When choosing the best glass cake pan, look at the size and shape of the pan. It's also important to determine the type of glass the pan is made from, as some glass is more durable than other types of glass. If you plan on transporting the cake, a glass cake pan with a lid may be a great option.
When you bake a cake, the recipe you are using typically specifies the size of pan you will need. Consult the recipe when choosing the glass cake pan so that you buy the right size. Even though it does not seem as though there is a large difference between an 8-inch (20-cm) pan and a 9-inch (22-cm) pan, the area of each pan is considerably different. An 8-inch (20-cm) cake baked in a 9-inch (22 cm) pan may be too thin and may burn, whereas a cake baked in a pan that is too small may spill out of the pan.
The shape of the cake pan is another important consideration. Look for a glass cake pan with handles on the side. The handles will make picking up the pan out of a hot oven easier, as you have something to hold onto and will not have to worry about dropping a heavy, hot cake dish. If you want to bake a small square cake, pick up a square-shaped pan. Choose round pans for layer cakes and rectangular pans for sheet cakes.
Not all oven-safe glass is the same. The best glass cake pans are made of borosilicate. In the United States, newer models of glass cake pans are made out of soda lime glass, which does not handle swift temperature changes very well and is more likely to shatter. If you can, find a pan made from borosilicate. New pans sold in Europe are made of borosilicate, as are vintage pans in the United States.
If you bake a lot of cakes to bring to others, consider finding a glass pan with a lid that has handles. Some pans come with their own carrying case. It is a lot easier to transport a pan by the handles on a lid than it is to cover the pan with foil or plastic wrap and carry it by the bottom.
Unless a recipe specifically calls for using a glass pan, you may have to adjust the cooking time or temperature. Generally, it is recommended that you lower the temperature by 25 degrees Fahrenheit (4 degrees Celsius) when baking in a glass pan. Keep an eye on the cake as it bakes to prevent it from becoming too dark.
