On Wed, 23 Feb 2005, Raj V wrote:

MOMPEAGRAM wrote in another thread:
SNIP
To unmold (bundt pan). Place Cake pan right out of the oven onto a towel
in the sink soaked with boiling water. Invert onto rack.

I have a problem unmolding ALL my cakes, regardless of the pan. I usually
spray the bottom and sides lightly with canola and spread with my fingers. I
have tried flouring the pan too.

If I'm reading the instructions above correctly, you invert the pan onto a
rack with the hot, wet towel draped over the pan? Not sure how this works
since the pan is already hot? And does it work for all pans? When I invert
on a rack the stone counter surface always gets really wet so I usually
place on the grates of the stove.

What are the other secrets of unmolding?

I don't know about Bundt pans. I have not made anything with a Bundt pan.

For all the square, rectangular and round pans I usually cut a piece of
parchment paper to cover the bottom of the pan. I then lightly oil the
entire pan with vegetable oil. I place the parchment paper in the pan.

After the cake has finished baking I take it out and place the pan on a
rack for 15 minutes. During the 15 minute cooling period I'll check the
cake to see if it is pulling away from the sides. If it is I run a paring
knife around the sides to help it out. If not, I run the paring knife
around the pan after it has cooled (usually 15 minutes does it but I touch
it to be sure).

I'll put another rack over the pan and flip the whole thing over. If it
doesn't fall right out I'll leave it while I do something else (make the
frosting, some rosettes, etc.). When I can life the pan off without
lifting the cake I do so.

The parchment paper will stick to the cake. I'll gently peel this off and
I'm done.

I don't know if this is the best way to do it but it certainly works for
me.

I have occasionally created cakes using special molded cake pans (Dora the
Explorer or Mickey Mouse). For those I use a commerical spray designed for
releasing cakes from molded pans. I'm not sure of the name and I've only
seen it in a specialty store that sells bulk, commerical supplies.

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