Similar Content to: Blind Baking

A flat pan or sheet of metal that is used to bake products that are thick or stiff enough to stand on their own, such as cookies, freestanding breads, biscuits, pastries, and meringues. Baking sheets, which are also referred to as cookie sheets, consist of a metal sheet that is flat with one or both of the short ends containing a slightly turned up lip that is used to aid in handling the sheets. Baking pans with ¾ inch sides all around are often referred to as baking sheets or cookie sheets also. They can be used in the same manner as a flat baking sheet but they can also be used for baking runny batters. Older baking sheets are constructed of single layers of metal that may have "hot-spots" which heat certain areas of sheet faster than others, resulting in uneven cooking. Newer types of baking sheets are made with several layers in order to provide insulated sections for more even cooking. The insulation retains the heat to keep items cooking longer at a move even temperature, rather than cooking quickly and causing browning excessively, in some instances before the dough is allowed to rise. Surfaces of the sheets may have a "stick-free" composition as well as irregular heights (embossed surfaces) that allow air to flow around the bottom of the item being baked so that it nicely bakes or crisps the bottom of the item, such as pizzas.