Silicone is new in bakeware. It is very flexible and releases food
easily. It can also be easily moved from the freezer to the
microwave or oven. Unlike most metal baking molds, it can also be
washed in the dishwasher. So far, so good. But be aware that since
it's completely flexible, it's usually best to serve it on a
separate, rigid baking sheet to avoid splattering.
When baking cookies and vegetables, some people line the baking
pans with parchment paper or aluminum foil to keep food from
sticking to the hob. But as an alternative, many home cooks and
professional chefs are turning to silicone baking mats.
"The non-stick silicone creates a barrier between the metal of the
pan and the ingredients, helping those ingredients to release more
easily after baking," says Ruthie Kirwan, cookbook author and owner
of the Percolate Kitchen blog. "They're useful for cooks who don't
want to fiddle around with scraping food off pans, cleaning greasy
pans, or foil and parchment."
