Have you ever baked a cake? If so, how did it come out? There are many ways to make a cake, some much easier than others. The easiest way is to go to the store and buy a cake, but then again, I don't think you could consider that "making" or "baking" a cake.

The next easiest way is to buy a box of cake mix. Cake mix is usually as easy as pouring the contents of the box into a bowl, adding eggs, oil, and water, stirring and your ready to bake. Pour it in a greased pan and pop it in the oven.

Your last choice is to make it from scratch. Just find a recipe in one of your favorite cookbooks or online that you think will taste great. Follow the directions to make the batter, pour it into a greased pan, and bake as directed.

Aside from buying a cake, whichever of the other methods you choose, you will need a cake pan. Most people own cake pans, but if you just got your own place or need new ones, you are probably on the market for a new set.

What type of cake pans should you be shopping for?  First of all, you need to decide what kind and shapes of cakes you are going to be baking.  If you plan on making a lot of cakes and a large variety, you could get a set of pans or just a few of the ones you like best.

If you want to make a basic 2 or 3 layer round cake, you will want an 8 or 9 inch round pan.  If you are going to be doing layers, you will want 2 or 3 pans so that you can bake them all at once and not have to wait to clean them.

You can also get larger round cake pans.  If you are going to be making wedding cakes, you will need varying sizes of round cake pans.  Again, you will want multiples of each to make sure that you have enough to bake at the same time.

Should you get non-stick or stainless steel?  Non-stick is often known for it's potential toxicity.  If you want nothing to do with that, than go for the stainless steel, but make sure you grease it well.  Still, with bake ware, the non-stick coating is less likely to be scraped into your food because you just pour in the batter and lift out the cake.  You aren't stirring anything in it or scraping the bottom at all.  Still, it is your call.

If you want to avoid either of those problems altogether, you can with a silicone cake pan.  Silicone cake pans are a great alternative.  They don't non-stick coating that will come off in your food, they won't get scorched or melt in a hot oven, they bake evenly, nothing at all will stick to the pan, and they store easily.  You don't have to worry about damaging the pan if you smoosh it in a drawer.

Honestly, I think silicone cake pans are your best bet.  You can store them anywhere and get perfectly baked cake every time.  If you are shopping for new cake pans, you owe it to yourself to get a set of these.  Get a silicone loaf pan, muffin pan, bunt cake pan, and an assortment of other baking pans while your at it.  You won't be sorry!