Greasing Bread Pans: To Do Or Not To Do?

Greasing a bread pan is essential to getting the baked loaf out after it's baked. While non-stick cookware is supposed to prevent sticking, it's not always foolproof. Greasing a pan can be done with butter, cooking spray, oil, or even a pastry brush. It's important not to be heavy-handed when applying oil to avoid greasy and heavy bread. A light layer of oil or butter is usually enough to prevent sticking. For white or whole wheat bread, using coarse cornmeal to prevent sticking is also an option.

Do bread pans need to be greased?

Bread sticking to the pan

There are few things more disappointing than spending time and effort on baking a loaf of bread, only to have it stick to the pan and emerge in pieces. Luckily, there are several ways to prevent this from happening.

Firstly, it is important to understand why bread sticks to the pan. There are two main reasons: the coating of the pan and the temperature at which the bread is baked. If the bread is baked at too high a temperature, it will turn out gummy and dense and is more likely to stick to the pan.

How to Prevent Bread Sticking to the Pan

Use a Non-Stick Pan

One of the easiest ways to prevent bread from sticking to the pan is to use a non-stick pan. These pans have a special coating that prevents food from sticking and can be found in most department stores.

Use a Non-Stick Spray

Even if you are using a non-stick pan, it is still a good idea to use a non-stick spray as an extra precaution. This will create an extra barrier between the bread and the pan, reducing the likelihood of sticking. Choose an unflavoured spray to avoid altering the taste of your bread.

Grease the Pan

If you don't have a non-stick pan, you can create your own non-stick coating by greasing the pan. This can be done with butter, shortening, or cooking oil. Spread the grease evenly across the bottom and sides of the pan, using your fingers or a folded paper towel. If you are using butter, be sure to avoid leaving clumps in the pan. You can also use your saved butter wrappers to grease the pan.

Use Parchment Paper

Another effective way to prevent sticking is to use parchment paper. This creates a barrier between the dough and the pan, ensuring that the bread cannot stick. For best results, grease the sides of the pan before adding the parchment paper, so that it sticks to the pan and doesn't move around when you add the dough. You can also grease the parchment paper itself for added protection. Leave some extra parchment paper hanging out of the sides of the pan to create handles, making it easier to lift the bread out once it's baked.

Use Coarse Cornmeal or Semolina

Coating the pan with coarse cornmeal or semolina can also help to prevent sticking. This creates space between the pan and the dough, reducing the likelihood of sticking. Simply coat your greased pan with a small handful of cornmeal or semolina, then spread it evenly around the tin.

Adjust the Temperature

If your bread is sticking due to being baked at too high a temperature, try adjusting the temperature down by 25 to 30° F (approximately 4° C) from the recipe. This should result in a loaf that is less gummy and dense and less likely to stick to the pan.

Grease with butter or cooking spray/oil

Greasing a bread pan is essential to getting your baked loaf of bread out after you pull it from the oven. Bread sticking to the pan is a common problem, but it can be easily avoided by greasing the pan with butter or cooking spray/oil.

Butter

If you are using butter, do not leave clumps of butter in the pan. You can use butter wrappers to grease the loaf pan. Make sure to spread the butter evenly on the bottom and all sides of the pan using your fingers or a folded paper towel.

Cooking Spray/Oil

Spray oils work well, but be sure to get even coverage. Use a paper towel to spread the oil into a thin layer rather than spraying more than needed. If you are using oil, be sure to sop up any puddles that form in the pan, especially in the corners and along the edges.

Other Options

If you are making sweet dessert bread, you can stop at greasing the pan. However, for white or whole wheat bread, use coarse cornmeal to prevent sticking. Put a handful of cornmeal into the loaf pan and turn the pan so that the bottom and sides are covered.

Grease and flour the pan

Greasing and flouring your pan is a crucial step in the baking process to ensure that your bread doesn't stick to the sides of the pan. It creates two layers of non-stick protection. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to grease and flour your bread pan:

Step 1: Choose Your Greasing Agent

You can use butter, shortening, or cooking oil to grease your bread pan. Butter will impart a slight richness to the batter and promote a golden brown exterior. Shortening is flavourless and less likely to brown, while cooking oil provides an even coating. For sweet dessert breads, you can stop after greasing and don't need to add flour.

Step 2: Grease the Pan

Use your fingers, a soft pastry brush, or a folded paper towel to evenly coat the bottom and sides of the pan with your chosen greasing agent. Ensure there are no bare spots, especially in the corners, and avoid thick lumps or streaks. If using butter, be sure to smooth it out and avoid clumps.

Step 3: Add Flour

Once the pan is completely greased, add about a teaspoon of flour to the pan. You can use all-purpose or instant flour, or cocoa powder if you're making chocolate bread. Gently shake, tap, and tilt the pan to evenly distribute the flour.

Step 4: Remove Excess Flour

Hold the pan over the sink or trash and gently tap out any excess flour. You can also use another greased pan to catch the excess flour, which you can then use to flour that pan. Be sure to rinse any flour in the sink immediately, as wet flour can harden and make cleanup more difficult.

Step 5: Add Batter and Bake

Now your pan is ready for the batter! Pour in your bread batter and bake according to your recipe instructions. Allow your bread to cool for a couple of minutes in the pan before removing it.

Grease a non-stick pan

Greasing a non-stick pan is a simple process, but it does require a little more care and attention than a standard pan. Firstly, it's important to note that you should avoid using high heat with non-stick pans. They are a little more high-maintenance than standard pans, and you must be careful when cleaning them to ensure the coating remains intact.

To grease a non-stick pan, you can use butter, oil, or cooking spray. Take a small amount of butter or oil—around one tablespoon—and rub it directly onto the pan before placing it on the heat. This will ensure the fat adheres to the pan and not the food. You can also use cooking spray, which is a quick and easy alternative to butter or oil. Simply spray the pan with the cooking spray before adding your ingredients.

If you are baking bread, you can also use a layer of coarse cornmeal to prevent sticking. This won't adhere to the bread and won't alter your recipe. Simply put a handful of cornmeal into the pan and turn the pan so that the bottom and sides are covered.

For cakes, it is recommended to grease the pan with butter or cooking spray and then add a coating of flour or sugar. This will help the cake batter grip the sides of the pan and rise evenly. It also creates a barrier between the butter and the batter, preventing the butter from melting into the mixture.

Grease a silicone pan

Greasing a bread pan is essential to getting the baked loaf out after it's baked. While silicone pans are flexible, heat-resistant, easy to wash, and usable in the microwave, dishwasher, refrigerator, and freezer, they are not non-stick. Instead, they are best described as stick-resistant, and some recipes may require them to be greased.

Baked goods that are lower in fat content or lighter in weight tend to stick to silicone pans more than those that are higher in fat and denser. Cookies are less likely to stick than cakes and muffins. If a baked good is more likely to crumble, it is also more likely to stick. Ridges in silicone bakeware, like those found in a bundt cake pan, also increase the chances of sticking, as bits and pieces get stuck in the grooves.

The best way to grease a silicone pan is to rub the interior lightly with vegetable oil or spray with a non-stick cooking spray. These options work better than butter because it is difficult to spread butter onto a silicone pan evenly. Be careful not to over-grease the pan, as doing so may leave a sticky residue that won't come off when washed.

To grease a bread pan, start by choosing a product to grease the pan with. You can use shortening, butter, or cooking oil. If you are using butter, be sure to spread it evenly and avoid leaving clumps of butter in the pan. If you are using oil, be sure to sop up any puddles that form in the pan. They tend to build up slowly over the first few minutes, especially in the corners and along the edges as the oil slides down the sides. You can also use a spray oil, but be sure to get even coverage. Use a paper towel to spread it out into a thin layer rather than spraying more than needed.

Frequently asked questions