I have baked three cakes in the last two days. The first stuck to the pan after cooling. The second turned out OK and now the third is stuck again!!! I greased the bottom of the pan with Crisco and then dusted it with flour (as I always do). I let it cool for about 10 minutes on the rack then loosened the sides with a spatula and then flipped it. Two times out of three I have had the bottom edge of one side break away. What am I doing wrong and how can I correct this? I'm doing a three-tiered cake and now I've already lost one and the other is baking. I don't want to be up re-baking what I've lost all night!!!

You say you just greased the bottom, are you greasing the sides too? You need to grease and flour any and all areas that could possible have cake touch them (either as batter or as rising).

I don't use crisco & flour anymore. I switched to Baker's Joy flour baking spray and haven't had a problem with cakes sticking since.

OK. I feel totally stupid. Never once EVER have I greased the sides. I swear I was told or read once that you only grease the bottom. How in the world is this is the first time this has happened to me. Duh! I even scolded my husband once for greasing the sides. Hopefully the ones in the oven now with just the bottoms greased will be OK. I'll at least be able the last one the right way. Thank you for pointing out the obvious!!!

Hmmm, not quite sure what the problem is you seem to be doing things correctly.

Try using pans lined with parchment paper.

I also had problems with this and i did grease the sides also. but now i have switched to "bakers joy" and haven't had any problems at all.

I always grease my whole pan, line with parchment or wax paper, grease again and then flour. My cakes never stick. Hope your next cakes come out better!

My Wilton instructor told us this: Never let your cake cool in the pan for more than 10 minutes. After about 7 minutes, the fats that you used to grease the pan start to cool, and your cake will more than likely stick.

I wait no more than 7 minutes, and I've never had a cake stick.

Hope this helps.

It could also be your recipe, some cakes are more "sticky" than others. I had a couple of cakes stick badly this week, new chocolate cake recipe, very dense and moist. Next time I do this particular cake I will use parchment as well as greasing and flouring to make sure it comes out in one piece.

There is a recipe on this site for homemade cake release and it works awesome! Its 1c each flour, shortening, vegetable oil. Blend until well mixed and store in the fridge. I just brush it on my pan and I don't have to use parchment anymore the cake (or cupcakes) pop right out!

OH hey .. there it is... i was looking for the homemade cake release recipe...

I use to have the same problem and would get so frustrated.

I now use parchment paper on the bottom and the cake release recipe on the sides..never stick...that cake release is awesome. I also only let my cakes cool 5-7 mins in the pan.

NO MORE STICKING PROBLEMS IN MY KITCHEN

I use Pam for Baking, and if it's not a non-stick pan, I put parchment in the bottom, then spray again. If it's a non-stick, I don't bother with the parchment.

The home made cake release does not have to be refrigerated.

Also, you don't have to make that much at a time, just use equal parts of Crisco, Flour and Oil to make just as much as you need. I don't bake often at all, and I make 1/4 cup of each when I make it. It keeps for a long time in an airtight container.