What is an Aluminum Pan?

Aluminum pans are commonly used in cooking or baking.  These types of pans are made of aluminum, which means they are silvery gray and often lightweight.  An aluminum pan heats and cooks food evenly.  They also heat up and cool down quickly.  Aluminum pans come in various forms, such as skillets, frying pans, baking sheets, baking dishes, and saucepans.

What are Aluminum Pans Used For?

Aluminum pans are used in a variety of cooking and baking needs. Baking pans made out of aluminum bake cakes, bread, and muffins. Aluminum pans cook vegetables and meats on the stove, fry eggs, and even make sauces.

What are the Different Types of Aluminum Pan?

• Pressed
• Anodized
• Foil
• Cast

Pressed

Pressed aluminum pans are highly common.  These are usually not as durable as other types of aluminum pans and may fall apart more easily, depending on the type of pan it is.

Anodized

Anodized aluminum pans go through a special process to create a natural barrier around the outside of the pan.  This type of pan is highly scratch resistant and resistant to sticking.  An anodized aluminum pan is usually darker in color than most other types of aluminum pan.

Foil

Foil aluminum pans come in different shapes and sizes.  This type of aluminum pan is disposable and often used in settings like cookouts and potlucks.  This pan may buckle under the weight of heavier foods because it is made out of thin material. You may need to place a baking sheet under the foil pan.  However, these pans are great for transporting large amounts of food to different places.

Cast

Cast aluminum pans are made by pouring hot liquid aluminum into a cast, or mold, and set into the shape of a pan.  This type of pan has a porous surface, similar to cast iron.

Recipes Using Aluminum Pans

Banana Bread

Using an aluminum foil pan makes this bread easy to take on the go to share with friends at school or at birthday parties. In a large bowl, add mashed bananas, eggs, orange zest, and sugar and beat together until well incorporated. Then add flour, baking powder, and walnuts and stir until the batter is thoroughly combined. Bake in the aluminum baking pan until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Tomato Sauce

In an aluminum stockpot, combine diced onions, and garlic until brown. Then add canned tomatoes, oregano, sugar, and salt. Cook this mixture for 30 minutes, and add basil and parsley, and cook for 5 more minutes. Keep the sauce as us or blend it with an immersion hand blender for a smooth texture. Serve the sauce with your favorite Italian dishes or spoon over roasted spaghetti squash for a quick and healthy meal.

Beef Stroganoff

Make dinner in a single aluminum pan with this one-pot beef stroganoff. In a large skillet, sauté onions and mushrooms until golden. Add ground beef and cook until the beef is crumbly and brown, and season with salt, pepper, minced garlic, and thyme. To this mixture, add flour and cook the flour for about a minute, string frequently, Add beef stock Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, and egg noodles, and cook until the noodles are tender. Garnish with chopped parsley before serving.