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What is a Flan Pan?

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

A flan pan can refer to any type of pan used to cook flan (pronounced flahn), a sweet or savory custard that is now most often associated with Mexico. Actually early flans were probably made in Ancient Rome, and the French are known for a similar dish called crème caramel. As we know it today, most sweet flan recipes from Mexico consist of a baked creamy custard that appears topped with caramelized or melting brown sugar. While the flan is cooking, the sugar topping is actually on the bottom, and the flan must be inverted before being served. This has led to inventions of numerous flan pan types to make the inversion process go smoothly.

For individual sized flan, most commonly people use small ramekins, baked in a water bath. Since they are small, inverting flan onto small plates is easier. For larger flan, people may use anything like tart dishes, pie dishes, and ringed pans like those for angel food cake or a variety of other choices.

Any pan used to cook the custard dish can be considered a flan pan.
Any pan used to cook the custard dish can be considered a flan pan.

One of the more popular choices, made specifically for flan is the flan pan mold. This style may come in several diameters, usually about 7 or 8 inches (17.78 or 20.32cm). It is lidded allowing you to set the pan in a water bath or bain-marie, a common suggestion for flan. The lidded flan pan mold further allows for cooking flan on the stovetop rather than in the oven, by using the bain-marie process with a large pot or accompanying double boiler.

Small ramekins, which are used to bake a variety of dishes, are commonly used to cook individual servings of flan.
Small ramekins, which are used to bake a variety of dishes, are commonly used to cook individual servings of flan.

Another frequent choice for the flan pan is the Mary Ann pan. This is essentially a short tart pan with ridges all around it. Some may prefer the two-piece types, where you can remove the ridged part once you invert the flan, prior to taking off the top piece. This two-step process with the tart pan makes inversion easier, and the fluting and ridges provide an attractive look for your flan.

Flan may be made with a specially designed mold or a variety of other cooking pans.
Flan may be made with a specially designed mold or a variety of other cooking pans.

Prices on flan pans are variable. The lidded type can cost as little as $15 US dollars (USD). A Mary Ann pan can be purchased for even less; a simple stainless steel tart pan may be under $10 USD. You may pay in the $20-30 USD range if you are brand conscious or would prefer ceramic cookware.

You’ll find different ideas for the flan pan at cooking supply stores and on the Internet. Cooking or kitchen supply stores are likely to feature a wide range of shapes, not simply sticking to the round flan pan but including fancy shapes like hearts or stars should you want you flan to appear particularly festive. If you’re not able to purchase a flan pan right away, note that you can always use a cake or pie dish at home, though the results might not be quite as pretty.

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Tricia has a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and has been a frequent DelightedCooking contributor for many years. She is especially passionate about reading and writing, although her other interests include medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion. Tricia lives in Northern California and is currently working on her first novel.

Learn more...
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Tricia has a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and has been a frequent DelightedCooking contributor for many years. She is especially passionate about reading and writing, although her other interests include medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion. Tricia lives in Northern California and is currently working on her first novel.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

anon1005539

I have a simple no lid flan pan. It is similar to a cake pan, but a bit deeper and the sides are not as straight (quart).

After making the caramel, I pour the mixture into the pan, add water to a large stainless steel pot, and place the flan pan in it covering the pot. I make it on the stove. It takes about 20 minutes. I stuck a knife in the middle to see if the mixture is cooked. Put it in the refrigerator to gel, and flip it onto a plate when ready.

My dilemma is not finding a replacement pan for my current flan plan. Will have to use a cake mold when my pan is no longer usable. It is over 40 yrs. old.

anon223003

Why make an article explaining all about what a flan pan is, and then not even include at least one picture? For those not knowing what a flan pan is, a picture would explain almost everything you need to know.

serenesurface

I've tried almost every kind of flan pan out there. Some were top brand names and some just basic and cheap cake pans. What I've discovered is that you really don't need to spend a lot or look for a professional two-piece flan pan to make great flan. Just use a basic pan and a larger ceramic or metal container to place the water and of course both of them safe for the oven. That's all that you need. I personally prefer a silicone or nonstick pan for the flan because it just makes it easier to remove when its cooked.

The shape or size of the pan is not very important, it depends on you if you want a basic rectangular shape or a round shape with fluted sides. The important thing is for you to adjust the amount of water to the kind and size of pan you are using and also to make sure that the pan fits nicely into the larger pan or container.

fify

I love gifting my friends and family members with unique and cute kitchen tools, appliances and cookware. I just bought a set of small heart shaped flan mold pans as a wedding gift for one of my girlfriends. I found them by chance in cookware shop and she loves making flan so I thought that its a great gift and she can surprise her husband with dessert! I also bought a star shaped set for myself. I don't have any kids yet but I think kids would love these too.

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    • Any pan used to cook the custard dish can be considered a flan pan.
      Any pan used to cook the custard dish can be considered a flan pan.
    • Small ramekins, which are used to bake a variety of dishes, are commonly used to cook individual servings of flan.
      Small ramekins, which are used to bake a variety of dishes, are commonly used to cook individual servings of flan.
    • Flan may be made with a specially designed mold or a variety of other cooking pans.
      By: Jultud
      Flan may be made with a specially designed mold or a variety of other cooking pans.