Bake-Even Strips - Up in Smoke or Pure Genius?

Leveling cakes is not a simple task, especially with just the naked eye.
Even the dental floss technique is flawed - especially if you don't realize you have used the "waxed" kind (oops....)

Wilton's metal cake leveler is alright, but I don't like having any excess cake because then, since I seem to have no self-control, I eat it. all of it.

When I came across the bake-even strips upon one of my many trips to Michaels, I literally danced in the aisle. I was more then happy to shell out the $29.99 for a package of 4, and rushed home to my kitchen to put these magical wonders to the test.

As per the instructions, I soaked the strips in water and preheated my oven. I excitedly mixed the batter, poured it into a clean, shortening & flour covered pan, and then proceeded to squeeze the excess water off the baking strips. With the pins provided, it was very easy to attach the strips together to cover the outside of my slab cake pan.

The anticipation of baking a cake that wouldn't resemble some sort of anthill was almost too much for me to handle.

I'm reminded of something...

yep. that's about right.

The slab cake needed to bake for an hour, and after 30 minutes of trying everything in my power not to peek at the cake - I couldn't take it anymore!!

On went the oven light and...oh...my...goodness....

I was staring at the most perfect, flat, even, slab of vanilla cake that had ever come out of my kitchen.

How was I functioning without these little pieces of silver cloth and pins!?

After sharing my excitement with anyone in ear shot, I let the cake continue baking and went on preparing the next bowl of batter for another slab that needed to be baked that day.

*Sniff* Sniff*

uh oh.

My new bff (aka the baking strips) were burning!!

I didn't consider the fact that the strips would dry out and start to burn, and nothing on the directions indicated to me that this problem would occur. It did say not to leave the cake unattended...but nothing to tell me that I had 30 minutes before I would possibly have to call the fire department!

"Dr. Penfield...I can smell burnt toast..."

Aside from the faint smell of burnt fabric lingering in my kitchen, I will continue to use this wonderful invention. For the joy of having a flat surface to decorate on, I can handle re-wetting every 30 minutes to prevent catastrophy.


Thought I would share my findings, though a bit naive, they may just save someone from having to do a little unwanted kitchen rennovation :)

-C