Daily Kitchen Note
Cakes can easily stick to baking pans, ruining their appearance and clean edges when turned out. Greasing and flouring the pan creates a reliable nonstick barrier that ensures a flawless release every time.
How to Prepare pans
- Lightly and evenly coat the inside of the cake pan with softened butter, shortening, or nonstick cooking spray.
- Sprinkle a generous amount of flour into the greased pan.
- Hold the pan and gently tap and rotate it until the flour evenly coats the bottom and sides.
- Invert the pan over a sink or trash can and tap firmly to remove any excess flour.
Why it works
The fat creates a nonstick surface, while the flour adheres to the fat, forming a physical barrier that prevents the cake batter from fusing with the pan during baking.
Source
America's Test Kitchen: Baking Basics: Greasing and Flouring Pans
