Should I Invest In More Expensive Cake Pans?

Decorating By SoFloGuy Updated 4 Jun 2012 , 11:19am by escaliba1234

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SoFloGuy Posted 1 Jun 2012 , 4:53am
post #1 of 24

I use the ones from Dollar Tree normally and I notices that they are a little more flared (wider) at the top than on the bottom. So far I just make dessert cakes for myself, but I want to try to make nicer ones, will I need more expensive cake pans?


Mine look more like this in shape:
Image

than this:

Image

23 replies
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lorieleann Posted 1 Jun 2012 , 5:17am
post #2 of 24

if you can get the straight sided pans, your cakes will have a smoother side. Your pans should not be able to 'nest' in one another. Also, baking in a lighter color pan will result in less browning and crusting on the sides of your cake. That is nice on a muffin, but not on a white cake.

if you can afford it, then by all means buy the professional grade pans. For a home baker, it really isn't a huge investment to buy a couple of magic line or fat daddios in your most commonly used sizes.

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SoFloGuy Posted 1 Jun 2012 , 5:27am
post #3 of 24

Thanks for the info. Good point about not being able to nest. I might wait for 50% or 40% of sale at AC Moore or Michaels and get some Wilton pans. Which retail stores sell the brands you mentioned?

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doramoreno62 Posted 1 Jun 2012 , 5:34am
post #4 of 24

Personally, I don't like the Wilton pans. They seem "cheap". They are very lightweight. They may work for some people but if you want good quality pans, invest in Fat Daddios or even Magic Line. I feel they bake your cake more evenly because they are more heavy weight. Just my opinion.

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SoFloGuy Posted 1 Jun 2012 , 5:41am
post #5 of 24
Quote:
Originally Posted by doramoreno62

Personally, I don't like the Wilton pans. They seem "cheap". They are very lightweight. They may work for some people but if you want good quality pans, invest in Fat Daddios or even Magic Line. I feel they bake your cake more evenly because they are more heavy weight. Just my opinion.



okay thanks.

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DivaJai Posted 1 Jun 2012 , 5:43am
post #6 of 24

I don't think the magic line or fat daddio pans are really that much more expensive although they aren't found in common stores like Michael's and Jo-Ann's. You could probably get away with using wilton pans they aren't horrible but they aren't the best either. If you want to save yourself money in the long run order some Magic Line pans icon_smile.gif I love each Magic Line pan I own and have gotten rid of all my Wilton Pans since I switched.

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SoFloGuy Posted 1 Jun 2012 , 5:44am
post #7 of 24

Thanks, if I just want to get two pans should I get 8 inch or 9 inch round, and is 2 inch high standard for most cakes?

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DivaJai Posted 1 Jun 2012 , 6:37am
post #8 of 24

2" high is the standard height. I would probably go with the 8" but for no particular reason lol... the choice is yours really but the smaller they are the cheaper they are per pan icon_smile.gif hth

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leah_s Posted 1 Jun 2012 , 7:07am
post #9 of 24

You will never regret having really good cake pans. Buy Magic Line. Sometimes you can find them on Ebay. Wilton isn't much better than what you've got now.

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ladyellam Posted 1 Jun 2012 , 7:15am
post #10 of 24

If you have a Ross or TJMaxx/Marshall's nearby, try taking a look in their cooking section. I've actually bought a couple of Fat Daddio pans and some great heavy Cuisinart cake pans that were really inexpensive there. You can also find cookie sheets, fluted cake pans and some pretty cute cake stands there. I've also found lorann flavourings too. You never know what you will find icon_smile.gif

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AnnieCahill Posted 1 Jun 2012 , 11:05am
post #11 of 24

I get my Magic Line pans from Amazon.

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saapena Posted 1 Jun 2012 , 2:59pm
post #12 of 24

I upgraded all my Wilton pans to Magic Line. The Magic Line are so much more heavy and cook so much better. I started upgrading my rounds and then had a square anniversary cake to do so that was just my excuse to upgrade my square pans. The difference in edges on the square pans is extreme. I ordered my Magic Line pans through Amazon or Global Sugar Art. The Magic Line pans are not that much more expensive than the Wilton pans.

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BakingIrene Posted 1 Jun 2012 , 3:14pm
post #13 of 24

A good cake pan will last 20 years with care. Divide the price difference by 20 and you will see that it's not much at all. I still have my Wilton pans from the 1980's but I have started using a local brand of deep-dish pizza pan underneath them in the oven to make them easier to move around.

The aluminum cake pans are really important for larger cakes, because they are light coloured enough to bake the cake without too much browning.

If you keep baking, sooner or later somebody will ask you to bake them a big cake. So keep your eyes peeled for the good prices on quality pans.

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SoFloGuy Posted 1 Jun 2012 , 4:54pm
post #14 of 24
Quote:
Originally Posted by ladyellam

If you have a Ross or TJMaxx/Marshall's nearby, try taking a look in their cooking section.




Great, I've never been to those stores but they are next to stores that I've shopped in and thanks to Google Maps I know where they are.

Thanks to everyone for the advice.

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dianne65 Posted 1 Jun 2012 , 5:59pm
post #15 of 24

I started taking lessons 30yrs ago and my first pan purchase was a 9X13 Sheet and 2 - 10" rounds from MagicLine. Those are my most used pans and they are still in great shape today. I have tried a couple of wilton pans and they're ok (I no longer have them) but I think the Magic Line ones are way better quality. I now have pretty much every shape and size they have offered.

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Moovaughan Posted 1 Jun 2012 , 6:29pm
post #16 of 24

I am lucky enough to have a restaurant supply store near my work and home and I can get heavy duty straight sided 3" cake pans in 6, 8, 10 and 12 and the most expensive is only $5.95! Look in your phone book and see if you can't find a restaurant supply store open to the public... They have lots of other fun things too!

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SoFloGuy Posted 1 Jun 2012 , 9:25pm
post #17 of 24
Quote:
Originally Posted by Moovaughan

I am lucky enough to have a restaurant supply store near my work and home and I can get heavy duty straight sided 3" cake pans in 6, 8, 10 and 12 and the most expensive is only $5.95! Look in your phone book and see if you can't find a restaurant supply store open to the public... They have lots of other fun things too!




Great idea, thanks.

Been searching, many of the supply stores are larges and sell machine equipment the only one I found so far is Gordon Food service store, but their web site doesn't even list if they sell pans or not.

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sweettreat101 Posted 2 Jun 2012 , 9:43am
post #18 of 24

My favorite are the Magic Line pans. They have a straighter edge than the Wilton pans. You can probably buy some used pans on Ebay cheap.

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denetteb Posted 2 Jun 2012 , 3:26pm
post #19 of 24

You asked about 8 vs 9 inch pans. I have both 8 and 9 inch pans (plus others). I have found that I turn to the 9 inch pans if I want to have a larger top surface to decorate or write something on. If I want to have taller sides to decorate the sides more I pick the 8 inch pans. As far as Wilton pans, they have a couple different series of pans so you may want to compare the differences next time you are at a shop that carries Wilton.

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SoFloGuy Posted 2 Jun 2012 , 3:54pm
post #20 of 24
Quote:
Originally Posted by denetteb

You asked about 8 vs 9 inch pans. I have both 8 and 9 inch pans (plus others). I have found that I turn to the 9 inch pans if I want to have a larger top surface to decorate or write something on. If I want to have taller sides to decorate the sides more I pick the 8 inch pans. As far as Wilton pans, they have a couple different series of pans so you may want to compare the differences next time you are at a shop that carries Wilton.




I almost bought a set of 2 Wilton pans because I had a 40% off coupon until I noticed that they were nested in the package. I've been looking around and Califon pans seem like good quality and are not that expensive. I really want a straight up and down pan with no fluting on the sides and the ones I see seem all to have a minute wider edge on top, they can't be nested, but I saw some in the stores that were wedged together into being nested. I want ones that won't fit into another one at all Or is it okay to have a little give on top because when baking I notice sometime the top separates inwards from the pan,.

I even looked at a checkerboard pan kit, but saw by the box size that they were nested too.

I think I'm gonna stick with 8" because it will be easier to just find a plate to put underneath at that size.

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MaurorLess67 Posted 2 Jun 2012 , 4:13pm
post #21 of 24

You should have no problem finding Magic Line or Fat Daddios online- Amazon has many venders that sell them- they are not too expensive- I have Prime membership with amazon- cost me 79.00 for the year- and I get so many benefits- one of which is FREE 2day shipping from Amazon vendors!!

I just upgraded all my pans to Magic Line and I am SO SO happy!!!!-- I am now starting to upgrade and add wioth the odd sizes of both round and square- then I will work on the oblongs- ovals etc.

I do have 2 restaurant supply stores in my area and never thought to go in for pans etc- they are always so crowede with huge orders- I would be online for an hour! ha

A word of advice-- whether you get the 8in or 9in-- make sure you purchase 2 of them- it will make you life SOOOO much easier- I have full sets of the round a square and bought additional (2nd) of the most popular used -6, 8, 10 of the round and square. I was so frustrated waiting for the cake to bake in order to start the 2nd tier- no its a breeze-

Good luck n your search- but def try Amazon or Ebay-- for the Magic Line- I

Good Luck with your search
Mo

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SoFloGuy Posted 2 Jun 2012 , 4:44pm
post #22 of 24
Quote:
Originally Posted by MaurorLess67

You should have no problem finding Magic Line or Fat Daddios online- Amazon has many venders that sell them- they are not too expensive- I have Prime membership with amazon- cost me 79.00 for the year- and I get so many benefits- one of which is FREE 2day shipping from Amazon vendors!!

I just upgraded all my pans to Magic Line and I am SO SO happy!!!!-- I am now starting to upgrade and add wioth the odd sizes of both round and square- then I will work on the oblongs- ovals etc.

I do have 2 restaurant supply stores in my area and never thought to go in for pans etc- they are always so crowede with huge orders- I would be online for an hour! ha

A word of advice-- whether you get the 8in or 9in-- make sure you purchase 2 of them- it will make you life SOOOO much easier- I have full sets of the round a square and bought additional (2nd) of the most popular used -6, 8, 10 of the round and square. I was so frustrated waiting for the cake to bake in order to start the 2nd tier- no its a breeze-

Good luck n your search- but def try Amazon or Ebay-- for the Magic Line- I

Good Luck with your search
Mo




Thanks for the info, I saw that sears carries a line of Magic line called Parrish, is that a cheaper quality version?

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doramoreno62 Posted 3 Jun 2012 , 2:51am
post #23 of 24

Actually Parrish is the company that produces the Magic line pans. So Parrish and Magic Line are one in he same.
I didn't know Sears carried them I will check it out.

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escaliba1234 Posted 4 Jun 2012 , 11:19am
post #24 of 24

Some of my best tins have come from professional bakers/decorators, who have retired and are eager for their tins to have a good home.
It is worth keeping an eye out for people like this; the tins and prices are usually very agreeable! icon_smile.gif

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