How To Grease A Pan

I have learned how to grease a pan or two, being a professional baker for more that 20 years.  I typically use my own homemade pan grease.  This simple easy recipe has made my life so much easier!!  

Make ahead of time and store in the refrigerator for whenever you need to grease a pan.  3 pantry ingredients are all it takes to make this pan grease recipe and 5 minutes to whip up.  Just remember, equal amounts of 3 simple ingredients: flour, shortening and vegetable oil.  

A low-cost alternative to what is on the market with an incredibly long shelf life.  Pan grease and cake release are the same thing, just a different name. Keep your cakes from sticking!!

If you bake a lot of cakes, you will want to print this recipe.  There is nothing worse than creating the perfect cake and having it ruined because it stuck to the side of the pan.  This cake release recipe will eliminate all of those cake-flipping disasters!  

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.  This page contains affiliate links.  Click on the highlighted text in a post to explore a product. If you purchase through one of them, I will receive a commission (at no additional cost to you).  I ONLY EVER ENDORSE PRODUCTS THAT I HAVE PERSONALLY USED.  Thank you for your support!

How to Make Your Own Pan Grease

Gather all of your ingredients.  

Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl.  Mix with an electric mixer using a wire whip attachment.  

• 

• 

Start on low and beat until the mixture is combined.  Gradually, turn the mixer speed up until you reach high speed.  Beat until the mixture is light and fluffy.  This step will take 5 to 10 minutes depending on your mixer.  

Use a pastry brush to apply to the bottom and sides of the pan.  

Store any un-used pan grease in a sealed container in the fridge for 6 to 12 months. 

How to Grease a Pan 

When it comes time to get your pan ready before you add the cake batter, I have a few tips.  

If you have the pan grease stored in the fridge, bring it out and let sit on the counter for a few minutes.  This will make it easier to spread in the pan.  

I like to use a pastry brush to apply the cake release.  Just make sure that you don’t get any stray bristles left in the pan.  

My pastry brush is solely used for greasing my pans because I grease a lot of pans!!  After I am done, the brush gets wrapped in a plastic baggy and put in the fridge along with the grease mixture.  

An alternative to the brush is using a piece of paper towel that is wrapped around your fingers.  After you are done, just throw away your paper towel.  

Make sure to be generous with your pan grease.  Get in all of the cracks and crevices of the cake pan.  

You want an even layer on the whole inside of the pan.  Cake release is mainly used for cakes that are decorated or frosted.  My German chocolate cake is made with my pan grease. Doesn’t it look so beautiful!! 

How to Grease and Flour a Pan

This method is one that I used to do in my teen-age baking days.  The old recipe books back then always said to grease and flour a cake pan.  

I quickly grew to hate this method!!  It was messy!  The baked cake had a powdery residue.  I found myself looking for an easy alternative.  My alternative was this cake release recipe.  

A question I get from time to time is: If I use this cake release, do I still have to flour the pan?  No, the flour in the pan grease eliminates this messy step.  

Another question I get is: If I am making a chocolate cake or brownies, do I use cocoa powder instead of flour in my recipe?  My answer is no.  Cocoa powder is very expensive. I would never use cocoa powder to flour a pan because of the mess and also the cocoa is bitter tasting.   

How to Grease a Pan for Brownies

My preferred method to grease a brownie pan is cooking spray.  Cooking spray is what recommended for greasing a brownie pan.  

When using muffin or loaf pans for quick breads or brownies, I use cooking spray.  It is easy, quick and works very well.  

I never use this pan grease for my brownies or quick breads.  If it is not broken, don’t try to fix it.  

People ask if I use butter to grease my pans?  No, I don’t.  As with cocoa powder, butter is more expensive to use than cooking spray.  

Butter has not given me a consistent result in my baking needs. Cake release and cooking spray are my two preferred choices for all of my baking needs.      

How Do You Grease and Line a Pan?

I use this method at my work bakery a lot.  Because of the type of pans that is available to me, I prefer to use cooking spray and parchment paper to line the pans.  

First, spray the pan with a thin layer of cooking spray. Next, line the bottom of the pan with the parchment paper and press down to get a great seal.  Finally, add a generous layer of cooking spray to the parchment paper and the sides of the pan.  

Where Do You Store the Cake Release?

I store my pan grease in the refrigerator.  With the high volume of cakes that are make in my bakery, I like to make a large batch and store in the fridge.  

Store your pan grease for 6 months to a year in the refrigerator.  If the oil separates, just bring the mixture to room temperature and stir all together.  This cake release can be stored at room temperature which makes it easy to spread.    

Did you enjoy this recipe? Your comment and 5-star rating takes just seconds but helps other readers and helps our site gain more readers! Thank you for taking the time to share your comments! 

Stay in touch with me through social media!

• Tried this recipe? Snap a picture and tag #frommichigan2019 on Instagram@frommichingan2019. 
• Like my page on Facebook.
• Follow me on Pinterest

If you enjoy this recipe, you may enjoy the following:   Grilled Pineapple Upside Down Cake or German Chocolate Frosting

• 

•