Few in our time there are people who would not cook in ovens or microwave ovens. To please the family with not only a tasty, but also a healthy dish, you need to think about purchasing environmentally friendly cooking utensils. In addition, each housewife needs to choose a convenient container that will fit the interior of the kitchen and will not be difficult to clean. In this situation, ceramic baking dishes come to the rescue. Of course, the principle of operation of dishes for baking or cooking poultry is the same, but still there are some differences that you should pay attention to when buying forms.
Clay products have long been used by man for cooking. Ceramic forms are a modern representation of pottery. In fact, clay is the very first material that was used to make containers for cooking and storing food. The advantage of such dishes is the porosity of the walls, which allows the products to languish, reaching the necessary condition. At the same time, the maximum amount of nutrients and vitamins is preserved in dishes.
Roasting
Most often, in kitchens there is a rectangular (square) or round baking dish. Ceramic, with or without a lid, with or without handles of various configurations - this is the individual choice of each housewife. The uniformity of forms is simply explained: such dishes are easier to wash, any dish can be placed in it and it is easiest to place them in the oven.
Bakery products
Baking dishes are very diverse, here you can find complex figures in the form of animals, and dishes with patterns to create an original picture, and with wavy edges, and so on. There are very small molds in which muffins are baked, and large for cake shortcakes. Baking dishes are available in various colors, so they can even be served on the table - they will not spoil the holiday table.
Bread
Despite the wide variety of bread in stores, more and more housewives prefer to bake it at home. Ceramic mold for bread has a standard "bread" look. However, recently, new types of shapes began to appear - triangular, round, baguette. Standard dishes in which bread is baked may have ribbed or smooth walls.
The choice
It is difficult to unequivocally answer the question of which ceramic baking molds need to be purchased. For the preparation of various types of baking, casseroles and other dishes, it is difficult to do with two or three forms. For example, to bake soufflés, biscuits or cakes that need a high temperature, you need a round shape with high sides. Sand cakes and yeast cakes require a round shape, which has thick walls and low sides. Rectangular are suitable for lasagna and other casseroles. For cupcakes, muffins or baskets, small ceramic forms are needed. For baking in the oven of a bird, you need to use special dishes.
When buying, you must pay attention to the manufacturer of the dishes - a well-known brand guarantees the absence of lead and cadmium in the enamel, which is coated with ceramics. Only such a composition complies with international sanitary standards. When buying dishes from well-known companies, you can be sure that only safe dyes were used in its manufacture, which cannot be assured for sure by acquiring forms of unknown manufacturers.
Acquisition
In our technological age, you can purchase any product you like not only in many stores, but also order on the Internet. Of course, everyone buys where it is more convenient for him. However, before adding the form you like to the basket on the site, you should find one in the store to really appreciate not only its appearance, but also the weight, the convenience of the pens or their absence. It should be borne in mind that the ceramic dishes are heavy enough, which is difficult to imagine from the picture on the site. And choosing a convenient, at first glance, ducklings, you can experience discomfort, having found upon receipt that it is too heavy for you.
Application
Unlike the old forms and baking sheets, which were used only in the manufacture of dishes, modern ceramic dishes are designed to serve dishes on the table. This presentation is especially popular when laying a table in a national style or at theme parties. In addition, given the appearance of portioned molds for cupcakes or aspic, not only common ceramics, but also individual dishes are served on the table.
In addition to forms for ovens, you can put ceramic salads, tureens, dinner plates, gravy boats on the table - in a word, it can be fully served with ceramic dishes, which only emphasizes the national bias of the feast.
Advantages and disadvantages
Ceramic baking dishes have many advantages:
- Functionality and appeal. Ceramic dishes can be different in volume, color, shape. You can purchase practical rectangular dishes, but you can also please yourself with unusual shapes. For example, a bird cooked in the form of a chicken will not leave indifferent any guest. Moreover, such dishes can be served on the table.
- Usefulness. Products prepared in a ceramic form will retain much more trace elements and vitamins than in any other dish - thus, the food is not only tasty, but also healthy.
- Practicality. Ceramic baking dishes are suitable for all temperatures, the products in them are not only prepared, but also perfectly stored in the refrigerator or freezer. In addition, these forms are easy to wash and almost impossible to scratch, which allows you to cut dishes directly into them. You can wash the dishes with various detergents, both by hand and in the dishwasher.
- Uniform heating. Pottery differs in that it warms up slowly and evenly, so the dishes in it are prepared correctly.
- Versatility. In ceramic dishes you can cook a wide variety of dishes, pastries, casseroles, soufflés, meat or fish dishes - the choice is limited only by your imagination.
- Humidity. A unique feature of ceramic dishes is the ability to absorb and transmit moisture. To prepare some dishes, it is recommended to place it in water, leaving it wet for 15-20 minutes. Such dishes during cooking will give moisture to the dish, making it juicier, while the eco-friendly composition of the form does not affect the taste of the food.
Despite the fact that ceramic dishes are not afraid of scratches, they are fragile enough and can break if used carelessly. In addition, pottery should not be exposed to extreme changes in temperature, so you cannot put dishes that you just got out of the refrigerator into a heated oven. In this case, reheating the dish is with the oven.
Reviews
More and more housewives are trying to acquire ceramic baking dishes. Reviews speak about them unambiguously - this is an ideal dish for cooking a wide variety of dishes and in various conditions. It is curious that ordinary baking trays for casseroles can be used not only in ovens, but also on an open fire, which does not impair the quality of the prepared dish.
Housewives especially value the convenience of caring for ceramic dishes and their environmental friendliness, because now more and more people appreciate the opportunity to prepare healthy dishes for their family. In addition, the obvious advantage for consumers is the fact that when using ceramic baking dishes, oil is practically not required to be added, which also affects the palatability of the food and its beneficial properties.