The Bottom Line
Chicago Metallic's Pain de Mie (Pullman) Pan with Lid is a winner. It lived up to the vendor's description and, so far, I have had unqualified success with this pan used in different applications.Pain de mie is French meaning literally "bread of the interior" and referring to a soft-crusted, soft sandwich bread. In English, it is called a Pullman pan, referring to its resemblance to a Pullman train car. This type of lidded pan is essential when making breads that require long bakes like a black bread.
Suggested Retail Price: $44.95
Where to Buy: King Arthur Flour
Would I Buy It? Definitely
How the Vendor Describes It
- Nonstick steel-and-aluminum, for best strength and conductivity
- Produces a thin-crusted, square-cornered bread
- Ideal for close-grained, soft white sandwich breads and others
- Measures 13" x 4" x 4"
Pros
Black breads require a lidded pan to prevent the top from burning during its long bake.
© 2008 Barbara Rolek licensed to About.com, Inc.- The pan is sturdy and well-constructed and its nonstick steel-and-aluminum properties help breads slide out with ease, but greasing is recommended.
- Pullman pans are ideal for sandwich breads but also for rye breads, like black breads, which require long bakes and whose tops would burn without the lid.
- The perfectly square pan is versatile and makes it ideal for terrines, patés, sweet or savory tortes, tea sandwiches, square angel food or sponge cakes, pound cakes, frozen desserts, and more.
- It is dishwasher safe and can go in the refrigerator or freezer with no compromise in integrity .
Cons
I have yet to find fault with the pan. If I do, over the course of using it, I will report my findings.
How the Pan Performed in Cooking
Eastern European Black Bread
© 2008 Barbara Rolek licensed to About.com, Inc.Black breads require a 1 1/2-hour bake because the dough is very sticky and lacks gluten. The attached lid prevents it from burning and keeps the bread from rounding on the top so the slices are perfectly square. I've had great success with it in these recipes:
