Baking pan sizes can be confusing, especially when a recipe calls for a pan that you don't have. The good news is that you can usually substitute a different pan—you'll just need to adjust the baking time and temperature.
The key to successful pan substitution is to use a pan with a similar capacity to the one specified in the recipe. The capacity of a pan is determined by its dimensions. For a square or rectangular pan, you can simply multiply the width by the length to get the area. For a round pan, you'll need to recall some geometry: multiply the radius (half the diameter) by itself and then by pi (3.14).
For example, let's say you want to substitute an 8-inch square pan for a 9-inch round pan. The area of an 8-inch square pan is 8 inches x 8 inches = 64 square inches. The area of a 9-inch round pan is 4.5 inches (radius) x 4.5 inches (radius) x 3.14 (pi) = 63.6 square inches, which we can round to 64 square inches. So, you can use an 8-inch square pan and a 9-inch round pan interchangeably, as long as they have the same depth.
Now, let's consider a more complex example. Suppose you have a recipe that calls for a 9-inch x 13-inch pan, but you want to use round layer cake pans instead. First, calculate the area of the 9-inch x 13-inch pan: 9 inches x 13 inches = 117 square inches. If you want to divide the batter between two 9-inch round pans, you'll need to divide 117 by 2, which gives you 58.5 square inches. This falls right between the capacities of an 8-inch round pan (50 square inches) and a 9-inch round pan (64 square inches).
If you're using a new recipe, it's best to play it safe and use two 9-inch round pans, as these offer about 10% more space than half of the 9-inch x 13-inch pan. However, if you're familiar with the recipe and know that it doesn't rise much, you could try using two 8-inch round pans, as long as they are at least 2 inches deep.
Remember, when substituting baking pans, it's important to keep the same batter depth as the original recipe to avoid having to adjust the baking time and temperature. Also, always fill your pans only halfway to allow room for rising. Happy baking!
What You'll Learn
A 9 x 13 pan is equivalent to two 9 round pans
A 9 x 13 pan has a capacity of 117 square inches. A 9-inch round pan has a capacity of 64 square inches. Dividing 117 by 2 gives 58.5, which is very close to the 58 square inches you need. Therefore, a 9 x 13 pan is equivalent to two 9-inch round pans.
When substituting a baking pan, it is important to keep the same batter depth as the original recipe to avoid making drastic changes to baking times and temperatures. Using a larger pan than specified in a recipe will result in a shallower batter depth, causing the batter to bake more quickly. On the other hand, a smaller pan will result in a deeper batter, requiring a longer baking time.
The capacity of a square or rectangular pan can be calculated by multiplying the length of its sides. For example, a 9 x 13 pan is 9 inches by 13 inches, giving it a capacity of 117 square inches.
To calculate the capacity of a round pan, you need to use the formula: radius x radius x pi. The radius is half the diameter of the pan. So, for a 9-inch round pan, the radius is 4.5 inches. Multiplying 4.5 by itself gives 20.25, and multiplying this by pi (3.14) gives a capacity of 63.6 square inches, or 64 when rounded.
A 9 x 13 pan is equivalent to two 9-inch round pans because their capacities are very close. If you were to use two 9-inch round pans instead of a 9 x 13 pan, you would need to keep an eye on the oven and check for doneness earlier than the recipe states as the batter depth will be slightly different.
If you are adapting a recipe to fit a different pan, you can use some simple math to ensure the volume of batter will fit. First, determine the volume of batter your pan can hold or its square inches. Then, adjust your recipe as needed.
For example, if you want to adapt a 9-inch round cake to a 10-inch round cake, you will need to increase the batter by 25%. A 9-inch round pan has a capacity of 63.5 square inches and holds 8 cups of batter, while a 10-inch round pan has a capacity of 78.5 square inches and holds 10-11 cups of batter. Without any adjustments, your 10-inch cake layers will be very thin.
To get the 25% increase in batter, subtract the number of cups you have (8 cups) from the number you want (10 cups). Then, divide the result (2 cups) by the number of cups you have (8 cups) and multiply by 100 to get the percentage.
It is always best to stick to the written recipe, but sometimes adjustments are necessary, and math can help with this.
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A 9 x 13 pan is equivalent to three 8 round pans
A 9 x 13 pan is equivalent to two 9-inch round pans. However, if you only have 8-inch round pans, you can still make it work.
The capacity of a 9 x 13 pan is 117 square inches. To find the capacity of a round pan, you need to recall a bit of geometry: the radius (half the diameter) of the pan, squared (multiplied by itself), times pi (3.14). So, the area of a 9-inch round pan is 63.6 square inches, which we'll round to 64 square inches. An 8-inch round pan has a capacity of 50 square inches.
Now, let's divide the capacity of the 9 x 13 pan by 3, as we are trying to find out how many 8-inch round pans it is equivalent to. 117 divided by 3 is 39, so we would need three 8-inch round pans to equal the capacity of a 9 x 13 pan.
However, it is important to note that using three 8-inch round pans will result in a slightly shallower batter depth than a 9 x 13 pan. This will cause the heat to reach the centre of the pan more quickly, so you will need to adjust the baking time and temperature accordingly.
Additionally, if you are baking a cake, using three 8-inch round pans will result in shorter layers than a 9 x 13 pan. If you only have two 8-inch round pans, you can still use them, but you will have to divide the batter evenly between the two pans, resulting in even shorter layers.
In conclusion, while a 9 x 13 pan is equivalent to two 9-inch round pans, you can also use three 8-inch round pans or two 8-inch round pans, keeping in mind that you may need to adjust the baking time and temperature, and that your cake layers will be shorter.
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A 9 x 13 pan is equivalent to one 10 Bundt pan
Baking pan sizes can be confusing, especially when substituting one pan for another in a recipe. The general rule is that the larger the pan, the quicker the batter will bake, and the smaller the pan, the longer it will take. This is because the depth of the batter changes depending on the size of the pan.
The capacity of a pan is usually measured in cups, but this is not always helpful as it requires you to make the recipe first and then measure the batter. A more straightforward method is to calculate the area of the base of the pan. For a square or rectangular pan, this is simply the length of one side multiplied by the other. For example, a 9 x 13 pan is 117 square inches. For a round pan, you need to recall some geometry: the formula is the radius (half the diameter) squared, multiplied by pi (3.14).
A 9 x 13 pan has a capacity of 14-16 cups, and a 10-inch Bundt pan has a capacity of 10-12 cups. This means that a 9 x 13 pan is equivalent to one 10-inch Bundt pan. However, it is important to note that the shape of the pan will affect the baking time, as a Bundt pan is deeper than a 9 x 13 pan. As a result, a Bundt cake will take longer to bake than a cake in a 9 x 13 pan.
When substituting pans, it is also important to consider the type of cake you are baking. For example, a sponge cake or angel food cake is not suitable for a Bundt pan as the shape of the pan is not designed for this type of cake. Additionally, many Bundt pans are non-stick, which is not ideal for angel food cakes.
In conclusion, while a 9 x 13 pan is equivalent in capacity to one 10-inch Bundt pan, the shape and depth of the pans may require adjustments to the baking time and temperature.
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A 9 x 13 pan is equivalent to two 11 x 7 pans
The capacity of a baking pan is determined by its surface area, which is calculated by multiplying the length and width of the pan. For rectangular or square pans, this is straightforward: simply multiply the two sides. For example, a 9 x 13 pan is 117 square inches. For round pans, you need to recall some geometry: the formula for the area of a circle is π x r^2, where r is the radius (the distance from the centre to the edge).
The 9 x 13 pan has a capacity of 117 square inches, and the 11 x 7 pan has a capacity of 77 square inches. Therefore, two 11 x 7 pans are required to match the capacity of a 9 x 13 pan.
However, it is important to note that the depth of the pans also matters when substituting one pan for another. For cake recipes, it is recommended to use pans with a depth of 2 inches. Shallower pans can be used for brownies or bars, as these typically do not rise as much as cakes.
When substituting a different pan size, the baking time may also need to be adjusted. A larger pan will result in a shallower depth of batter, causing the batter to bake more quickly. On the other hand, a smaller pan will lead to a deeper depth of batter, requiring a longer baking time.
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A 9 x 13 pan is equivalent to one 10 springform pan
When substituting a different-sized pan, it's crucial to keep an eye on the oven and check for doneness earlier than the recipe states to avoid over or under-baking. Additionally, it's recommended to fill pans only halfway to two-thirds full to allow for rising, unless otherwise instructed in the recipe.
- Two 9-inch round cake pans
- Two 8-inch round cake pans
- One 10-inch Bundt pan
- Two 11 x 7-inch baking dishes
- One 10-inch springform pan
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Frequently asked questions
For square or rectangular pans, multiply the width by the length to get the area of the pan. For more accurate measurements, multiply by the depth to get the volume of the pan.
Similar to rectangular pans, the area of round pans is often enough to determine if you can change the size of your pan for a recipe. To calculate the area of a round pan, multiply the radius by itself and also by pi.
For oval pans, the math works similarly to a round pan. Multiply half the length times half the width, and then multiply that by 3.14 (pi) to get the area. To get the volume, multiply that result by the depth of the pan.
The simplest method is to fill the pan with water and measure how much it holds. You can either fill the pan a cup at a time and keep track of how much you're adding, or you can fill the pan and then pour the water into a measuring cup to determine how much it holds.
The volume capacity of a baking pan lets you know how much the pan would hold if you filled it completely full. Of course, filling a pan completely full is a recipe for disaster in baking. Most pans should only be filled half to three-quarters full to allow room for rising.