Having quality pans is an asset for any baker and taking good care of the bakeware will ensure that your pans continue to provide superior results for a long time.  Here are some tips on the use and care of bakeware:

Prior to first use, wash your bakeware in warm soapy water and rinse well after removing the label and any adhesive used to make the label stay in place.

I make sure I have something in my pan if it’s in the oven and the oven is turned on. My Mother likes to put cookie sheets in the oven for drying. I don’t because I may turn the oven on to preheat and forget the pans are inside. Dry baking is not a good idea for your pan.

Avoid using sharp knives to cut in non stick pans or you’ll get scratches in them. Performance is still good, but they don’t look as attractive.

If I’m baking cookies, I use parchment paper between baking batches so I don’t have to remove any crumbs or sugars before the next batch. It makes clean-up very easy.

Avoid letting baked goods sit in the pan too long. Allow them to cool and then remove the item from the pan so they don’t stick……a better baking hint. I like to wash my pans after they have cooled. If the pan is still hot when you try to wash it in cold water you might get warping if the metal is on the thin side. I don’t have that problem with my Wilton pans, but I did before I converted. I use warm, soapy water and a sponge to wash all of my pans. I do not use an abrasive pad.

I don’t put my metal pans in the dishwasher. Aluminum that has been placed in the dishwasher can discolor. It’s still usable but not always as attractive as it was before its exposure to dishwashing detergent which can be strong and abrasive. Silicone multi cavity pans and muffin pans can go in the dishwasher. I try to make sure most of the crumbs are removed prior to loading in the dishwasher. I’m also careful not to bang my pans on the stove or countertops.

Make sure your pans are totally dry prior to storage. To save space in your kitchen, do what I do….stack all cookie sheets and cookie pans. Smaller ones fit inside or on top the larger ones. Depending on the type of bakeware you have, some rounds, squares, and 13 x 9 pans will stack inside others while the straight sided versions stack but not inside each other. This will sound funny but I put my Dimensions® cast aluminum pans in pillowcases on shelves out in the garage. They stay dust free and if my husband puts something on top of them, they’re protected. You could also use paper plates or paper towels.

I try to take good care of my baking pans because I know if I do, they will last me a very long time.