Emilie Meyer
Metal baking pans are typically used for cakes, but they can also be used to cook chicken. Metal pans are durable, lightweight, and widely available, making them a convenient option for cooking chicken. When using a metal pan, it is important to grease it to prevent the chicken from sticking and to check the chicken frequently to ensure even cooking. Additionally, certain types of metal pans, such as aluminum, copper, iron, and steel, can react with acidic ingredients, affecting the flavour of the dish. To achieve a roasted effect, it is recommended to cook the chicken dry at high heat. Using a bundt pan, a type of cake pan, can be an unconventional yet effective way to cook chicken, resulting in crispy skin and moist meat.
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What You'll Learn
Using a bundt pan to cook chicken
Yes, you can cook chicken in a cake pan, including a Bundt pan. In fact, a Bundt pan is a great way to prop up the chicken, resulting in a perfect roast chicken with a crispy skin and juicy flavour. The technique is similar to beer can chicken, allowing the chicken to sit upright and exposing more surface area for even browning.
To use a Bundt pan to cook chicken, first, remove the neck and giblets from the chicken, if needed. Then, season the inside of the chicken with salt and pepper. You can also rub the chicken all over, including the cavity, with herbs, salt, and pepper, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight, bringing it to room temperature 30 minutes before cooking.
Next, prepare the Bundt pan by spraying it with cooking spray or rubbing it with butter or oil. You can also add vegetables like potatoes, carrots, and onions to the pan, tossing them with olive oil and seasoning them with salt and pepper. Cover the hole in the centre of the Bundt pan with foil to prevent drippings from running out.
Place the chicken over the centre of the Bundt pan and roast it in the oven. The cooking time will depend on the size of the chicken, but a general guideline is to roast it for 15 minutes per pound. The chicken is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 160-165 degrees F, and the vegetables are tender.
Let the chicken rest for about 10 minutes before carving and serving.
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Advantages of cooking chicken in a metal cake pan
Metal cake pans are typically used for baking cakes or casseroles, but they can also be used to cook chicken. Here are some advantages of cooking chicken in a metal cake pan:
Durability and Heat Conduction: Metal cake pans are durable and lightweight, and they heat up quickly. Stainless steel and steel baking pans heat up quickly and retain heat, although they may not heat as evenly as other materials, potentially leading to uneven cooking. Dark, anodized metal pans also cook food faster than regular metal pans.
Availability and Cost: Metal cake pans are widely available and economical, making them accessible and affordable for most home cooks. They are also easy to clean with a scouring pad, and some can be washed and reused.
Cooking Technique: Using a metal cake pan for chicken can result in a beautifully crisped skin and moist, well-flavoured meat. The metal post in the middle of a bundt cake pan helps the chicken cook faster, keeping it moist. The juices from the chicken can also flavour any vegetables cooked in the same pan, creating a rich and succulent dish.
Versatility: Metal cake pans can be used for various chicken cooking techniques, such as roasting, poaching, or braising. For a roasted effect, cook the chicken dry at high heat. Brushing the chicken with olive oil will enhance the browning effect. For poaching or braising, add chicken broth to the pan and cover it with foil.
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Preparing the chicken
Season the chicken with salt and pepper, or your choice of herbs and spices. You can also add garlic and lemon to the cavity for extra flavour. Rub the chicken with olive oil or canola oil to coat it generously. This will enhance the browning effect and help the chicken cook evenly.
If you are using a cake pan with a hole in the centre, such as a bundt pan, cover the hole with aluminium foil. Place the chicken over the covered post in the centre of the pan, with the cavity of the chicken down over the post. The chicken should be standing up straight. Place the cake pan on a baking sheet to catch any drippings that may run out of the hole in the centre.
If you are using a regular cake pan, you can place the chicken directly in the pan. However, it is recommended to use a shallow pan to allow the chicken to brown instead of steam. Place the pan on a baking sheet to catch any drippings.
Preheat your oven to the desired temperature, keeping in mind that dark, anodized pans tend to cook food faster than regular metal pans. If you are using a convection oven, a shallow pan will give better results than a deep pan as the hot air can circulate more effectively.
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Cooking methods
Yes, you can cook chicken in a cake pan. There are several ways to do this, and the method you choose will depend on the type of cake pan you have and the type of chicken dish you want to make.
If you have a bundt cake pan, you can use the central post to prop up the chicken, much like in beer can chicken. Cover the hole in the centre of the pan with foil, then place the chicken on top, with the cavity of the chicken down over the post. You can stuff the chicken with garlic and lemon, and add vegetables to the bottom of the pan to catch the chicken's juices. This method will give you a well-flavoured chicken with a crisp skin.
If you're using a regular cake pan, it's best to use a shallow one so that your chicken browns instead of steams. You can use a metal cake pan, but be aware that some types of metal pans are reactive, meaning they form a reaction with certain types of food. If you cook the chicken with an acidic ingredient, you may notice a metallic or "off" flavour in the chicken. If you're using a non-stick metal pan, bits of the chicken are less likely to stick to the pan, but if they do, these tasty morsels can be used to make gravy or sauces.
If you're using a whole chicken, rinse the inside cavity and the outside of the chicken with cool water, then blot off any excess water with a clean paper towel. Removing the water from the skin will help the seasonings to stick. Sprinkle each side of the chicken with salt and pepper, and add any other herbs or seasonings you like. You can then place the chicken in the cake pan and roast it in the oven.
If you're using chicken pieces, spread the chicken on the pan with at least 1/2 inch of space between each piece. Season the chicken well, and if you want a poached or braised chicken, add a little chicken broth to the pan and cover with foil. If you want a roasted effect, cook the chicken dry at high heat, brushing the chicken with olive oil to enhance the browning effect.
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Placing the chicken in the pan
To start, you'll want to prepare your chicken. Rinse the chicken with cool water, both the outside and the inside cavity. Place the chicken on a clean surface, such as a cutting board, and use a clean paper towel to blot off any excess water. Removing the water from the skin will help the seasonings to stick.
Next, season the chicken. Sprinkle each side of the chicken with salt and pepper, seasoning the outside and inside of the whole chicken. You can also add additional herbs or seasonings to the chicken if you want to enhance the flavour.
Now, you're ready to place the chicken in the pan. First, grease the pan with cooking spray or rub 1 to 2 tablespoons of olive oil or canola oil inside the pan. Greasing the pan is important to prevent the chicken from sticking. If you're using a bundt pan, cover the hole in the centre with aluminium foil before placing the chicken on top of the foil-covered post in the centre of the pan. The chicken should be standing up, with the cavity of the chicken down over the post. If you're using a regular cake pan, simply place the chicken in the centre of the pan.
If you're cooking chicken pieces rather than a whole chicken, spread the chicken on the pan with at least 1/2 inch of space between each piece. If you want to poach or braise the chicken, add a little chicken broth to the pan and cover with foil. For a roasted effect, cook the chicken dry at high heat, brushing with olive oil to enhance browning. To ensure even browning, check the chicken frequently and, if cooking pieces, move them or turn them over.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can use any cake pan to cook chicken. However, shallow pans with low sides are best so that your chicken browns instead of steams. Dark, anodized pans also tend to cook food faster than regular metal pans, so you may need to adjust the heat.
Cake pans are lightweight, durable, and widely available. They heat up quickly, so chicken cooks faster. They are also easy to clean with a scouring pad.
First, rinse the chicken with cool water and blot off any excess water with a paper towel. Then, season the chicken with salt, pepper, and herbs. You can also stuff the chicken with garlic and lemon. Rub olive oil on the chicken to prevent it from sticking to the pan. Place the chicken in the pan and cook in a preheated oven at 400 degrees F for about 1 hour to 1 hour 10 minutes.
