Silicone cookware is cookware made from silicone, a type of polymerized material which is made in laboratories. In the 1990s, silicone cookware began to spread to many nations in both home and professional kitchens. There are numerous advantages to silicone cookware which other types of cookware do not have. Many kitchen supply stores sell an assortment of silicone cookware, and it can also be ordered directly through manufacturers.
The primary advantage that silicone has over numerous other materials is that it is both heat and frost resistant. Silicone can literally be taken out of the freezer and put into a fully heated oven without damage. This can be extremely useful in many kitchens, and it also makes silicone very versatile. The same molds can be used for making both hot and cold foods, which means that cooks will save space by using silicone cookware.
The first use of silicone cookware is as non-stick cookware and molds. Silicone will not adhere to baked goods, making it an excellent choice for things like muffins and cakes. The silicone does not need to be oiled or floured; the batter can simply be poured right into it. When the food is done cooking, the silicone can be gently peeled away, leaving the baked goods intact. Nonstick silicone cookware lines include baking pans of all shapes and sizes, baking mats or sheets, and things like pancake molds, which can be used to make interesting shapes from batter right on the griddle.
Spatulas, stirring spoons, and similar utensils are also made from silicone. They can be used in both hot and cold foods without the risk of damaging the utensil. In addition, silicone has low conductivity, so a cook will not be burned on a silicone spatula left in a hot pot. The flexibility of silicone makes silicone spatulas well suited to cooking things like delicate stocks and sauces, since the spatula can be scraped along the bottom and sides of the pot, ensuring that everything in the pot is stirred. This heat resistant property also makes silicone useful for things like pot grabbers and table mats.
Silicone does not stain or hold smells. Silicone cookware is also dishwasher safe. This means that the kitchen can be kept clean, sweet smelling, and sanitary, even in the midst of a baking frenzy. In addition, most silicone cookware folds, which is an excellent space saving feature. The cookware is also chemically inert, and it should have no impact on human health.
When selecting silicone cookware, make sure to twist it. Twisting will show you how flexible the silicone is, and it will also reveal the use of cheap fillers. If white streaks appear when the silicone cookware is twisted, select cookware made by another manufacturer.