This old 8-inch round pan is the cake pan I reach for above all others for the simple reason that I know whatever cake I make in it will come out neatly and easily. Why? Because of the slider bar, which completely rotates around the pan, neatly separating the bottom and sides of the cake from the pan. Once a more common feature, it's rare (although not impossible) to find the slider bar feature these days. Have you ever used one?
I grew up with cake pans like this, so I'm very used to them. I still butter and flour my pans, of course, and even use a parchment circle if called for in a recipe. But when it comes to that moment of faith when I have to flip the cake out of the pan, I'm always glad I used the one with the slider bar.
I'm not sure why the slider bar feature has fallen out of favor, but the majority of cake pans these days are sold without them. While it's true that most cakes will come out of their pans if the pans are properly buttered and floured (or if parchment is used) and they are baked long enough. But it's also true that every now and then, you encounter a sticky cake and disaster ensues.
Have you ever used a cake pan a with slider bar? Do you prefer it to newer pans?
→ Find one: Cake Pans With Cutter Bars (Set of 2 Pans) - $10.95 for two 8-inch pans at Vermont Country Store
Related: Quick Tip: How to Line a Cake Pan with Parchment
(Image: Dana Velden)
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Oh I grew up with these as well! Seeing this picture brings me back to baking with my mom in my childhoom home. Although I doubt she has these anymore, it sure does bring back nice memories.
I have two of these - they were my Great Grandmother's and I love them, too.
my mom has three of these "Bake King" pans at home, at least 50 years old (from her mom). and i still grease and flour the pans.
That's a nice cake pan. I love old, tried and true kitchen and cooking items that still work better than their modern replacements.
Case in point: Cast iron pots and pans and older vegetable peelers. Newer vegetable peelers are made of stainless steel. The old ones are actual carbon steel and remain sharp for (almost) ever. I actually collect old vegetable peelers. I find them at yard sales and can easily obtain them by way of my superior bargaining skills for next to nothing.
Yes, my mom's cake pans have those! Sadly my newer ones have non, so I have to use parchment- the slide bars are much less wasteful!
This does remind me of baking with my dad growing up, and I still have ours from this by-gone era. I will say, at least mine, don't hold as much batter as newer cake pans (I wonder why we're all obese), so sometimes I have to make 3/4 of a recipe to fit in 2 of these. But the slider is super handy and I'm not sure either why it went out of style. I guess it was replaced with the easily scratched 'nonstick' coatings. We should demand a comeback!
I have two of these and no other cake pan. Use them all the time. I think they were my moms pans and I would not part with them for anything!! They are perfect.
My mom has those--or had. Those are the cake pans I learned to bake in! She doesn't bake much anymore, and when she does, favors a bundt cake. So Mom, if you're reading this: I'm coming to steal your slider-bar cake pans. (I already absonded with 70s avocado-green fondue pot.)
oh wow! i've never heard of these. it sounds awesome!
How does the batter not escape from the openings where the slider operates?
Looks like something I would love to use. I hate cutting parchment paper to fit my cake pans.
@whoknew: This pan has never leaked for me. I'm not sure if it's because the butter and flour perform enough of a protective barrier or if the fitting are so snug that it's not a problem. But it's not a problem!
Oh wow, I remember these from when I was little. I used to love using them to bake cakes with my mom. I wonder where they got to, because they did make it so easy to take the cake out of the pan.
@whoknew; the only hole in this pan is in the center where a pin holds the slider bar in place and allows it to rotate around the inside of the pan.
Wish I had a cake pan like this.
I had never seen a pan like this until I moved in with my girlfriend. They work great! Unfortunately, she took one outside (who knows why) and it ended up rusting, so I only have one left...hard to make a 2-layer cake with one pan:( I have bought cheap pans, expensive pans, used professional grade non-stick spray, parchment paper rounds, pans brushed with shortening & sprinkled with flour and NOTHING works as well the silly little rotating slider bar!!!
Looks like the one in the photo could use retirement.
Vermont County Store sells 'em... two for $10.95.
http://www.vermontcountrystore.com/store/jump/productDetail/For_The_Home/Kitchen_&_Dining/Bakeware_&_Cookware/Cake_Pans_With_Cutter_Bars_%28Set_of_2_Pans%29/48995
@suzemagoo--thanks for the link, i've looked everywhere for these with no luck. i used to cook with my best friend's mom and we'd always make our cakes with her pans like these and they were awesome. i have definitely had some cake tragedies when it came time to flip and have perpetually wished i had her pans...so glad this got brought up :)
Happy to help :)
My parents had four of these... they're the pans I learned to bake in. I miss them!