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So you are interested in baking, what should you have to get started for pans? Baking equipment, like all kitchen equipment, can be extremely expensive. There are a few key things that you can buy that can be used in multiple ways to help you save. One of my absolute favorite baking pans is my heavy, rimmed, half sheet pans. I use these pans for everything from baking cookies to roasting vegetables. These pans are so durable, no bending under the pressure of high heat like many of the cookie pans you normally see in stores. I would suggest that you have two or more. You will want two half sheets when you bake cookies, so you can always have a cool pan to drop your cookie dough on. You can purchase two of these pans in a set over at Williams Sonoma for $30.00. When using these pans I would also suggest you invest in either silpat sheets or parchment paper. Parchment is a great tool when you bake cakes and cookies. Silpats are also wonderful, kind of like parchment that can be used over and over. Silpats are also designed to fit the pans exactly, sometimes you have to trim your parchment papers.
I think it is also important to have two professional quality loaf pans. I suggest two here because most recipes you make are designed for two loaves. I also like being able to store and freeze extra loaves. Often times when I bake quick breads I make 6 or 8 loaves and freeze them. My husband loves quick breads! He eats 2 or 3 loaves a week. Loaves pans are also excellent for making meatloaf, etc.
Cake pans are also a good investment. It’s good to have 2 of these pans, as well. I like have heavy duty cake pans that won’t have a tendency to warp or dent on you.
The last thing you may want to invest in is a nice muffin tin. You can avoid purchasing a muffin pan if you like loaves of bread better. Pretty much any muffin recipe can be made in a bread pan. Hope these tips on baking pans help you get started baking.