Part of baking a beautiful and delicious cake is getting the cake out of the pan– perfectly. So, here are six practical ways to do it. We will also answer frequently asked questions regarding this topic.
Stay with us on this blog and learn how to get cake out of pan!
How to get the cake out of the pan using a butter knife?
Our first method is considered the easiest and the most basic method of getting the cake out of the pan. Read carefully to learn how to do this.
Preparation
The initial thing you need to do is cover the plate where you are going to transfer the cake. Cover the whole dish with plastic wrap. Also, you need to prepare your butter knife.
One thing you should be mindful of is to let the cake warm. Let it cool for about 25 minutes.
Loosen the cake
Grab the butter knife and run it on the sides of the pan. Run it in a circular motion (or depending on the shape of your pan). It is best to slide it toward your direction so you can comfortably move your hands.
Continue running through the sides of the cake about 3 times. Ensure that you are also gradually pushing the bottom of the cake upward. Keep doing this until the cake is entirely loosened from the pan.
This technique should be done gently and softly to avoid ruining the cake.
Transfer the cake
Once the cake is completely detached from the pan, start to transfer it to the plate.
To do this, place the plate on top of the pan. Then, hold the pan tightly so you can flip it upside down. Tap the bottom or the base of the pan until the cake is completely transferred to the plate. You can shake it if tapping isn’t working.
When you feel that the cake is already transferred, gently remove the pan.
How to get the cake out of the pan by freezing?
Freezing the cake is not the ideal way if you want to get your cake out of the pan. Doing this requires so much time, usually hours. But, we cannot deny that this is a method with a high success rate.
Well, there’s a simple science behind this trick. When the cake freezes, it is easier to cut or run through the edges of the cake. Since the cake is hard enough and won’t fall out.
To do this, freeze the cake for about an hour, maybe longer, depending on the cake. You have to trust your judgment on this one because you can’t over-freeze it, either.
Once the cake is frozen enough, run a knife on its edges. Place a plate on top of the pan and flip it upside down. Tap the bottom or sides of the pan until the cake is completely transferred.
Your cake won’t fall into pieces, but you need to let it defrost, too, before you decorate or eat. Of course, you wouldn’t want to eat a hardly-frozen cake!
How to get the cake out of the pan by steaming?
Our following method will be steaming the cake. You might come across a blog suggesting nuking or microwaving the cake. This method is the same; we just changed the name since steaming is a more accurate term than microwaving. Here’s why!
You can’t microwave a cake in a tin pan; it will explode! So, instead of turning on the microwave while the cake is inside, you will replace the cake with a bowl of water.
Let the water in the bowl evaporate and create steam. If you think the smoke is already enough, turn off the microwave. After, place the cake inside the microwave and close it.
You will observe that the steam will moisten the cake. Once moist enough, take the pan out. Run a knife through its edges and transfer it to a plate.
Like in freezing, do not oversteam the cake.
If a microwave is not available, you can still do this method using your clean sink. Emphasize the word ‘clean’!
Lay two clean towels in your sink and pour hot water on them. One medium-sized kettle will be enough to create steam. After, immediately put the pan in the sink. Wait for about 15 to 20 minutes to let the bottom part of the cake moisten and loosen.
After the said time, take the pan out of the sink. Flip it over on a plate, and tap on the pan’s top and sides to transfer it smoothly.
This video shows how to do this trick on a bundt cake pan:
How to get the cake out of a springform pan?
A springform pan is a reliable tool when it comes to baking. It helps a lot in transferring the cake to a plate efficiently. However, this is not always the case.
Bakers still struggle since the cakes get stuck even in this kind of pan too. With that, here are the things you should do to get your cake out of a springform pan.
First, you must run a knife to the edges of the cake. Make sure the knife is flat and, if possible, has no sharp edges. Do this step until the cake isn’t sticking to the pan anymore.
Second, declutch the locks of the springform pan. Usually, these locks are on the sides. After, softly remove the side part of the springform pan.
Third, hold your knife again. Use it to detach the bottom of the cake from the base of the pan. This should be easy, but make sure that you are not leaving any area of the cake behind.
Lastly, transfer the cake to the plate. Just slide it onto the plate with the help of your knife. This is why thoroughly detaching the cake from the pan is crucial.
Remember, you can flatten the edges of the cake after you transfer it. Don’t worry about it too much.
Follow these steps, and this method should be helpful. If you need a video guide, here it is:
2 other ways to get the cake out of the pan
Here are two other ways to get the cake out of your pan. However, these may not work if the cake is heavily stuck to the pan. These are just for simple and easily resolvable cases.
Tapping and squeezing
Tapping and squeezing come hand-in-hand. Flip the cake upside down and gently tap the pan. You can tap on the sides or on the base. Afterward, you could squeeze the sides if the pan is not hard metal.
Do this over and over, then you will observe that the cake is starting to slide down to the plate.
Dishcloth on the sides
You can also use dishcloths to get your cake out of the pan. All you need to do is soak it in hot water first. Wring it, but make sure that the cloth won’t lose its warmth.
After that, use the warm dishcloth to cover the sides of the pan. Leave it for about 15 to 20 minutes. The pan will expand because of the heat, so transferring it to a plate will become easier.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do to avoid the cake getting stuck in the pan?
You need to do these four things to avoid ruining your cake. Some people just do one or two, but it’s best to practice all in preparing your cake pan.
- Use grease- Apply some butter to the pan and do it generously. This will keep the pan slippery.
- Sprinkle flour- People sprinkle flour even without the grease, but some also acknowledge that adding grease then flour comes hand-in-hand.
- Use parchment paper- Covering the inside of the pan with parchment paper is another kind of protective layer.
- Use non-stick pans- Take advantage of non-stick pans. But beware since not all pans are true to this label.
How long should you leave the cake to cool?
When talking about leaving the cake to cool before removing it from the pan, it is best to wait for 10 to 30 minutes. Depending on the cake, some will require more time.
On the other hand, if it is about letting the cake cool before decorating, the ideal time span is 2 to 3 hours. Refrigerating also helps.
Tip: Do not let the cake cool in the pan for a long time because the bottom part will moisten.
Can you use cooking spray to grease the cake pan?
Yes, feel free to use a cooking spray when greasing the pan. In fact, many bakers prefer this one instead of the manual application of butter.
One advantage of using a cooking spray is it reaches the narrow nooks of the pan. A baking spray is also an option.
Conclusion
We hope this blog has stopped your worries about how to get cake out of the pan. We listed six methods here for you to do. Do not hesitate to try them when your cake gets stuck.
If one method doesn’t work, jump to the next one. Also, practice the methods over and over again until you master them!
