Which do you prefer when baking larger size cakes, a heating core or a flower nail? And for a 16 x 16 square or a sheet cake, how many flower nails and/or heating cores would you use? Thanks!

I prefer nails. I would use at least 4, maybe 8. I don't like the heating core at all. I don't like to have the plug to fill (with cake baked in it) and feel it interfers with cutting cake/servings. JMHO

I didn't know you could use nails in place of heating core....silly question.....how do you put them in? how do you get them out?

I don't use either. Just baking strips and no flouring the pans. I even have a 14x22 sheet pan that I don't use nails or cores in.

I always wondered what the finished product would be when using the core.....is there a big hole left or just a circle cut? I have never made anything bigger than a 12 in and didn't use anything in the middle.....as far as I can remember it baked ok. Thanks for the tips!!!

I used a flower nail and baking strips last night and they worked great! the cake was so evenly baked and was so flat and there was only a little whole where the flower nail was, which can be easily covered up

I only use nails, no heating core or baking strips. I did a 16x16 yesterday with three nails, and it worked fine.

Thanks everyone for your help!