If you are starting out on your baking journey then you may be wondering about the differences between various types of pans. Three pans that are often used for similar purposes are bundt pans, loaf pans, and tube pans.
These pans have a number of similarities but also some key differences. They can be used interchangeably in some circumstances, though not all. Here we look at the ways to identify these types of pans and discuss which types of baking they are best utilized for.
Bundt Pan Features
Bundt pans are round and typically quite deep, with fluted or intricate patterns on the mold which give the cake a decorative look even without the addition of icing. Bundt pans can be a type of tube pan, with a hollow cylinder in the middle which results in a cake shaped like a donut.
Bundt pans can be made from cast iron, aluminum, or ceramic, and they typically have a non-stick coating inside to help prevent the cake batter from sticking to the detailed pattern of the mold. A good bundt pan will have a pale color on the inside, which helps to prevent the cake from overbaking.
Bundt pans are ideal for rich or heavy cakes, and should not be used for baking cakes that have a light and airy texture from the whipped egg-white batter. These types of batters may not rise properly in a bundt pan, and you won’t achieve the desired effect with cake expanding into all of the crevices.
Loaf Pan Features
A loaf pan is intended for baking bread, and can also go by the name of ‘bread pan’ for this very reason. Loaf pans are traditionally rectangular, to produce a shape of bread that is suitable for slicing. Most commonly, these types of pans will be aluminum and have a non-stick coating, but they can also be ceramic or cast iron with an enamel finish.
A loaf pan is primarily used for baking loaves of bread, but it can also be used to make cake loaves, such as tea cake and banana bread. Fruit cake also works well when baked in a loaf pan because it has a dense texture that slices well. Loaf pans can also be utilized for making meatloaf.
Tube Pan Features
A tube pan is a type of cake pan that is shaped like a donut. It will be round and have a hollowed-out tube in the center. This creates more surface area which means the cake will cook more quickly and evenly. Tube pans and bundt pans commonly get mistaken for each other, because they have a lot of similarities; in fact, a bundt pan can be considered to be a type of tube pan, though a bundt pan will not always have a hollow tube running through the middle.
While both bundt pans and tube pans are typically circular, and they can both have a hollow central tube, they also have some distinct differences. A tube pan will always have smooth, flat edges, while a bundt pan is more decorative, with fluted or intricately patterned walls. This feature of a tube pan makes it well suited to baking airy cakes such as angel food cakes. In fact, tube pans are sometimes known as ‘angel pans’.
These types of cakes have a fluffy texture which is achieved by beating the egg whites. They don’t have a non-stick coating, because the batter needs to stick to the walls of the pan to form the best shape. While you can use recipes for bundt cakes with a tube pan, they are best utilized for lighter cake recipes. Don’t try to use a bundt pan for an angel food cake recipe, because the more elaborate shape makes them incompatible.
Is a Bundt Pan the Same as a Tube Pan?
A bundt pan can be classed as a type of tube pan, however, a bundt pan and a tube pan are not one and the same. The main differentiating factor is the walls of the pans. In a tube pan, these will be smooth and flat, while in a bundt pan, they will be formed to create a more decorative finish.
This could mean ridged or fluted walls or walls in patterned shapes. A bundt pan will ordinarily have a hollow center, like a tube pan, though this isn’t always the case. In some instances, you can find bundt pans which will result in a whole, solid cake.
Can You Bake Bread in a Bundt Pan?
Bundt pans are designed to be used for baking cake, however since they are well suited for dense batters, they can also work well for baking bread. You could use a bundt pan to bake a loaf of bread if you don’t have a loaf pan available, or you could use a bundt pan intentionally to achieve a decorative-looking bread. Pumpkin breads and cornbreads are particularly well suited to baking in bundt pans because they bake quickly.
Are Bundt Pans and Tube Pans Interchangeable?
Although bundt pans and tube pans are visually very similar, they shouldn’t be used interchangeably in all recipes. Most bundt cake recipes will cook well in a tube pan, however, if a recipe specifically calls for the use of a tube pan, then you shouldn’t substitute this with a bundt pan.
This is because recipes that have a light and fluffy texture work best in a tube pan, and they won’t achieve the same result in a bundt pan. Bundt pans are best used for recipes that have heavier, or more dense batters. If you do plan to substitute a tube pan for a bundt pan, you may need to adjust the measurements of the components in your recipe.
Due to the decorative nature of a bundt pan, it will typically hold less cake batter than a tube pan of the same size. A good way to determine the volume capacity of tube pans and bundt pans is to fill them with water when they are not in use. Fill an empty tube pan with water and then pour it into a measuring jug and note the amount. Repeat this with the bundt pan and compare the results to see if they hold the same amount of liquid.
Can a Loaf Pan be used for Cake?
A loaf pan is ideal for baking cake in, if you don’t have a cake pan handy, or if you want a rectangular-shaped cake. Loaf pans have deep walls which make them suitable for baking cakes, allowing some space for the mixture to rise. Be sure to grease the loaf pan before use, or use baking parchment, so that the cake will be able to slide out easily once it is cooled.
Unlike springform pans which are ordinarily used for baking cakes, a loaf pan does not have expandable or removable walls, so preventing the batter from sticking to the pan is essential. Loaf pans can be used for any type of cake recipe, including those which call for tube pans.
Their flat walls and deep sides mean that they will bake a cake evenly at around the same speed as a tube pan, so the cooking method won’t need to be adapted.
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