| In preparing to bake cake recipes, with the exception | | | | ingredients. So, the best and most economical way is |
| of non-stick pans, the initial step is to apply grease | | | | to do it... |
| and flour to the cake pan. This step makes it easier | | | | 2. The Professional Way -- Make Your Own |
| for the baked cake to be unmolded onto the cooling | | | | Pan-Preparing Recipe |
| rack. There are several methods to accomplish this. | | | | Mix 1 cup all-purpose flour with 1 cup pure vegetable |
| 1. The Messy Way -- Vegetable Shortening or | | | | shortening and 1/2 cup pure vegetable oil until |
| Vegetable Oil | | | | smooth. Store it in an air-tight plastic container with a |
| With vegetable shortening, use your hand to scoop | | | | tight-fitting lid. |
| out and spread the shortening on the bottom and | | | | Use a pastry brush to spread this mixture evenly |
| sides of the pan. Then add a tablespoon or two of | | | | over the bottom and sides of the pan making sure |
| flour to the pan and shake and tilt the pan until the | | | | that there are no shiny spots in the pan. The shiny |
| flour is evenly distributed over its surface. Dump out | | | | spots indicate areas that have not been covered |
| any excess flour before adding the cake batter to | | | | sufficiently with the mixture. Or, do it... |
| the pan. Or... | | | | 3. The Easy Way -- Canned Vegetable Spray |
| With vegetable oil, use a pastry brush to spread the | | | | There are canned vegetable sprays sold in the |
| oil evenly over the bottom and sides of the pan. | | | | grocery store that contain flour for preparing cake |
| Then add a tablespoon or two of flour to the pan | | | | pans. I prefer not to use these because the contents |
| and distribute it as described above, dumping out the | | | | become air-borne when sprayed and consequently |
| excess. | | | | can be inhaled. They also usually contain other artificial |
| The messy way usually results in clumps of flour in | | | | ingredients that you may not want to consume. |
| areas where the grease is more concentrated. It | | | | So, if you bake cakes often, the professional way -- |
| gets grease on your hands, in addition to flour which | | | | using your own pan-preparing mixture -- is the best |
| also makes a mess wherever you dump it -- the | | | | way to go. It saves time, money, and effort. |
| kitchen sink or in the trash can. And, it wastes | | | | |