Greasing Pans: No-Spray Hacks

Greasing a pan is an essential step in cooking to prevent food from sticking to the surface. While many people use cooking spray, there are several alternatives that can be used to grease a pan without spray.

One option is to use cooking oil. Vegetable oil, avocado oil, canola oil, and olive oil are all good choices. You can pour a small amount directly into the pan and use your fingers, a paper towel, or a basting brush to spread it evenly across the surface.

Another alternative is to use butter or margarine. Letting the butter come to room temperature first will make it easier to spread. Butter can also be combined with flour or sugar to create a non-stick coating.

Shortening, lard, and bacon grease are also effective options for greasing a pan. These substances can be spread onto the pan using your fingers, a paper towel, or a basting brush.

Finally, parchment paper can be used as a non-stick barrier between the pan and the food, eliminating the need for grease altogether.

Use parchment paper

Parchment paper is a great alternative to grease or cooking spray. It is a cellulose-based paper that has been chemically treated with silicone to create a non-stick coating. You can find it in rolls in the baking aisle of most supermarkets, grocery stores, or dollar stores.

Parchment paper is non-permeable, so no batter should get between it and the pan. It is heat-resistant, non-stick, and makes cleaning up a breeze. You can reuse pieces of parchment multiple times, and some brands are even compostable.

Bake cakes, brownies, cupcakes, and muffins

Before baking, line your cake or baking pan with parchment paper. This will ensure that your baked goods don't stick to the pan. Grease the pan or plate before laying down the parchment paper to prevent it from curling or moving around while you pour in the dough or batter.

For rectangular and square-shaped pans, cut one piece of parchment to cover the bottom of the pan and two inner sides, with a little extra hanging over the lip on each side. Cut another piece of parchment to fit crosswise, covering the bottom and the other two sides, also with a little extra hanging over. Once your treats have baked and cooled, use the flaps to lift them out of the pan in one piece, then peel the paper back from the sides and slice.

If you don't have cupcake or muffin liners, cut 5-inch squares of parchment, press them into a greased standard muffin tin, and use a small can or jar to press them in place.

Add dry ingredients to a mixing bowl

Parchment paper can act as a funnel substitute. Sift dry ingredients such as flour, baking soda, and cinnamon onto a sheet of paper, then carefully lift it to create a funnel and easily add the ingredients to a mixing bowl or the bowl of an electric mixer.

Make a landing pad for drips and drizzles

Place cookies and cakes on parchment paper before glazing, drizzling, or decorating. This will make clean-up easier, as you can simply toss the parchment paper when you're finished.

Create a DIY pastry bag for decorating

Parchment paper can also pinch-hit for pastry bags. Fold a piece of parchment to create a cone shape (called a cornet) and fill it with icing or chocolate to decorate cookies and cakes.

Shape and store compound butters and cookie dough

Roast acidic fruits and vegetables

When roasting acidic fruits like fresh or canned tomatoes and strawberries, or vegetables that release viscous liquid when they caramelize (such as sweet potatoes and winter squash), use parchment paper to line your baking sheet. This will prevent negative reactions with your aluminum pans and make clean-up easier.

However, if you're aiming for deeply browned roasted vegetables, it's best to skip the paper liner as it can cause steaming and make good caramelization harder to achieve.

Create a parchment pouch for steaming

Cook fish, chicken, and vegetables in a sealed parchment pouch. The parchment traps liquids inside to create steam for gentle and flavorful cooking.

Don't use it for broiling

While parchment paper is heat-resistant, it is not heat-proof. It can ignite if it gets too close to a top-down broiler, so it's best to use foil to line your broiler tray.

Coat the pan with butter

Greasing a pan without cooking spray is simple and can be done in several ways. One of the most common methods is to coat the pan with butter. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to do it:

Firstly, take a stick of butter and let it come to room temperature. This will make it softer and easier to spread. If you are in a hurry, you can place the pan in a preheated oven for a few minutes to warm it up, which will help melt the butter.

Next, take the stick of butter and run it along the bottom and sides of the pan. You can also use a paper towel to wipe the butter onto the pan, ensuring an even coating. The fatty cells in butter create a non-stick coat, preventing your food from sticking to the pan.

If you are baking something savoury, you can use salted butter to add a little creaminess and saltiness to your dish. Alternatively, for a sweet treat like brownies, mix cocoa powder with flour and dust it over the butter. This will keep the edges brown and prevent an unsightly white crust from forming.

Butter has a lower smoke point than some oils, so it is important to note that it may not be suitable for recipes with a baking temperature above 300°F.

Finally, if you are making a layer cake, you can cut a piece of parchment paper to fit the bottom of the pan. Place the parchment paper in the pan after greasing it with butter, for extra non-stick protection.

Coating a pan with butter is an effective way to prevent food from sticking, and it is a great alternative to cooking spray. It is a simple method that uses readily available ingredients and can enhance the flavour of your baked goods.

Use cooking oil

Greasing a Pan with Cooking Oil

Greasing a pan is an important step in baking to ensure your cakes, brownies, bars, and cookies don't stick to the pan. Here is a guide on how to grease a pan with cooking oil:

Choosing the Right Oil

The best cooking oils to use for greasing a pan are those with a neutral flavour and a high smoke point. Vegetable oils, such as canola oil, avocado oil, and safflower oil, are ideal as they have a neutral flavour and high smoke points (370-400°F). Olive oil can also be used, but it has a lower smoke point (400°F) and a stronger flavour, which may not be suitable for all baked goods.

Applying the Oil

There are several ways to apply cooking oil to a pan:

• Using your hands: Pour the oil directly onto the pan and grease it with your hands. This method can be messy, so it is best to use a light layer of oil to avoid greasing your hands.
• Basting brush: Use a basting brush to spread the oil evenly across the pan. This method is less messy and allows for better control over the amount of oil used.
• Paper towel: Soak a paper towel in oil and rub it along the sides and bottom of the pan to ensure an even coating. This method gives a similar result to using a cooking spray.

Tips

• Always match the cooking temperature of your recipe with the smoke point of the oil you are using. If the cooking temperature is above the smoke point of the oil, it will burn.
• When greasing a silicone pan, use a very light layer of oil to prevent it from being absorbed into the pan and making it greasy over time.
• If you are making a sticky recipe, such as one with caramel, be sure to grease your pan generously to prevent sticking.
• For angel food cake, do not grease the pan as the cake is light and delicate, and you want it to cling to the sides of the pan as it bakes.

Grease the pan with lard or bacon fat

Lard is a great option to grease a pan without cooking spray. It is practically tasteless, making it a universally applicable option for all your baking needs. You can find lard in the meat section or near the cooking oils in the supermarket.

Lard is also healthier than butter and most cooking oils. It contains plenty of monounsaturated fat and 20% less saturated fat than butter.

If you want to add a slight meaty taste to your baked goods, bacon fat is a good substitute. However, keep in mind that you will need to render bacon to obtain the bacon fat.

To grease your pan, you can use a paper towel or a piece of wax paper to apply the lard or bacon fat. Simply dip the paper into the grease and cover the entire pan with a thin layer.

Dust the pan with flour

Dusting a pan with flour is a simple technique that prevents baked goods from sticking to the pan. This technique works well with any baking dish or pan. Here is a step-by-step guide to dusting a pan with flour:

Firstly, ensure your pan is clean and dry. It is important that your pan is in perfect condition before you begin.

Next, grease your pan. You can use a variety of options to grease your pan, such as cooking oil, butter, lard, or bacon fat. Use a basting brush, a folded paper towel, or your hands to apply the grease, making sure the entire inside of the pan is coated.

Once the pan is completely greased, add about a teaspoon of flour to the pan. The measurement doesn't have to be exact, but be careful not to add too much flour.

Now, with the pan bottom parallel to the kitchen counter, gently shake the pan back and forth. This will help evenly distribute the flour across the bottom of the pan.

To flour the sides of the pan, tilt the pan up on its side and gently tap it with the flat part of your palm, as if playing a tambourine. Continue turning and tapping the pan until each side is covered with flour.

If you are flouring another pan, hold the first pan over the second and gently tap the excess flour into it. Add more flour to the second pan if needed. If you are not flouring another pan, tap out the excess flour into the trash or sink, being sure to rinse it immediately to avoid a mess.

Your pan is now ready for the batter! Be sure to evenly divide your batter if using multiple pans and remove any excess drips from the sides before placing the pan in the oven.

Allow your baked goods to cool for a couple of minutes in the pan before removing them. Following these steps will help ensure your baked goods come out of the pan easily and cleanly!

Frequently asked questions