Are you planning to make an angel bake for your parents' 50th anniversary? If you are, then you need an angel cake pan to bake cakes with only egg whites. Angel cake is considered healthy compared to other cakes so it needs the perfect pan to bake a mouthwatering cake. But make sure the cake comes off easily from the pan without distorting the shape.
Moreover, even heating, as well as non-toxic materials, needs to be considered while opting for the best angel food cake pan for your kitchen. The re-attachable inner core is helpful in cooling the cake and the handles or legs on the pans prevent your hands from burning. Not to mention, the dimension of the cake pan is necessary before choosing one.
Best Pick
The Wilton Angel Food Cake Pan is our best pick on our list because it has three legs to quickly cool down the cake. This cake pan is a round aluminum product and heavy but it provides even heating to cook the cake on all sides. The size of the pan is regular and requires less trouble in cleaning the pan.
Budget Pick
The Nordic Ware Angel Food Cake Pan is on our best budget pick because it is a USA-made cake pan with a food-grade non-stick coating. It has an uncomplicated cleaning process and also releases the cakes without effort. However, the pan can appear heavier than other cake pans.
Quick Comparison: The 10 Best Angel Food Cake Pans
1. Wilton Angel Food Cake Pan
Angel food cake is made of egg whites and to get the fluffiness of the cake, Wilton has designed their angel cake pan with aluminum. The solid anodized aluminum prevents rust and makes it sturdy to use for a long duration. Moreover, heat is evenly distributed in the pan which allows the cake to bake evenly.
The feature we like about this cake pan is that the inner core is removable. The inner core not eases the release of the cake but also helps in cleaning the pan. It is not mentioned if the pan is suitable to wash in the dishwasher. advise you to hand wash the pen for durable use.
The pan needs to be cleaned with hot water. The surface is not non-stick so it is better to use parchment paper or butter before pouring the batter on the pan. The pan comes with all instructions required to follow to bake the perfect angel cake.
Pros
Cons
2. Nordic Ware Angel Food Cake Pan
The angel food cake pan from Nordic Ware is an aluminum product. It is light in weight with a diameter of 10 inches. The height of the pan is 4.25 inches which can accommodate a cake batter for 10 to 12 people.
This USA-made angel cake pan comes in dark grey color and the inner core is attached. The detachable cake pan assists in easy cleaning and easy release of the cake. Though the cake pan has a non-stick surface, the baked food will be effortlessly released without greasing or placing parchment paper.
Moreover, this aluminized steel pan is rust-resistant and is strong enough to prevent warping. But for cleaning the pan, you need to hand wash it as it has a non-stick surface. The non-stick can get damaged if it collides with any hard objects.
Recipes of different cakes are provided with the pan. Molded salads to any flat-topped pies or cakes can be baked on it. Make sure to clean the interior properly as the cake might get stuck leading to damage to the pan.
Pros
Cons
3. Chicago Metallic Angel Food Cake Pan
Angel cakes are different because only egg whites are used and they need the proper heat circulation to uniformly bake the cake. Chicago Metallic used alloy steel for manufacturing the pan. The pan is only 1 pound and with a dimension of 9.5 x 9.5 x 4 inches. A box of cake mix batter can be baked on this pan.
The feature we like about this pan is that the inner core is detachable. It has legs that provide support when the pan is inverted. You can wash the pan in the dishwasher but the brand encourages handwashing the pan. Handwashing the pan will keep the non-stick coating for a long period.
Another feature of the cake pan is that the dimension is large which can bake a cake to serve a small gathering. The pan is easy to store and maintain if it is washed thoroughly.
4. Nordic Ware Graphite Angel Food Cake Pan
This angel cake pan from Nordic Ware comes in graphite color. The inner core is attached to the pan which makes it easy to store or carry. The feature we like the most about this pan is that it has a huge capacity. It is spacious to accommodate 18 cups of and leave a space to rise.
Moreover, the pan has a non-stick food-grade interior. Due to the interior, you do not have to use parchment paper or add any extra butter for easy release. As the cakes are baked, let them sit for 5 to minutes before you invert the pan to decorate for serving.
Not to mention the pan has handles on both sides to hold for release. The inner core is not removable. The removable inner core is helpful for thorough cleaning of the pan and also helps to cool down the pan quickly. Furthermore, hand washing the pan is suggested by the brand.
Pros
Cons
5. CHEFMADE Angel Food Cake Pan
Food only becomes edible if they are cooked in food-grade material and CHEFMADE has manufactured a toxic-free cake pan. Your homemade angel cake will not only be delicious but also chemical-free. The pan is made of carbon steel and a coating of silicone to release the cake without any effort.
The carbon steel heats the pan quickly, reducing the cooking time and also maintaining the proper taste of the cake. The pan is sturdy and has 0.8 mm carbon steel. The bottom or the inner core of the pan is detachable. It is built with updated technology that gives a seamless finish to the pan.
Furthermore, this round pan is in champagne gold color and has a diameter of 8 inches. The non-toxic coating allows you to bake a fluffy angel cake for small to get together. Hand washing is recommended and advised to not soak in water. Also, the cake pan needs to be dried thoroughly after washing with water.
Pros
Cons
6. Cuisinart Chef's Angel Food Cake Pan
We expect cakes to be released easily without damaging their shape and for that grease or parchment papers are used. The Cuisinart angel cake pan has a non-stick coating on the interior and exterior. As a result, it makes cleaning easier and cakes come out easily in their intact shape.
As you don't have to add extra butter for effortless release, the cake stays healthy to serve as a low-fat dessert for the guests. More importantly, the base is removable which lets the air pass and deliver the undamaged cake. Heavy-gauge aluminized steel offers even heating of the pan.
The pan is in black color and 9 inches in diameter. The pan is dishwasher safe as per the brand but the non-stick coating can come off if it stays wet for long or collides with sharp and heavy objects.
Pros
Cons
7. Nordic Ware 12-Cup Angel Food Cake Pan
This pan from Nordic Ware is a round aluminum cake pan with a dimension of 10 inches. Aluminum is a good conductor of heat and lightweight which can be used by anyone. If you are new to baking this cake pan can be a good option as it has a non-stick surface.
You don't have to worry about greasing the pan. You can bake a cake made from 12 cups of batter on this pan. The inner core is seamlessly attached and that eases the cleaning. Heat will be transmitted equally on the pan giving the right amount of heat to raise the cake on all sides.
On the other hand, the color can vary from order to order as the brand will deliver the pans of random colors. If you want to use the pan for quite a long time, it needs to be hand washed. Any kind of hard scrubbing can cause scratches on the pan and can peel off the non-stick coating.
8. Fat Daddio's Angel Food Cake Pan
The angel food cake pan from Fat Daddio's is a very small pan that has dimensions of 4.53 x 8.5 x 4.25 inches. The feature we like about this pan is that it can be placed inside a pressure cooker or an air fryer. Those who won't have an oven or an oven that is not working at the last moment can place the pan inside a pressure cooker.
Moreover, the pan is an aluminum build that will not rust, peel or flake. As the cake pan has no non-stick coating, you have to drizzle some flour or oil or use parchment paper. The pan can endure at most 550 degrees Fahrenheit.
The pan is well constructed and the base is attached. There is no overlapping joint on the pan which eases the cleaning process. For washing, the dishwasher cannot be used. You need to lightly wipe away the remnants of the water and avoid any hard scrubbing to prevent scratches.
Pros
Cons
9. Fox Run Angel Food Cake Pan
This metallic angel cake pan from Fox Run has a 10 inches diameter. The pan is prominent to bake a regular size cake. With this cake pan, you don't have to prepare much. You need to mix the batter and pour it into the pan. The pan is non-stick so the cake will not stick in the pan.
The feature which is wanted most is the removable base and this cake pan has it. But the base surface is not smooth. It might create a bump in your cake due to the uneven surface. Fast cooling is possible on this pan if you remove the base as soon as the cake is out of the oven.
Moreover, the edges of the pan are rounded so that it will not warp easily. The brand has not mentioned the cleaning process of the pan. But we advise you to handwash the pan as it has a layer of the non-stick coating.
Pros
Cons
10. CasaWare Angel Food Cake Pan
Lastly, we have an angel cake pan made from durable carbon steel. Even heat distribution of the pan aids in fast and delicious baked cakes. The pan comes in blue-granite but you can opt for the other 2 options as well.
Moreover, the non-stick ceramic coating is FDA approved. All the elements used in manufacturing the pan are food grade and contain no toxic chemicals like Cadmium, Lead, PFOA, PTFE, or PFOS.
For the non-stick coating, the cakes are easily released and lighten the cleaning process. However, for the non-stick coating, you cannot clean the pan in the dishwasher. The diameter of the pan is 9.5 inches and can endure high temperatures. The pan can hold 15 cups of batter from which a delicious cake to serve 10 people can be baked.
Pros
Cons
Things To Consider Before Buying The Best Angel Food Cake Pan
Are you trying to find the perfect pan to bake an angel cake? Opting for one can be confusing as there are wide options but determining the dimension and material of the cake pan is essential. Angel cake is a delicate dessert that needs an ideal temperature and heat to cook properly. A cake pan should have the required properties.
Alloy steel or anodized aluminum or carbon steel angel cake pan?
Choosing the material of the cake pan is a complicated job because there are various brands using various materials. In our article, we have mentioned angel cake pans made from alloy steel, aluminum, carbon steel, and stainless steel. Each of them has different properties which should be considered for maintaining the pans.
Alloy steel is composed of iron, carbon, manganese, chromium, nickel, vanadium, etc. the main elements are iron and carbon. The other elements that are added are not more than 5% combined. The Alloy steel cake pan will be strong, hard, and resists corrosion.
Aluminum cookware is known for its lightweight. The cake pan will heat quickly and distribute evenly all over the pans. But aluminum is softer than steel and can deform after a few uses. Also, it is hard to remove the stains from the aluminum pans.
Carbon steel can tolerate high temperatures and also heats fast. Moreover, it is durable and prevents rust. However, acidic food like cakes of lemon, oranges cannot be baked on a carbon steel pan as carbon steel pan reacts with citrus.
Stainless steel cake pans will be long-lasting as they are not reactive and easy to clean. The pans won't be heavy which makes it easy to release a cake.
Even heating of the angel cake pan
For baking a cake the batter is put inside the oven for baking. The heat is circulated inside the oven. The cake will be evenly baked only when the pan is evenly heated. If one side is heated and the other side is not, the cake will stay raw on one portion and the other portion will be burnt.
The Uniform heat distribution of the pan depends on the material used to build the angel cake pan. Aluminum is a good conductor of heat which will bake the cake like a bakery-style.
Attached or removable inner core in the angel cake pan?
The angel cake only uses egg whites on the batter. The hole or inner core is given to bake the cake evenly and allow it to rise as high as possible. As a result, a fluffy cake will be baked.
The flexible inner core is easy to take the cake out of the pan for serving. Moreover, dismantling in two pieces makes it faster to clean the pan. Both types of pans are available on the market. You need to decide on the one you will opt for according to your ease of work.
Non-stick coating on the angel cake pan
Non-stick coating on the pan is a savior when it comes to baking a cake. The non-stick surface releases the cake faster without any meddling with the knife and damaging the shape of the cake. However, not everyone will want a pan with a non-stick coating.
You can use parchment paper on the pan for fast release. The non-stick coating might not be food grade and can react with cake batters as well. Ceramic coating is also given on the pan for the swift release of the cakes.
Dimension of the angel cake pan
The angel food cake pan comes in a round shape. But it has various dimensions. If you own a bakery, you will need angel cake pans of various diameters as your customer's order will vary.
On the other hand, if you are thinking of buying an angel cake pan for home, you need to buy the regular dimension. 9 to 10 inches is considered a regular shape whereas 5 inches angel cake pans are also available for stair angel cake.
The capacity of the angel cake pan
Dimension and the capacity of holding cake batter are dependent on each other. The cake pan can be filled only ⅔rd of its whole pan. Space needs to be given for the cake to rise. The brands mention the quantity of batter that can be poured for a nice baked cake.
If you are making the cake mix at home, make sure you put in the right amount of batter. The quantity of batter is mentioned in the ready-made cake mix. If you fill the pan with batter, the batter will overflow and no batter will stay to bake a cake.
Legs or handle of the angel cake pan
Cake pans need to have handles or legs to bring the hot pan out of the oven. Also, they give support while inverting the pan to release the pan. Most of the brands do not design handles. If you want a cake pan with a handle, check before choosing the plan.
Washing instructions of the angel cake pan
The cake has oil, butter which makes the pan greasy. You need to use soap to remove the grease. You can hand wash it or place it in the dishwasher for cleaning. But most of the brands recommend not using a dishwasher for cleaning the pans.
The pan has a non-stick coating which can get damaged in the dishwasher. Hand washing the pan is not hard as they do not have hard stains on the pan unless you burn the cake.
Highest temperature to endure
The angel food cake is baked at 325 degrees Fahrenheit. The cake pans are processed in that way so they can bear the heat. If your cake pan is warped at this temperature, the quality of the pan is not good and you need to change the pan to bake an angel cake.
FAQ
How is angel cake different from other cakes?
Angel cake is mainly baked using the batter of egg whites, sugar, and flour. No butter is used on this cake to make it a low calories dessert.
How does angel food cake pan help in baking cakes?
Angel food cake pan helps in raising the cake batter as high as possible and the hole at the center easily releases bundt cakes, chiffon cakes, etc.
Can I use a regular cake pan to bake angel cake?
Yes, you can use a regular cake pan but you need to make the center hole with foil paper so that the batter rises to a nice and fluffy cake.
Is angel cake healthier than other cakes?
Angel cake contains fewer calories compared to other cakes.
Conclusion
Are you trying new recipes to bake cakes? Cheesecakes and regular cakes can be baked on normal cake pans. But angel cake pan requires a different cake pan with an inner core. The inner core stays attached to the base and in some cake pans, the cake is removable. This flexibility helps in cleaning and also protects the pan from corrosion.
Moreover, before buying the best angel food cake pan for your kitchen you need to decide on the diameter of the pan. With the diameter, you need to think about how big you want your cake. After considering all these features, choose the angel cake pan that fits your all requirements.