Buying guide for Best instant pot springform pans
Turn your Instant Pot into a baking machine with the right springform pan. You can use your Instant Pot’s quick-cooking action to churn out delicious cheesecakes and other sweet concoctions with one of these two-piece baking accessories. They’re great for cooking sweet and savory dishes in your digital kitchen appliance, and they’re perfect for use in the oven, too.
The spring-latch design of a springform pan allows you to easily release the cooled baked goods from the pan. The removable bottom and collar eliminate the need to shake or cut your creation out of the pan and perhaps damage your delicious dessert.
The key to choosing a springform pan is to pick the correct size pan with a secure latch and sturdy construction. Our shopping guide can help you find the right pan for you.
Key considerations
Springform pan vs. traditional cake pan
Why bother with a springform pan if you have a regular cake pan that fits into your Instant Pot? Here are a few reasons to consider a springform pan over a standard cake pan or pie plate.
It’s easy to handle. Releasing cake or food from a regular pan might require a bit of effort, and it can sometimes end in crumbled edges and a collapsed middle. The collar design of a springform pan is easy to release.
There’s no need to invert the pan. Turning over a cake pan and gently tapping it onto a surface can sometimes go wrong and leave you with a crumbled mess. Keep your cake upright in a springform pan and merely release the collar.
You get smooth results. Using a springform pan creates smooth edges. This type of pan is perfect for baking cakes and cheesecakes.
- You can layer the ingredients. Tall springform pans are great for layered creations like molded pasta dishes or ice cream cakes.
Expert Tip
Springform pan latches can be tight. Make sure any baked item is completely cooled (even chilling it in the pan is a good idea) and separated from the sides before flipping the latch to release it.
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Baking in an Instant Pot
An Instant Pot uses high pressure and steam to cook food. It doesn’t use dry heat like an oven. This wetter cooking style can alter the consistency of certain foods. Don’t expect to bake a cake with a golden crust, for instance.
Temperature range
Any pan that’s capable of withstanding temperatures up to 445°F is suitable for use in an Instant Pot. Most springform pans are safe for use in the freezer, too.
Instant Pot springform pan features
Size
Diameter: The most important thing to consider is the diameter of the springform pan. While many are at least eight inches in diameter, you’ll need a pan that’s between six and seven inches to fit inside your Instant Pot. A pan that’s slightly wider than seven inches might fit, but it will be tough to remove. The advantage of an Instant Pot brand springform pan is that you don’t have to guess whether it will fit perfectly in your appliance.
Thickness: The thicker the springform pan, the longer it will take to heat the interior of the cake or food item. You might need to alter the cooking time depending on the thickness of the pan.
- Depth: Taller springform pans are great for layering ingredients, but a pan that’s too tall might not fit into your Instant Pot. More layers can also mean longer cooking times.
Removable bottom
Springform pans are two-piece baking tools with a collar and a removable bottom. The base should fit securely once attached to the collar. Some pans have a tempered glass bottom. As long as the pan is capable of withstanding temperatures of at least 445°F, a glass-bottomed pan is fine for use in an Instant Pot. Tempered glass makes a perfect base for cutting and serving, too.
Expert Tip
Avoid using pan spray in a nonstick pan. It can get gummy over time and removing it can damage the nonstick coating. Use butter or oil instead.
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Leakproof
The two-piece design of a springform pan means that the pan could leak at some point. Don’t count on a pan being leakproof even if it’s advertised as such. Very watery ingredients are likely to seep through the seam between the collar and base. There are pans with an extended base to prevent leaks, but these are rarely the right size to fit in an Instant Pot.
Material
Springform pans are available in food-grade silicone, heavy-duty stainless steel, and anodized aluminum. All these materials are fine for use in an Instant Pot. For extra peace of mind, choose a BPA-free pan. A nonstick coating can help to keep batter and other foods from sticking to the pan, but it’s not a foolproof solution. Ideally, springform pans should be washed by hand, but dishwasher-safe models are convenient.
Set
Many springform pan sets include three pans of different sizes and represent a good value. You might not be able to use all the pans in your Instant Pot, but you can keep them on hand for baking in the oven, too.
Instant Pot springform pan prices
A single springform pan for your Instant Pot won’t cost you more than $15. Naturally, a set of pans is slightly pricier, but if you like to make lots of recipes that require pans of different sizes, you’ll save money by buying a set of springform pans.
Expert Tip
If you bake a cake or bread in your Instant Pot with a springform pan and want to brown the top crust, bake it as usual then remove it from the pot and immediately add it to a very hot oven to brown the top for added crunch.
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Tips
Choose a springform pan with a flat latch. If the latch protrudes too much, you could have a hard time fitting it into your Instant Pot.
Use a separate Instant Pot sealing ring for savory and sweet items. Flavor transfer is minimal, but you’ll notice that the rings hold on to smells. You don’t want your freshly baked cheesecake to smell like garlic!
Line the springform pan with foil. Leaks are always a possibility with a springform pan. Prevent messes by lining your pan with foil. And check that the pan is assembled correctly before pouring in the batter.
Cool your baked cake in the pan in the fridge. The collar will be easier to remove once it’s cooled.
- Don’t forget to add at least one cup of water to the bottom of the Instant Pot. This allows steam to form and prevents scalding. Don’t pour water into the Instant Pot without first inserting the inner pot. And use the trivet that came with your Instant Pot to make it easier to remove the springform pan.
FAQ
Q. How can I prevent baked goods from sticking to the sides of a springform pan?
A. Before baking, oil the pan well. Right after you take the pan out of the Instant Pot, gently pass a knife around the edge to help dislodge the cake from the sides. Don’t rely on a nonstick coating to do the job.
Q. My springform pan is nonstick, but cake still sticks to the sides! What’s going on?
A. Unfortunately, nonstick coatings don’t always prevent sticking. Nonstick pans can lose their coating over time if they’re washed in the dishwasher, even if the pans are labeled as “dishwasher safe.” Use oil, cooking spray, or butter to grease your pan first, and line the pan with parchment paper.
Q. How do I clean stubborn stuck-on food out of my springform pan?
A. Soak it first to soften up the hard bits of batter still stuck on the pan. Use a knife, toothpick, or small brush to clean hard-to-reach areas like the latch. Rinse before putting it in the dishwasher (if your pan is dishwasher safe).
Q. Which Instant Pot setting do I use for making a cheesecake?
A. Most recipes for Instant Pot cakes require that users select the manual pressure setting. Time varies depending on the recipe, however. If you’re recreating a favorite recipe that you’ve only baked in an oven, it might take a bit of experimenting to find the right setting and cooking time in your Instant Pot.
