With its emphasis on love and sweet indulgence, Valentine’s Day is an extremely popular time of year for baking. From heart-shaped cookies and cakes to decadent red velvet cupcakes, there are many ways to express your love! No matter how many hours you have – or haven’t – logged in the kitchen, a variety of innovative plastic gadgets and bakeware can help you create delicious and beautiful baked treats.
Now we want to hear from you. Tell us how plastics have helped you in the kitchen for a chance to win a prize package of plastic kitchen essentials like a Silpat® baking mat, silicone muffin pan, silicone oven mitt, and plastic cookie cutters, valued at $250.
Following are a few fun, easy, and practical tips for baking delectable desserts for Valentine’s Day or any time of the year.
- Superior Baking: Silicone’s easy-release, non-stick surface can withstand high temperatures. Even better, non-stick surfaces reduce the need for a greased cooking area, which means less fats or shortenings.
- Icing on the Cake: Plastic decorating tools, such as frosting guns and squeeze bottles, allow the average Joe and Jane to create professional-looking decorations. A flick of the wrist coupled with the right tool can turn your homemade Valentine’s Day dessert into a five-star affair.
- Chef’s Best Friend: Plastic measuring and mixing solutions make baking a sweet experience 365 days a year. Plastic liquid measuring cups are shatter-resistant and lighter than glass alternatives, and some even allow for top-view measurement viewing so you don’t have to bend down to ensure accurate measurements. Plus, plastic bakeware is durable, flexible, and easy-to-clean.
- Down to the Last Bite: From cookies to cupcakes, keep pastries looking and tasting their best by storing them in air-tight plastic containers and re-sealable bags to retain freshness.
- For the Road: Attending a Valentine’s Day party this February? Plastic transportation solutions like plastic cupcake carriers make carrying treats to social gatherings easier than ever. They are lightweight and protective, and they help get your baked goods to the party in one piece.
- Love Mother Earth: After you’re done cooking and cleaning, it’s time to recycle! Many bin programs throughout the country take plastic packaging. Check with your local municipality to learn more about recycling efforts in your backyard.
Ready to get cooking? We’ve enlisted some experts to develop delicious recipes using some of these great plastic products in their preparation. You can view and download their recipes here for a special Valentine’s Day treat!
You’ve learned some of the benefits of baking with plastics, now enter for a chance to win $250 worth of plastics bakeware and other goodies. To enter into the Plastics Make it Possible SM sweepstakes leave a comment below telling us how plastics have helped you in the kitchen. For complete rules and regulations visit here.
This sweepstakes is closed.
Congratulations to winner Jenny Smith, we hope she enjoys her prize package filled with plastic kitchen essentials!
© 2010-2012 American Chemisty Council, Inc. All Right Reserved.
Baking plastics help me a ton in my kitchen, earlier i always used to have a problem of my cakes getting stuck on the surface, with non stick plastic, its like a piece of cake, also plastic mixing spatula ohh how i love it no noise and great results, nowadays there are such amazing decorating tools in market & who wouldnt want their amazing creation to look unique, neat and beautiful. I don’t know what would i have done without plastic baking tools.
How can a person NOT have plastics in their kitchen?? Storage, storage, and more storage!! I use plastics EVERY day to store items. I use it for left offers because they’re flexible and can be moved around easily, not to mention the containers are air tight, keeping bacteria out. My cleaning supplies are in plastic containers. Can you imagine Pine Sol being dropped out of a metal container?? A mess!!! In essence, we use plastics to keep order in out kitchen.
Easy for baking and the best part is cleaning up became so much easier.
Plastics help me stay organized in my kitchen. I have less of a mess to clean whenever I bake with plastics.
By using plastic cutting boards, my kitchen is safer. I don’t have to worry about whether the board is haboring any bacteria. The plastic board fits easily in my dishwasher and I feel comfortable knowing it is clean.
I don’t know how I would survive without my plastic spatula for scraping every last drop out of the batter bowl or without the easy to use (and clean!) plastic containers to store leftovers in. Such a great prize package! Thanks for the opportunity :)
plastics has brought joy to my kitchen every holiday and family gathering! plastic cookware and containers have brighten up my holiday gatherings, not only are they a must for any entertainer they are a important item in the kitchen . my family gatherings are very important to me and with the help of my plastic containers and bake ware i know my guest will enjoy my home baked treats, and when the get together is over i know clean up will be a snap! plastic has made my life so much more enjoyable and i have more fun! i cant live with out my plastic! plastic makes it possible!
I USE PLASTIC IN MY KITCHEN EVERYDAY. IT IS THE MOST AMAZING THING THAT YOU CAN USE. IT CLEANS UP GOOD DON’T RUST AND SO MUCH EASY TO TAKE CARE OF. I LOVE IT USES IN EVERY WAY.
Given that I live in Florida, plastics help keep the BUGs out…YUCK! Plastics also help keep foods fresh longer and prevent cross-contamination!
Thanks for this opportunity!
Plastics make storage and baking easy! Whether it’s on my kitchen electronics, or hand tools, thermometer or anywhere else in the kitchen, without them, cooking and baking would be impossible!
Plastics keep all my pans in tip top shape! I only buy plastic utensils for my kitchen so no matter who sneaks in there I can be assured my pans don’t scratched up with sharp metal things.
Plastics are amazing, I love them for baking – makes it so easy to get the treat out of the pan.
As a small home baker, I use Silpat mats whenever I am baking cookies. I get even baking, quick clean-up, and an increase in my profits since I am not constantly buying parchment paper. I seem to always find a new use for my Silpats and can never have enough. I also use the silicon oven mitts and have never had a burn. These are easy to keep by the oven or tuck into my apron ties.
Plastic containers are perfect for bringing treats to school.
As a bachelor who loves to bake but doesn’t like cleaning up too much, plastics in the kitchen is a blessing! Doesn’t stick as much, easier cleanup and I store a ton of leftovers in plastic containers. I proudly show off my plastics in the kitchen to any aspiring date!!
Plastics are a necessity. They’re great for general cooking and baking and unbreakable for the kids to use. Also love them for dividing out ingredients without having to dirty regular use dishes. With the constant need to store leftovers, plastics save the day. After a good amount of use, they’re still recyclable.
I love my silicone spatula….stirring, scooping things out of pans, etc. It doesn’t melt in a hot pan, but its softened edges eliminate noise and scratches, and it has a really nice grip and feel. Plus, it’s bright red, which is just a happy color to make any day better (and a Valentine’s color at that!).
I have a 2 year old and plastic is a necissity in my kitchen! He loves to go in our cupboard and pick out his own plastic container to get his treats in. :)
I always make double batches for dinner so my husband has left overs for lunch – the air tight plastic containers are a god send!
So many ways!
I constantly bake for others, and I love using plasticware to keep things fresh. Great for leftovers too. And my kitchen tools in plastic help save my non stick cookware.
PLASTICS HAVE BEEN A PART OF MY KITCHEN LIFE, AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER. USING PLASTIC BOWLS TO DO MY MIXING IN (COOKIES, CAKES, PIES, CUPCAKES, MUFFINS, CORN BREAD AND SO ON)! THEN ON TO USING PLASTIC SPOONS, SPATULAS TO HELP WITH THE MIXING, STIRRING AND POURING. LATER AFTER BAKING, USING AIR TIGHT PLASTIC CONTAINERS TO STORE MY BAKED GOODS, TO KEEP THEM FRESH AND EDIBLE.
I have four children and do A LOT of cooking and baking. I love using my silicone spatulas and pans. You do not get those “stuck on” messes that you get when you use metal. It cleans up easily which is a real time saver. I also make plenty of extra so that we have a meal for those on-the-go nights. Those plastic containers sure come in handy to store and /or freeze the leftovers!
Plastics transform my visions into reality…..if it wasn’t for all the fun shapes and designs that we can do through plastic molds, life would be boring!!!
I froze holiday cookies in plastic box.then I defrosted them ,frosted them and stored them in a plastic box.
they were perfect.
Silicone in the kitchen – I could go on forever! Makes baking a breeze! Plastic containers for storage- Keeps me organized, bugs put and easy for my grandkids to get access too!
Plastics can be used to store, bake, and prepare dishes so I would say I most appreciate them for their versatility
One word: Easy cleanup. Imagine trying to get a wooden cutting board REALLY clean without otherwise ruining it. My favorite plastic board just goes right into the dishwasher and gets sanitized on the high heat cycle. Try doing that with wood!
Plastics help keep things contained in my kitchen. I love all the tupperware type conatiners to hold leftovers and treats. Helps a lot with “leftovers night” so everything still tastes fresh!
I like to use plastic storage bags in my kitchen for lots of things – I marinate meats in them (and then can seal and toss out after I remove the meat, without having to dump tainted liquid into my sink), I use them as piping bags (I stuffed jumbo pasta shells this way just a few days ago – so much faster and neater than stuffing with a spoon!), and when I bake something I often use a small bag filled with melted chocolate to drizzle over the top of my baked desserts. It always ends up looking elegant and like I went to a lot of trouble, when all I did was pour in melted chocolate, and snip the end of the bag with scissors. I also really like cooking with silicone spatulas – I know that my nonstick coating won’t take a beating, and that cleanup will be a breeze.
Plastic is so versitile. How can anyone not love plastics? Great for easy clean up. Store easily. And love the bright fun colors. I like to give nested plastic products, like gift baskets, for wedding showers and house warming parties. Practical and Fun!!!!!!!
I really want to try cake decorating, but I don’t have the right tools for it. Winning all of these plastics would help greatly in learning! I’m fascinated by decorating cakes and cupcakes and really want to work in a bakery. But I can’t do it until I have the proper tools so I can learn!
Plastics are wonderful for storing food, baking and recycling!
Plastics have been a staple in our pantry for as long as I can remember. The ease & versatility of use make the a necessary tool for our needs. We use plastic in many ways, but the first thing that comes to my mind is for air-tight storage. Thanks for being a part of our life and contributing to many fond memories throughout the decades!
Plastics are great for storage and prep. They help keep food fresh for longer and you can marinate or prepare food in them.
I love plastics! Lol really! I can roll out my fondant with ease with plastic roller, plastic mat, and plastic tools. Also plastic bags keep my fondant moist. I use plastics in saving my left overs daily, air tight containers are awesome! I love silicon baking mats they make baking cookies and breads a breeze. I cannot forget to mention plastic utensils. I have non stick surfaces in my pots and pans, and I can use the plastic utensils with no fears of scratching surfaces. Plastic has made my life so much easier.
I love plastics because you can use them over and over. Having plenty of containers and decorating tools is essential for me. Plastics take a lot of stress out of cooking, baking and storing.
We really like using the silicom cupcake cups they are great for muffins and cupcakes. There just pop right out without any messes. We use other baking ware but love the cupcakes ones the best!!!!!!
I love the easy cleanup with the non-stick surfaces. Thanks.
plastics are the best potholders. i have a monkey face, a blue mitt, and a red heart engraved square.
Plastics make it easier to put my son’s daily school lunch container together, which I have done from first to tenth grade so far. Plastics always keeps the food fresh and tasty and is so easy to clean or recycle if it eventually wears out (life in a kid’s backpack can get a little rough).
I love plastics cookware because as limited as my hands are they are easier for me to cook wonderful meals for my son and not have to worry as much about the weight of other cookwares. My hands and legs do not get 2nd or 3rd degree burns like was was getting with metal cookware. When you have limited movement due to RA these are a blessing. I just wish I had more than I have right now.
Plastics really are something to be cherished especially when you have three children running around and a pup who has a ton of energy! Plastics make mistakes less costly and are just overall easier to use.
As a chef, I am always dealing with a variety of different kitchen items but when I’m at home, I like to resort to plastics because they’re easier to handle and to deal with. If you drop a piece of plastic, it will most likely not shatter into a million little pieces and then cause hazardous situation for your children. Plastics are affordable and just overall a great cooking household item to have.
I am the absolute worst cook in the entire world and to me, cooking is just easier with plastics. It makes cooking activities more fun and laid back.
I absolutely love to cook and I love using plastics because their convenient and you get so much usage out of them. If you burn it or something happens to it you don’t feel as bad as you do when you drop a piece of china.
I can’t really describe my love for plastics. They are just simply amazing, versatile and easy to use.
Plastics are fantastic! No sticking of baked goods and clean up is so wonderful!
Plastics in the kitchen mean a million different things to me. First off as a single mom it allows me to save money because I can cook larger portions of the meals my daughter and I love and then break them down into individual meals to freeze for a later date. Plastic means that I can empower my daughter to put food items away, which gives her a sense of accomplishment in the kitchen. Plastic also means good times with cookie cutters and silicon baking pans. Then into stay refresh plastic containers for soft and moist baked product we can both be proud of an enjoy. Because of plastic I can share my love of cooking with my child and share special bonding moments that would be precluded by other substances such as glass and metal that are not the safest for an 8 year old to handle. In addition to the bonding moments, plastic is allowing me to start early in teaching her good life skills as well as an appreciation for different foods and the culinary arts. Thank you plastic for allowing me to share my passion of food with my daughter!
Once enthralled by the nostalgic aesthetic of wooden cutting boards and bamboo mixing spoons I have learned to love plastic in the kitchen and now it’s pretty much a love story. First and foremost, I can clean it and know that it is clean; it is hard to underestimate the importance of this. The fact that plastic is easy to clean is probably it’s defining feature. I like bright colored elements in the kitchen as well and nothing is like plastic for the bold and the colorful. All projects start with a plastic mixing bowl; light, colorful, easy to clean. I rotate four different colored plastic cutting boards; one for fish, one for meats, one for vegetables and a small one dedicated only to onions and garlic(!), though truth be told it’s not really necessary because they come out hospital standard germ-free from the dishwasher. If I think they have become scratched they economical to replace. Plastic measuring spoons are neat, easy to use and reliably clean. I come from a frugal line of home cooks and nothing goes to waste in my kitchen where a small army of plastic containers are in constant rotation with bits of previous meals for snacks or to act as ingredients in my famous omelets. My current major crush is all things silicone. That stuff is a marvel and I’m looking to add more to my baking arsenal. I am a constant home baker and my silicone bread pans are used every week. I really can’t remember how I baked bread before without them; perfect crusts, no sticking, no nagging worries that rancid grease is hiding in crevasses (because no ‘grease and flouring of the pan is necessary), easy to clean ~ my new best friends. The same goes for a muffin tin that is not ‘tin’ but a bold red silicone plastic material. Muffins and cup cakes are near perfect.
From plastic storage bins to using plastic utensils to protect my non-stick pots and pans plastic is a must have in my kitchen. I use plastic food containers to store food in all the time. My garbage can in the kitchen is plastic, my dish drainer…plastic. The list goes on!!! Plastic is great! And affordable!
the colors make me happy
cleaning is easy and fast
its fun to use all the stuff I have
unbreakable and here to last
for cooking and for baking
there is nothing I enjoy more
so I collect all the plastic that I can get
and my kitchen turns into the perfect plastic store
I have never tried this product but, after all of the rave reviews, I know I will! Maybe I can win my first set?
I am a busy mom of a 2 and a 13 yr old daughter’s. I use plastic containers everyday!! From storing foods, heating up stuff in the microwave, mixing, etc. They are super easy to clean and store. Vibrant color’s are a plus and plastic does not break..You can never have enough!
Baking and cooking are my life!!!! And plastics especially all the cookware come out beautifully!!! Cleaning them is super easy and the beauty is that are so many variations to choose from!! It’s all affordable and storing them is a wonder!!!! All in all I just love baking everything in them!!!!!! They are my new best friends in my kitchen!!! all my other cookware are very jealous…lol
I do not know how I would make it through the day without the use of plastic. Easy plastic bowls for breakfast, quick and easy before heading out the door. Plastic baggies for packing nutritious lunches for the family, plastic water bottles frozen to keep things cold or for a nice cold drink with lunch. Plastic storage for condiments, luncheon meats and cheese in the fridge to help keep them fresh. plastic for left overs after dinner. I think I would be totally lost without plastic in my kitchen! Cooking with children is also so hassle free and more creative with plastic bakeware.
I bake a lot of cakes, cupcakes and cookies and using plastics makes it much easier. They help with keeping the cakes and cupcakes from sticking. I also use plastics for storing.
I use plastic containers to carry sandwiches for lunch to work, individual portions of snacks like chips (to avoid eating the whole bag!). I also like the way they can microwave a meal faster than the oven!
I use plastic in the kitchen all the time.I love to store in it, eat from it, serve from it, and freeze in it.My grandchildren drink from it every day, saving my breakable glasses.I would be lost without it.
Plastics are great for baking and storing. With grandchildren in the house, in always nice to have little servings ready for them for a snack and plastics help to do that.
Plastic is a way of life in my kitchen-mostly for storage! I have a small kitchen, so luckily the plastics help by fitting into one another. The other area that plastic save me is with freshness. I have containers in my fridge for everything, again, using the space wisely.
A big plus for this family, we use plastic glassware. I have the type of family that usea a clean “glass” everytime they drink something. I have tried everything to curb that behavior but naaaaah, I gave up & bought some colorful plastic glasses. They are so much easier to clean than glass, and after having a glass break with my hand in it, trying to wash it, well, it was a no brainer!
I have just started using the plastic bakeware, & I can hear my Grandma’s glass pie plates & cake pans, crying from lonlieness from time…
Plastics have helped me in the kitchen by keeping my baking accurate with my plastic measuring cups, spoons and bowls. I also use plastics for storing baking products like flour and sugar, as well as storing baked goods, leftovers and even storing liquids.
Plastics have helped me keep food fresh. I always have plastic spoons and forks, and knives for our cookouts, and parties. I love my plastic storage containers for keeping my Flour and Sugar Fresh. Couldn’t live without plastic to use for to go containers when sending food home with guests.
Sometimes when we think of plastics, conservatives tell you no…no plastics… but they are wrong. like everything else, plastics play an important part in our lives. ( and especially the newer plastics that are made from recyclables or silicone, etc) Especially in the kitchen! What would any of us do without our measuring cups and spoons, spatulas, pie measuring sheets, plastic organizing containers, cookie cutters, storage containers for freezer, refrigerator, and cabinets… and more… Who doesn’t own several pliable, plastic disks to help us open jars???? And I for one have had on my dream wishlist for last couple years SILPAT anything!!… I cant imagine the joy of baking with silpat mats, silicone bakeware, baking utensils…etc… Bring it on !! I can’t tell you how many times I have been so grateful for plastic cutting boards, cookie cutters that are safe for childrens use, and all my storage containers.
Plastics have made such a difference in my baking. From non-stick silicone so my baked goods are not destroyed as they come out of the pan to the ease of cleanup after the baking is done. Nowadays I couldn’t make it from day to day without plastic bags to store all my leftovers in, take food to work and even store pre-measured ingredients a day or two in advance of baking. What a wonderful change these products have made in my life!
As a long time lover of another plastic brand, I can say with certainty how important it is for correct storage of staples to prevent spoiling, infestation from bugs, etc. I have several cabinets full of plastic storage containers for the Pantry, microwavable items, freezer safe items and as a sufferer of Carpal Tunnel, not having to deal with heavy glass and stoneware containers is a huge relief.
Snacks cups with lids, utensils for that picnic, Zip locks for storage of that one item left over…..
And the list goes on….I love my silicone muffin pans in different shapes for each holiday !
Helps my cooking easier
Plastic, especially items such as silpat’s, make garnishes easy . Take for an example, grated parmesan fans, for on top of a caesar salad. Without a silpat, the baked, grated parmesan is difficult to remove and often breaks after baking. I make florentines and other items that need to removed from the oven pans promptly and then shaped over molds. Silpats and plastic spatulas make it easy. Silicone pastry tips enable me to micro wave the bag and tip (for just seconds), to soften hard buttercream or whatever I happen to have in the pastry bag. So much easier w/ plastic.
Plastics have helped me tremendously in the kitchen. Specifically, during dinner time. Often, I will serve a dish in a plastic storage container. At the end of the meal, I have one less dish to clean because I store the leftovers and pop it in the fridge. Thank you for making meal time easier for me :)
I have a 9 year old Granddaughter who is learning to bake. When we use the silcone products she has never been burn by a slight touch to the baking dish. This has happened with glass and metal dishes. It seems to be much safer when teaching little ones. And clean up is much easier. Put my name in your contest. Thanks.
Wow – if I thought about it long enough, I could probably list almost everything in the kitchen that is made out of plastic. Utensils, bowls, storage containers, dish racks, etc. All of these things have made our lives easier. I especially like plastic spoons that don’t scratch the teflon pots!
I love baking with plastics. It opens up a whole new world of possibilities! I’m getting into baking cupcakes and love the infinite possibilities plastics have given me! I would love to win some of your amazing products!
plastics have definitely helped to keep my kitchen clean and foods fresh!
i have worked in the healthcare field for 15 years and just lost my job, I am looking for a new one and in the mean time u have been cooking and baking. I love to bake sweets working with plastics makes it even more fun. i hate glass. plastics are great you can see what you are making better, cleaning is easier and i feel that presentation counts for alot. what is not eaten can be put away in plastic and no matter where it ends up it will always be fresh
I have not used the plastics bakeware, but common sense and what I know of plastic allows me to see what an advantage it would be to use the plastic bakeware. As I am aging, the weight of heavy bakeware and cookware put an added strain on my joints. The lighter quality of the plastic would be a big help for me!