Cake strips

Cake strips, also called bake-even strips, are bands of fabric or silicone that encircle a cake pan during baking. As one baking reference explains, their purpose is to slow down the baking at the sides of the pan.

In a plain pan the edges heat and set before the center, so the middle keeps rising and forms a dome. Strips keep the outside cooler for longer, letting the whole layer rise more evenly and bake with a flatter top and a more even crumb. Fabric strips are soaked in water, wrung out, and pinned around the pan, while silicone versions need no wetting.

Flatter layers mean less trimming, less waste, and neater stacking for layer cakes. They are most useful for deep or large pans, and they do not replace correct oven temperature and proper pan preparation.