How to Line a Loaf Tin

Learning how to line a loaf tin or pan is an important skill, especially when baking bread and cakes.

When it comes to baked goods, you want to bake them perfectly and remove them from the tin or pan properly. To this end, it is almost always necessary to line your loaf tin with parchment paper. 

Whether baking for yourself, a party, or other events, lining the loaf pan like a pro is essential to achieving pastries’ aesthetic appeal!

Why Should You Line a Loaf Tin

There are several reasons for learning how to line a loaf tin.

No more sticking

Line your loaf tin to keep your baked goods in one piece. Removing them from the tin will be easier because you can pull them out using parchment paper.

Better outcomes

The parchment paper protects the shape and color of cakes and bread to retain their aesthetic quality. It also helps ensure that the edges and tops of the baked goods remain intact.

Make your loaf tins last longer

By lining the loaf tin properly, you can minimize scratching and burning. Moreover, you can use these longer and in more baking recipes.

How to Line a Loaf Tin

I’ve been using this technique for as long as I can remember. This guide on how to line a loaf tin is 100% effective!

Directions

Follow these instructions to line a loaf tin correctly, even on the first try!

1. Place the loaf pan in the middle of the parchment paper.
2. Mark the corners with a pencil.
3. Create a square by connecting the corner mark to the edge.
4. Cut out the squares to create a cross-like cutout.
5. Insert the paper into the loaf pan to give it a snug fit. 

You can already use the loaf pan to bake cakes, bread, and other delicacies you plan on making. This technique also helps you save parchment paper for future use. 

Mastering lining your loaf pans can go a long way, so don’t forget to do this hack every chance you get!

Tips

Keeping these tips and hacks in mind can instantly improve your technique on how to line a loaf tin.

Cover all sides of the pan or tin

• Use a piece of parchment paper that can fit the entire loaf pan or tin.
• The sides of the parchment paper should also not be too short, as this will make it harder for you to remove it from the pan. 

No need to grease the pan 

While it is unnecessary to grease the pan before inserting the parchment paper, you can still do it to ensure that the paper remains intact. 

Measure properly

• I highly suggest using a pencil and ruler to get the right measurements, as these can help the paper fit snugly inside the pan.
• This method also helps remove the unnecessary parchment paper to give the baked goods the right shape. 

Round loaf pan

1. Cut a piece of parchment paper slightly larger than the round pan.
2. Fold the parchment paper into halves until you have a triangle.
3. Place it on the loaf pan with the tip at the center.
4. Cut off the excess paper.
5. Put the parchment paper in the round pan to fit.

Alternatives to Parchment Paper

After learning how to line a loaf tin, check out these alternatives to parchment paper.

Aside from using parchment paper, Simply Recipes also suggests using other materials such as Silpat, aluminum foil, or nonstick sheet pans to get similar results.

If you don’t have any of the mentioned materials, then you can grease the pan with oil or butter instead. Moreover, if you’re using a round loaf tin, there’s also an easy way to measure it.

1. First, place the pan in the middle of the parchment paper slightly larger than the tin.
2. Then, fold the paper twice to form a square. 
3. Fold it into a triangle by making a diagonal crease.
4. Position the tip of the paper at the center of the pan.
5. Trim off the excess paper.
6. Finally, insert the parchment paper into the bottom of the pan for the perfect fit!

Recommended Tools

• Parchment paper: Use the parchment paper to remove the baked goods from the pan. 
• Loaf pan or tin: Measure the paper around the loaf pan or tin.
• Pencil: Mark the portions to be cut out using a pencil.
• Ruler: Make the proper measurements by connecting the points with a ruler.
• Scissors: Remove the unnecessary paper by cutting them out with scissors.

How to Use a Lined Loaf Tin or Pan

Once you have lined the baking tin or pan, pour in the batter. Below are some of the recipes I suggest putting your lined baking pans to good use:

• Banana Bread
• Granola Bars
• No-Oven Bread
• Vanilla Cake
• Chocolate Cake
• Almond Loaf
• Pound Cake
• Carrot Cake

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to line a loaf tin?

Yes, you must line a loaf tin, especially for cakes and bread. Lining a loaf tin helps retain the shape and appearance of the baked food. Moreover, you can make the equipment last longer because the lining can protect it from burns and scratches.

What does “line a loaf tin” mean?

Lining a loaf tin means cutting parchment to fit the size of a loaf tin. It is usually done for baking pastries. You can do it for square, rectangle, or round loaf tins.

What do you line a loaf pan with?

A loaf tin is usually lined with parchment paper. However, you can also use other materials such as aluminium foil, nonstick sheet pans, and Silpat.