In the past few years numerous industries have been changing. From health products to beauty products and finally right into our kitchens. A new product, silicone bakeware, has found its way into many of our homes and for good reasons. Not only is silicone bakeware a no-fess, hardly-any-cleanup product, but it lasts a long time, is easier to store, and all around a better option to bake with.

Before silicone bakeware came into our lives, many people were opting for non-stick bakeware, generally made with Teflon. This seamed like a great option for a while. The problem with non-stick bakeware was that with time and wear, the Teflon would rub off of the bakeware. This was a problem for many reasons. First of all, it's harmful to your health, and second of all the non-stick would no longer be non stick!

Silicone is a great material. Silicone bakeware is great for baking. It's a flexible yet sturdy material, it can stand extremely hot environments yet it cools quickly. Silicone bakeware is available these days for virtually every use you can think of. From silicone pans to silicone trays to silicone spatulas, it's really taking the industry by storm.

When baking with it, you don't have to use a non-stick spray or a knife to help scrape things out. I've been using the same silicone muffin pan for about two years now and it's still going strong. It also comes in a large variety of colors, shapes and sizes for every occasion.

Aside from the easy cleanup and the flexibility, there are many other great reasons to use silicone bakeware. When using glass and metal, things have a tendency to cook less evenly because the material gets hot and can cause burning. Silicone actually creates an almost mini-oven around what you are baking. Things cook more evenly this way and the sides will not brown or burn as easily as they otherwise would.

Cleaning silicone is so easy a child could do it. Don't worry if you get batter on the bakeware, it comes right off. You can also run silicone bakeware through a dishwasher, which is convenient for those of you who are like me and hate washing things by hand. After one wash the bakeware looks almost like new.

The bakeware comes in numerous colors, including red, blue, yellow, pink, purple, green and white. Red is the most popular, I'm not sure why. You can also find just as many varieties of silicone bakeware as you can other bakeware. You can find heart shaped cake and cupcake pans, you can find mini cake pans, mini muffin, and the list goes on. You won't need a spring form pan because the silicone practically falls off the food. The material won't bond to anything you cook in it so the possibilities are endless.

Practically all kitchenware stores and outlets carry silicone bakeware these days. It's not hard to find in a store and it's all over the internet. Some of my favorite products are silicone baking mats, silicone pot holders, and cupcake liners. Amazon has an excellent selection of silicone bakeware as well as many different brands and customer reviews to choose from.

Last but not least, silicone bakeware is actually better for mother earth. "How?" you might ask. It simply lasts longer. It's more economical, too. The non stick on silicone doesn't rub off like Teflon does, it doesn't scratch like aluminum, and it will be in your kitchen for decades if you treat it right. It's also cheaper than other bakeware right off the bat which is just another reason you should be using it.

Wilton and Kitchenaid are probably the two best brands of silicone bakeware there are. They have a lot of styles and varieties to choose from so you'll never get bored, both of them are affordable, attractive, and great quality. Plus most of their items come with some kind of warrantee which is always welcome.