You are halfway through a recipe for baked mac and cheese when it hits you: it says "baking dish," but all you've got is a metal pan. Panic? Maybe. Improvise? Definitely. But if you have ever wondered ...

Metal: Metal is more durable than ceramic ... The Nordic Ware Natural Aluminum NonStick Commercial Round Layer Cake Pan was too deep and over-browned the top of the cake. The uncoated Williams ...

you might be wondering if you can get by with just metal or just glass bakeware. How much does the baking material matter and is it OK to ignore the instructions in the recipe and just grab whatever ...

Glass pans are also the best choice when you're baking acidic things like lemon curd or tomato-based casserole. Acids in foods can react with metal pans and give your finished dish a metallic taste.