TikTok Is In Awe Of A Viral Video That Shows How Pans Affect Baking
If you're someone who enjoys baking, there's a good chance that you know at least a little bit about how different colored baking pans can yield different results. The equipment you're working with is the reason that, even when you follow a recipe exactly, sometimes things don't turn out exactly the way they did in the recipe photo. And it's also why, for some finicky recipes, recipe developers specify what type of pan to use.
It's not about one type of pan being better or worse than another; it's just about what result you're looking for. For example, as Cook's Illustrated outlines, darker-colored pans will often cause whatever you're making to get more browned on the edges than a lighter-colored pan will. For some foods, where you want that perfectly browned crust, that's an asset. For other dishes, where you want a much lighter finish on the bottom or sides, it may be a hindrance.
Still, there's a big difference between theoretical knowledge and actually seeing side-by-side comparisons that show how different pans impact certain baked goods, as TikToker @benjaminthebaker discovered. While TikTok may not be the first place you turn to for baking advice (although the platform certainly has its fair share of great food hacks), the video in question went viral because of just how useful many people found the information demonstrated within the clip.
What the TikTok audience had to say
In a September 6 TikTok video, Benjamin the Baker showed how lighter and darker pans affect the final product when baking cookies, cakes, and brownies. For example, cookies baked on a darker baking sheet ended up having a crispier edge and slightly more browned underside, while cakes baked in a darker pan browned more quickly along the bottom and edges.
Though it may seem like basic knowledge, the video clip racked up nearly 1 million likes, as well as more than 2,700 comments from fans who found the information helpful, especially if they knew exactly what kind of final product they wanted.
"Dark pans it is then!! Crispy bits are the best," one fan wrote. Another seemed eager to tailor their pans to the baked goods they planned to make, writing, "so light pan for cakes and dark pans for brownies and cookies! Got it!!!"
If you don't want to buy new pans — something many viewers commented on the TikTok clip that they were considering doing — there are ways to temper the impact of the pans. As King Arthur Baking Company explains, when using a dark pan, you can lower your oven temperature by about 25 degrees to avoid your sweet treats getting overly browned. And check on your baked goods about 10 minutes prior to the predicted time they should be done, just in case.