I baked another batch of curry puffs, yesterday. I will also, most probably bake some banana bread this weekend, since I have some over-ripe bananas. I like to bake. Therefore, I have quite a few baking trays, etc.
I
used to bake all of daughter's birthday cakes when she was a little girl (well, actually, until her 21st birthday). Each year, we did a different theme with a matching cake, and I built up quite a collection of specially shaped cake pans (teddy bear, Big Bird, Barbie, etc.) I gave away the majority of my shaped cake pans a while back.
But
I kept the rest - the cookie sheets, the large baking and roasting pans, the muffin
pans, the smaller rectangle, square and round cake pans,
the Bundt cake pan, the loaf pans, two flower-shaped cake pans, the one that had inserts to form letters of the alphabet and numbers, etc.
Some, the more
specialized ones that I use only occasionally, I keep in the detached
garage. I am not too happy with this storage location because things
tend to get dusty in the garage, but I don't need to keep the mini-bundt cake pans or the one that makes the letters and
numbers on hand for everyday baking.
Some, like the pyrex baking
pans (1 large rectangle, 1 smaller square, 1 casserole dish and 1
loaf pan), I keep in one kitchen cabinet. Pushed to the very back of
this rather deep cabinet, with more frequently used bowls stacked in
front, they are not that easily accessible (I have to take out the stack
of bowls to get to them), but accessible enough for the frequency of
their use.
It is the rest of the baking pans - all metal - that were in search of a good home. They include the previously mentioned baking pans,
cookie trays, muffin pans, etc. For the longest time, they were
stored in the oven, itself.
Which was not a problem, except when I
went to bake! Every time, before I could preheat the oven, I had to remove everything
and stack them on the counter, or on top of the stove, or on the floor
in the hallway, etc. Often, when I had a luncheon or a dinner party and needed to use the oven, I ended up storing the baking pans in my bedroom!
So, one day, I decided that I shall store the baking pans in the cabinet above the stove!
I
had been storing my crock pot up there (since I used it only a couple
of times a year). But I was able to make
room for it in a lower cabinet, which left one side of the
above-the-stove cabinet empty (I store the citrus juicer and some empty jam jars on the other
side).
I was able to fit in the cookie trays and the big baking
pans, etc. up there, standing upright on their sides (as opposed to
being stacked one on top of the other) for easy retrieval. However, I don't have enough room for all the baking pans - the Bundt pan and the loaf pans don't fit up there, yet, because of the empty jars (need to find another home for the jars).
And then, I realized the sad truth...I am too short to reach them for easy retrieval! I need to drag the step stool over to access them. And if I can't access them
easily, I'll probably end up storing them in the oven because that
would be easier! Oh the trials and tribulations of the barely 5' tall!
But, for the time being, the majority of the baking pans have a home and I don't have to find temporary homes for them each time I bake!
Where do you store your baking pans? Do you have a convenient home for them?
I am smiling, not at your plight, but over the fact that I can identify with you. I have been de-stashing as we pack to move and I decided to let things go, some of which included bakeware. I like to bake also and I need to purchase some new baking/cookie sheets at some point in the future, but for now I kept it as simple as I could. I kept 1 baking sheet, a cooling rack, a cupcake pan, 2 bread loaf pans, 3 casserole dishes (1 small one, 1 deep one, 1 shallow one for quiche), a 9x13 glass baking dish, my crockpot and my mixing bowls. That sounds like a lot but I do use them all on a regular basis for cooking and baking and some of those pieces were my grandmothers so they have more than a useful purpose to me. These things all previously had homes in various places all over my kitchen and on the shelves in my laundry room. At one point I did have them stored in the cabinet over the fridge but, like you, I had to step on something to reach them so I moved them around to other locations. Now they are neatly stored in a cardboard box getting ready to make their way to our new destination. :)
ReplyDeleteWhen I was younger I used to like to make specialty cakes. I had bought the cutest 3D teddy bear cake mold- my friends and I had fun making that cake and "dressing up" the bear differently each time. I also had a beautiful open book cake mold that I had bought to make my grandmother a cake for her birthday (I decorated it with frosting flowers and wrote out the verse Proverbs 31:10 on it.) I often wish I still had those molds but I don't know what ever happened to them. :(
Dawn, it sounds like you've done really well with your decluttering! I would definitely keep the bakeware used by your grandmother. Those are cherished family heirlooms. Perhaps you will find the missing molds as you continue to go through cupboards and pack.
DeleteI have one cabinet , that I keep my bake wear. But, since my kids are all grown, I have gotten rid of al the kid stuff, I use to have. I have limited amount of bake wear now..as I don't have much space.ha
ReplyDeleteJudy, sounds like you've got your bakeware nicely organized. I sent a few items up north with my daughter (a couple of baking trays, 2 mixing bowls, etc.), but I still have quite a few items. I do use most of it, though.
DeleteBless, there are several types of cake that bake well in a crock pot. I cut a circle of parchment paper for the bottom to make certain it doesn't stick but DSIL just sprays with PAM. The trick is not to take the lid off once you turn on to low -3 hrs and let it rest after baking for at least 20 minutes.
DeleteHon, that sounds like the rice cooker cakes! I haven't tried baking cake in the rice cooker or crock pot, but it might be something to try in the summer, when it gets too hot to turn on the oven!
DeleteI've made space at the furthest right of the cabinet under the kitchen sink to slide 4 large cookie sheets [2 rimmed, 2 unrimmed] retrievable if the cabinet door is open in widest position. I'd planned to nail two pieces of quarter round to create a 'track' but found it unnecessary.
ReplyDeleteStack 3 tube pans [angel/regular/bundt] in the awkward cupboard above the stove, stack pyrex pie pan, 2 round 8" & wire cooling racks on their edge like files. If I can't reach I use long handled tongs that have silicone 'pads' and grip. Stuff doesn't tip because I've a canister in the centre filled with incidentals like pie bird, measure cups, cookie cutters,birthday candles etc. Lasagna pans, pyrex & ceramic pans are in a snap lid, Rubbermaid bin in the garage. I am considering selling in November or sending to GW.
Hon, under the sink cabinet would be a good place; easy to reach and I already have my cutting boards and wire cooling rack there. But I also have some cleaning supplies and stuff stored there. Should go through the stuff and see if I can make room for the baking trays.
DeleteI too keep cleaners under the sink, [far lft] using a 8 pack [extended 6 pack] cardboard holder originally held soda. One segment holds a tall, plastic cylinder stuffed with knitted dish cloths. I keep liquid DAWN in a decorative soap pump at the sink as I mix 1/3 water.
ReplyDelete[ I recently got a sample scrubber dish wand and find it remarkably effective].
I think I need to declutter the under sink cabinet again. It's been awhile since I sorted through, in there.
Delete