Mastering Silicone Moulds: Baking & Beyond

Silicone Moulds in a nutshell:

• Silicone moulds are easy to use, making them great for beginners and pros
• Most silicone moulds are oven safe up to 230°C to 250°C (450°F to 480°F)
• They are best used to make denser cakes or sticky confections like chocolate and marshmallows. Avoid using them for delicate bakes.
• To maintain their quality, soak them in warm, soapy water after use, gently rub with a non-abrasive sponge and dry thoroughly before storing away.

Silicone moulds are a fantastic addition to any baker’s toolkit. From baking cakes to making chocolate and candy treats, they are an easy way to create detailed bakes without modelling and sculpting by hand. But, like anything else in baking, mastering silicone moulds is crucial before you jump in. So let’s explore!

Jump to:

The Basics: Heat, Ovens, and Stability
Do you Grease Silicone Cake Moulds?
What to Make: Recipe Compatibility & Cooling
How to Clean and Maintain Silicone Moulds

1. The Basics: Heat, Ovens, and Stability

Can you put silicone moulds in the oven?

Yes, silicone moulds are designed to be oven-safe. Most silicone moulds can be used up to 230°C to 250°C (450°F to 480°F). Since most baking projects won’t require you to crank the temperature up above 200°C, this makes them an excellent option!

However, it is crucial that you always check the safety information on the specific mould you are using - different brands/manufacturers may vary.

The “Floppy” Factor - Lack of Stability

Baking with a silicone baking mould can be a little trickier than with a metal cake tin because of the lack of stability. A metal tin is structured and solid, but a silicone mould is soft, and the sides move. On the plus side, this allows for a wider variety of shapes to be made. But, unfortunately, it also means spillages are a lot more likely!

So, you have to be very careful when moving your silicone mould from your work surface to the oven!

Pro Tip: Always place your silicone mould on a sturdy metal baking tray before filling it with batter to avoid a wobbly disaster on the way to the oven!

Best Moulds for Beginners

If you’re new to moulds, higher-quality, thicker silicone moulds are a great place to start! They are a little bit sturdier, which is always handy if you’re a beginner. Also, aim for moulds with less intricate detail when you’re starting out, as they are easier to use!

Here are a few of our favourites!

2. Do You Grease Silicone Cake Moulds?

Yes, you should always lightly grease silicone cake moulds with butter or a light oil before baking. There are a lot of conflicting instructions out there when it comes to whether or not you need to grease silicone cake moulds. - many manufacturers claim that their silicone moulds are 100% non-stick. Certainly, they require significantly less greasing than a metal tin. However, the reality is slightly different.

Why Silicone Moulds Still Need Greasing

Without greasing the mould, there will be occasions when a cake sticks to silicone. Because a silicone mould is not as effective as a metal tin at conducting heat, your cake will take longer to form a non-stick crust. So, the cake can then adhere to the silicone material.

This is more likely when baking a delicate sponge or when using a mould with really intricate, decorative shapes. Without greasing the mould, these cakes can lose their definition or even tear.

The Verdict

If you want to know how to use silicone moulds for baking effectively, here’s our verdict! We recommend always lightly greasing the mould first, even if the packaging says “100% non-stick”. You can do this using butter or a light oil rubbed in with a pastry brush. By taking this step, you’ll ensure those sharp edges and fun shapes pop out perfectly every time!

Silicone moulds can also be used for fondant, modelling paste and chocolate or candy melts. In the case of fondant, use a little icing sugar or cornflour to prevent sticking! Chocolate, on the other hand, requires no greasing.

3. What to Make: Recipe Compatibility & Cooling

Figuring out what you can and can’t make with a silicone mould can be a bit of a minefield! So here is our breakdown of recipe compatibility and the one golden rule you have to follow for silicone mould success!

What works well in silicone moulds:

• Dense, sturdy cakes like Madeira Cake and Pound Cake hold their shape well and don’t have any intricate details to keep perfect, making them ideal for silicone moulds.

• Cheesecakes also work well in silicone moulds as the silicone peels easily away from bakes that don’t have a flour base.

• Sticky confections, including chocolate and marshmallows, work really well in silicone moulds too. Once chilled, they will easily pop out, leaving you with the perfect sweet treat.

What doesn’t work well in silicone moulds:

• Delicate bakes like madeleines (anything light and airy) are risky when made with silicone moulds as they are made with a very delicate batter. They can crumble and lose their shape.

• Anything that requires a hard crust - because of silicone’s poor heat conductivity, it does not generate a hard crust around a bake. This makes them less successful for things like bread and pastries.

The Cooling Rule

That golden rule we mentioned? This is it! It is absolutely vital that you let your bakes cool completely (not just a little bit, COMPLETELY!) in the mould before you attempt to remove it. This is necessary because it is what will help to prevent the bake sticking and being ruined as you try to pull it out.

Once fully cooled, it should be much easier to gently pull back the silicone and remove your beautiful bake!

4. How to Clean and Maintain Silicone Moulds

Like any other type of baking tool, cleaning your silicone moulds properly is the key to maintaining them in good condition! But there are a couple of common issues bakers run into with them.

The Greasy Film Frustration:

It’s not just you! Silicone Moulds are known to retain a permanent “greasy” feel even after washing, and it is seriously annoying! They can hold on to baked-on foods, which is endlessly frustrating.

When you’re washing up after a baking session and everything else feels perfectly clean, this can be very frustrating.

Cleaning Solutions for Silicone Moulds:

Thankfully, there are some foolproof ways of removing that greasy feeling and leaving your moulds in perfect condition before your next bake!

Step 1: Remove any stuck-on debris

This is easiest to do if you flip the mould inside out, especially if it is a mould with multiple cavities. Gently pick off any stubborn pieces of cake that have stuck to the mould.

Step 2: Soak for 30 minutes in warm water and mild dish soap

This soaking portion of the cleaning is important - let the warm water and soap work their magic! The emphasis here is on “mild”, make sure the soap isn’t harsh, as that can damage the surface of the silicone.

Step 3: Gently scrub

Using a non-abrasive sponge, gently rub across each of the sides and the bottom of the mould, or each individual cavity. Again, be careful not to scrub too hard to protect the surface of the mould.

Step 4: Rinse and Dry

Finally, rinse off any remaining soap and leave the mould to fully air dry before putting it away. Putting it away damp is what can cause issues, so make sure there is no moisture left before storing it away.

FAQs

Are silicone baking moulds better than metal cake tins?

A silicone mould is not necessarily better than a metal cake tin - they both have their pros and cons! Here are some of the ways they differ! 

Are silicone moulds freezer safe?

Yes! Most silicone moulds are freezer safe as they are suitable for temperatures as low as -40°C. But, just as with oven safety, it’s important to check the individual product you are purchasing to confirm.

How do I know if a silicone mould is food safe?

Buy your silicone baking moulds from reputable brands, specialising in baking and cake decorating, like Karen Davies, PME and Simply Making, and check each individual product listing for confirmation. 

Ready to add silicone moulds to your baking routine?!

We can’t wait to see what you make - once you get started with silicone moulds there are so many exciting opportunities for eye-catching cakes ahead of you. Shop our collection of moulds now and don’t forget to tag us in your photos - we’re at @the_cake_decorating_co, and you can use the hashtag #CakeDecFamous!

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