooling rack is perfect for cakes since it follows the shape of the pan and will not take up too much space when you leave it aside to cool. It comes in various sizes, which allows you to select one that matches the pan you are using. It can handle heat very well and is easy to store.
• Ultra Cuisine Wire Cooling And Baking Rack: If you want your cake to cool quicker and evenly, the Ultra Cuisine Wire Cooling And Baking Rack is a fantastic choice. The 1-inch gap between the rack’s feet and the counter allows air to circulate properly, hence making the process faster. Aside from that, this brand is dishwasher safe, non-toxic, and very durable.
• OXO Good Grips Non-Stick Pro Cooling Rack: This brand is great if you are baking multiple cakes at a time since you can rest and cool them simultaneously. The OXO Good Grips Non-Stick Pro Cooling Rack has handles that allow you to move your cakes around if you need to easily.

5. Run a Knife Around the Pan

Sometimes, a cake will not come out immediately despite taking preventive measures. It could be because the batter has oozed through the parchment and stuck to the sides of the pan. But do not worry — using a knife can do the trick.

If you decide to use this method, a butter knife might be better than a regular knife, so your pan does not get ruined by the sharp tip. Simply run the knife around the pan to break any parts that may have stuck during baking.

This method won’t work that well if you are trying to remove a cake from a bundt pan. Check out my article here if you want to find out about that method.

6. Invert the Pan on Top of a Plate or Cake Board

Another trick worth trying would be turning the pan upside down on a plate or a cake board. Once you turn it over, leave it in that position for a couple of minutes.

The cake’s weight and the pan grease will help loosen the cake from the bottom of the pan. After a few minutes, gently tap the pan to release the cake onto the plate or board.

Final Thoughts

Following some of the tips on how to remove a cake from a cake pan and the preventive measures regarding how to remove cake from a pan without breaking can save you from all the hassle and increase the chances of your cake coming out perfectly intact every time.

Aside from that, these tips are completely doable and will not take much of your time. After all, baking should be fun and relaxing, right?