Bundt Pan Materials

The Bundt pan was invented in 1950 by H. David Dalquist, the founder of Nordic Ware Bundt Pans. The idea originated with members of the Minneapolis Center of the Hadassah Society, who wanted a baking pan to make kugel, a Jewish desert. Dalquist knew he had something and began marketing more widely. The women of the Center began calling them bund pans (bund being the German word for a social gathering), and Dalquist added a t to the end for the trademark.

Dalquist made his first pans out of cast aluminum and this became the primary material for bundt pans for a half century. Cast aluminum was a good choice for the pans because of its durability. The thick metal is hard to damage and it ensures even heating.

The springform pan provides two options for a cook: bake a cake, torte, or cheesecake on the standard waffle-patterned bottom for a flat-topped confection; or use the other bottom and bake a cake, torte, or cheesecake with a hollow center and molded flutings on the top. These pans hold ten cups of batter, enough to make a festive cake for 8 to 10 people. The springform pan is made of aluminized steel for rust and warp resistance.

In the early 1960s, the Nordic Ware company was one of the first major kitchenware producers to market non-stick coated cooking pans. They formed a working partnership with DuPont and were an early user of the now famous Teflon. The Bundt pan was by this time was one of America's most popular bakeware. Its popularity increased after it was available in a non-stick form.

In more recent years, another advance in Bundt pans, and in kitchen bakeware in general. Silicone Bundt pans have nearly revolutionized the market. These new non-stick pans are both flexible and durable. Silicone delivers even heat distribution so cakes bake evenly, cool quickly and pop out of the pan with just a twist and no fear of mess or crumbling. These pans are also easy to clean, with no soaking or scrubbing needed.

Perhaps the most impressive aspect of this material is that it can go into the freezer, the microwave, the oven, or the dishwasher.

More information on Bundt Pans