I recently stumbled across this in the supermarket and intrigued bought a silicone loaf 'tin' and impressed by it got a silicone muffin tray next time. So far everything I've cooked has literally 'turned out' beautifully, evenly cooked, with none of the crusty burnt bits on the edges or raw areas in the middle. Admittedly I have generally used paper liners in them, as I would have with my old tins.

Perhaps I have been taken in with them too easily - they being microwave/oven/freezer/dishwasher safe, eco-friendly, light, transportable, easy to clean, you can't dent or break them and they won't rust. The suggested superlatives are endless!

Before I get any more have any readers had longer term experience of them? They seem to get some pretty damning reviews by some purchasers, questioning their durability, ability to get the cake out whole, difficulty cleaning and even their safety. Are these concerns just a vocal minority though?

I'd much rather read the valued opinions of Mamta's Kitchen readers though. Is silicone the bakeware of the future or just a passing fad?

Thanks, Winton

I have been using silicone loaf 'tins' for a while now, and I have just bought a square cake 'tin'. I wasn't aware of any harmful effects. I too will be interested to hear what people think.

We use them too, never bother with lining paper, just usual butter only or butter and then flour... works fine.

And we use a silicone baking sheet not only for cookies but all kinds of things that need baking on a flat surface.

I seem to remember seeing something on the tv about silcone in the body and it being toxic (was possibly about breast implants and them leaking knowing how much medical stuff I'm forced to watch by my other half).

However I've also seen things saying Aluminium tins/pans cauze Alzheimers, re-used oil becomes saturated and bad for you, anything charred/burned causes cancer, fillings in your mouth are poisoning you, the coating on non-stick pans actually binds with the food cooked in it and is bad, tuna fish is bad for you, salmon is full of toxic chemicals from the sea, beef is not good for you and sticks inside your gut for years, chicken is full of salmonella, pork has brain worms, bacon and ham are now on the hit list... even breathing is bad for you...

so what is there left for us to do and eat ?

Steve

The silicone bakeware products make good washers if you need heat resistant, food safe (as in non toxic) washers. Just buy a plate and make a few washers for your project.

Cheers

Steve

Washers? Washers for what Steve? How many wahsers do you need? LOL!!

For the equipment of my other hobby. Home brew beer! I make beer from scratch i.e. malted whole grains. I have large steel vessels for heating water and boiling wort etc. The silicone washers are used with the taps on these vessels that get to high temps and need to be still food grade. They are a cheaper option and work well.

Cheers

Steve

thats no hobby..!!...lol you're a micro-brewery !

Steve

....on a very small scale yes it is.

Oh I see Steve! I was wondering about the wahsers, since I didn't thnk modern taps had them! Cheers to your Beer :-).