Your metal pans have rusted or stained, and when you use them you notice a slight metallic taste to your food. The last time you dropped a glass or ceramic dish, you managed to nick yourself with one of the sharp broken pieces. You get out a pan to cook with, and it still smells a little like the last thing you used it for. You have noticed the drawbacks of these different materials, and now you're wondering how silicone bakeware pans are any different to the rest. Well, let's take a look!

A completely different surface

There a number of unique properties inherent in silicone that makes it perfect for kitchen use. Many home cooks marvel at its remarkable non-stick surface. This helps to make cooking and cleaning with silicone easier than ever before. Greasing or buttering is not necessary with these pans. To release cakes or muffins, just invert the tray and gentle peel or twist your baked goods from the bottom of the tray. When cleaning, you won't need more than some warm water, mild detergent and a soft sponge. Alternatively, you can clean them in your dishwasher.

All-weather pans

Imagine this: you cook your food in the conventional oven. When it's ready, you decide you would like to freeze it, so you just pop the tray straight into the freezer. Later, you take it out and reheat it in the microwave oven - still in the same tray! This is one of the things that makes silicone special. Always check the maximum temperature rating on your bakeware, as this can vary between brands.

Even heat distribution, better cooking

You will probably notice that muffins and cakes benefit from being cooked in silicone trays. They heat evenly, right through to the center, and don't end up burning around the edges. Watch your cooking times carefully, as you may find that your food cooks a little faster or a little faster than usual.

Bend it like Beckham

These pans can bend over backwards - literally! This has a number of advantages. First, it means easier removal of muffins and cakes from their trays. Second, you won't have any problems storing them. You can squash them to fit into the space you have got, then pop back into shape when you pull them out again. Last of all, if you drop a silicone pan it won't break.

Keep in mind that because it is so bendy, it can be a bit tricky to move it from one surface to another without it sagging in the middle and sending cake mix everywhere. If you slip a sturdy baking tray underneath your silicone pan, you'll keep it in just the right shape.

Lighter than light

Ceramic, stone and even some metal cookware can be quite heavy. Silicone is very light. This makes it suitable for use by people who may have difficulty handling heavy objects. It is also handy for campers, being light and easily stored.

Is silicone better than other materials, then?

Silicone has a number of advantages over other types of materials, being light and flexible, non-stick, evenly heating and versatile. However, in the end it boils down to personal preference. While some are making the switch to this more modern material, others will always stick with traditional bakeware pans, like ceramic and stone.