Culinary Shopper

What is a Butter Warmer?

2011-10-30T08:01:00.000-07:00

These are small pans, usually in the shape of a sauce pan. Since butter warmers are so small (they generally have a base diameter of around 4 inches or less) they are commonly used over a portable heat source for warming butter tableside, or keeping melted butter warm or other sauces warm. They are also used for holding gravy and warmed syurps and honeys for dinner and dessert courses. Butter

What is a Pancake Pan?

2011-10-20T09:26:00.000-07:00

Pancake pans are similar to blini pans. It is a smaller diameter frying pan with low sides.

What is a Brazier?

2011-10-13T08:26:00.000-07:00

A brazier is similar to a rondeau, and performs in the same manner. Some styles of braziers are slightly taller than a rondeau, but shorter than a sauce pot.

What is a Chestnut Pan?

2011-10-07T09:33:00.000-07:00

A chestnut pan is a frying pan with a perforated bottom. The perforations allow for lots of heat contact for better roasted flavors for the chestnuts. Chestnut pans are made to be used over open fire or gas top ranges to allow the chestnuts contact with flames. Chestnut pans also come in models with very large handles for use in fireplaces (up to 28 inches long) which make presentation of the

What is a Dutch Oven?

2011-10-03T10:30:00.000-07:00

A Dutch oven is a heavy pot used for baking and stove top braising of foods. They are popular with making stews and cassoulets, and usually comes with a lid that fits well to keep in steam and moisture. Dutch ovens come in all sizes, including individual to very large.

What is a Tart Ring?

2011-09-30T16:48:00.000-07:00

A tart ring is a baking molds with no bottom. It is similar to, and used like, a flan mold. It can be made of different materials (like tin-plate or stainless steel, and while flan molds are a little higher tart rings are generally all 3/4" high. They are used for making tart crusts easily, and when baked the rings slip off when picked up.

What is a Fondue Pan?

2011-09-26T10:24:00.000-07:00

A fondue set generally has a sauce pot or round pot with a lid that fits different sized forks to rest. It is set over a base that is heated, that will keep warmed cheese sauce or melted cheese in its melted form.

What is a Steamer Pan?

2011-09-23T10:00:00.000-07:00

A steamer pan is a two-tiered pan cooking system that has a perforated bottom on the top to allow for steam that is created from simmering water in the bottom pan. It is commonly used for steaming vegetables.

What are the CK Hard Candy Molds (And How to Use Them)?

2011-09-14T16:27:00.000-07:00

The CK Hard Candy molds are a thin, high temperature plastic molds that can be used in the oven up to temperatures of 350 degrees F, and also with boiled sugar lollipop and sucker mixtures. The plastic will not melt as the hot boiling sugar is poured inside of them, and while they are very useful (they come in many different shapes and sizes and are very inexpensive), they are not made to last

What is a Fish Poacher (Pan)?

2010-09-23T10:04:00.000-07:00

A fish poacher is an elongated pan used to poach fish fillets and whole fish. It generally consists of a long pan, a rack (not as tall as a steamer insert) to hold up the fish and for easy removal, and a lid.

What are Hotel Pans? (or Steam Table Pans)

2010-09-13T10:21:00.000-07:00

Hotel pans are universal sized pans that make it easy for them to be inserted into steam tables on a cooking line. Usually made of heavy duty materials. They can be solid bottom or have perforations to allow the steam to penetrate the food. The most common depths are 200 (2 inches), 400 (4 inches) and 600 (6 inches). For example - a half 200 hotel pan is roughly 12" x 10" with a 2 inch depth.

What is a Stock Pot?

2010-09-03T09:57:00.000-07:00

A stock pot is a pot with high sides. It can be used for boiling pastas, making stocks or soups, and large batches of sauce.

What is a Pie Pan?

2010-08-26T00:29:00.000-07:00

A pie pan is a round, shallow pan with sloping sides. Generally, most pie pans have some kind of lip around the edge to hold and showcase the crust.

What is a Savarin Mold?

2010-08-16T01:10:00.000-07:00

A savarin mold is a round, tube shaped pan that bakes a yeast based bread or cake. Often, savarin breads are drenched or dipped in a flavored syrup before serving. Savarin dessert is similar to a rum baba.

What is a Baba Mold?

2010-08-06T01:05:00.000-07:00

A baba mold can be one of two things: a baba cake that is baked in a savarin mold or individual tall and narrow molds. Often, baba cakes or breads are drenched or dipped in a flavored syrup before serving. A rum baba (baba au rhum) is similar to a savarin, where the cake or bread is baked in a round, shallow tube pan.

What is a Paella Pan?

2010-07-03T09:37:00.000-07:00

A paella pan is a shallow two handled pan with a wide diameter. Paella pans generally have sloping or rounded sides, where the top is larger than the base. The tapered bottom makes evaporation of the liquid in the pan easier.

What is a Fish Fry Pan (or Oval Fry Pan)?

2010-07-03T08:38:00.000-07:00

The fish fry pan, or oval frying pan, is a frying pan with an oval shape. The longer shape holds fillets of fish well and whole fish, and is used for other longer items. The shape makes it easy to cook long, thin foods without taking up a very large diameter space on the cooktop.

What is a Silicone Baking Mat?

2010-06-30T08:13:00.000-07:00

A silicone baking mat is a mat made of laminated and ruberized silicone. Some have reinforced fiberglass fibers or a fiberglass mesh and those types of mats are not made to be cut, trimmed or used with any cutting intruments as the fiberglass can contaminate food. All silicone baking mats have a degree of high heat durabilty and some range up to 480 degrees F. down to minus 40 degrees F. That

What is a Flared Bread Pan?

2010-06-14T17:11:00.000-07:00

A flared bread pan is just what it sounds like – a bread pan with flared sides. Flared bread pans with rolled edges are made for heavy-duty applications. Flared bread pans also go by the name 'splayed bread pans.'

What is a Pullman Loaf Pan? (Pan de Mie)

2010-06-14T17:07:00.000-07:00

These are covered bread pans with a sliding cover that can be shut during baking. This will keep the bread in a uniform rectangular shape (and perfectly square slices) with no rounded top typical of most baked bread loaves. The dough used is typically a low crumbing type of yeast bread. Pain de Mie comes from the French "pain" for bread, "mie" for crumb. These baked bread loaves are useful for

What are Aspic Molds?

2010-06-14T16:56:00.000-07:00

Aspic molds are small, narrow round cake pans. Although aspic molds are generally round, they also can be found in oval shapes. The sides are slightly flared for ease in removal. They generally all have some kind of rim around the edge for durability. Aspic molds can be used the same as any small cake molds, baba molds or small mousse molds. They are popular for both sweet and savory applications

What is a Barquette Mold? (Boat Shaped Mold)

2010-06-14T16:54:00.000-07:00

This mold has an oval football shape and slightly flared sides. The ends are generally pointed, and the edges can be plain or fluted. They are used for mini tarts, savory canapés and other baked goods. They can be found in a variety of sizes and materials – tin-plate and non-stick are common.

What is a Flan Ring?

2010-06-14T16:42:00.000-07:00

A flan ring is similar to and used like a tart ring. It is in varying shape (round, rectangle or flower are popular) and made of stainless steel or tin plate. Flan rings can be of varying diameter and usually about an inch tall – 3/4” to 5/8” is the most common. They are commonly used for open-faced style of tarts (also called flans).

What is a Brioche Mold?

2010-06-06T00:52:00.000-07:00

A brioche mold or pan is a multi-fluted pan with steeply sloping sides. In most cases, brioche pans are called by the number of flutes (sometimes called waves or curves) around the edge, for example a '10-Flute Brioche Mold' is a brioche mold pan with 10 curves or flutes around the edges. A pan with small flutes and no number indicates there are many small flutes around the edges. The flutes

What are Tartlet Pans? or Tartlet Molds?

2010-06-06T00:37:00.000-07:00

Tartlets are miniature or individual versions of tarts. They can be fluted around the sides, or be made plain which look like miniature pie pans. Tartlet pans can be in many shapes from round, square, rectangular to specialty shapes like barquette and heart shapes.