"Everyone could use a little more space in their cabinets," reasoned Duncan Fung of E & M Engineering when he came up with FoldTuk, a relatively new (since 2007) silicone bakeware line that collapses flat for storage but pops up to full size for baking or storing leftovers.
The product uses a silicone formulation called Ceramber™ that retains the non-stick properties of silicone but provides added rigid strength where needed. The result is a sturdy bottom and top rim with a flexible folding center band.
Features of FoldTuk Silicone Bakeware
FoldTuk silicone flexible bakeware is available in four shapes: rectangular, round, oval, and square, and two sizes: 4-cup (32 oz./0.94L) and 6-cup (48 oz., 1.42L), plus a larger roaster.
- Cook, Serve, and Store – From freezer to oven to fridge. Dishwasher safe. Nothing new here..
- Collapsibility – Fully collapsed , FoldTuk measures only 1 inch tall (roaster: 3") - perfect for stacking and storing in your RV cupboard where space may already be at a premium. Definitely unique!
- Rigidity – Other silicone bakeware is floppy. FoldTuk isn't. This sacrifices the ability to fold the bakeware to pop out the contents, but makes carrying the hot dish a lot safer.
- Durability – The product is surprisingly solid and weighty for "plastic" bakeware. Rubber FoldTuk won't be hurt if you drop it on the concrete floor of a picnic shelter. Try that with ceramic or stoneware. FoldTuk rep Jamie Wang reports, "We ran a minimum of 3,000 collapse/uncollapse cycles during the durability test."
- Natural Non-Stick Surface – "FoldTuk's proprietary material has a high surface tension and low coefficiency of friction which provides a natural safe non-stick surface." No Teflon, so no PTFE or PFOA
- Easily Viewed Contents – "FoldTuk's...see-through body and storage lid makes it easy to view the contents of your dish." Well, maybe it will increase the accuracy of guesses.
Comparing FoldTuk with Existing Bakeware
One of the obvious steps is to compare a new product with various lines of home and professional bakeware already on the market. The result is a bit of a head-scratcher: FoldTuk really is new and different.
- Smartware Bakeware – Probably the closest thing to FoldTuk. Designed to withstand temperatures in the same range; silicone; flexible for easy removal of baked goods. "Goes from oven to freezer in a flash. Microwave and dishwasher safe." But flimsy compared to the FoldTuk.
- Kaiser Bakeware (eg Flexo'Belle) – Innovative baking pans with solid metal frame for stability combined with silicone cups for easy food release and clean-up. Multiple shapes to choose from. Nonstick silicone or ceramic surfaces. But it doesn't fold flat.
- KitchenAid – offers silicone mats, muffin tins, pie plates – all relatively flat without the capacity of FoldTuk. Not the same at all, really.
- Pyrex – The popular glass bakeware also goes from freezer to oven to fridge, also has plastic storage cover, also relatively unbreakable, at about half the cost of FoldTuk for similar sized products.
- Le Creuset – Renowned for non-stick enameled steel bakeware and cookware but with a line of silicone bowls and mats, Le Creuset has nothing to compare with FoldTuk
- Nordic Ware – US maker offers non-stick products and a line of graniteware freeze/heat/serve sets (5" high)
- Pillivuyt – Famous for porcelain bakeware that is "versatile and durable for everyday use, going from freezer to oven (or broiler or microwave) to table to dishwasher". But don't drop it.
- Corningware - The big name in ceramic stoneware is also "Oven to table to freezer in one dish" that is "Designed for use in oven, microwave, refrigerator and freezer".
Potential buyers might want to compare warranties. Corning for example has a one-to-three year warranty, Pyrex two years; FoldTuk, a mere 60 days.
Cooking with FoldTuk
The FoldTuk did a fine job with vegetables in the oven and a reheated roast with veges and potatoes in the microwave. It washed up fine, with no stains. Folded flat and sealed with its lid, it kept the few leftovers in the fridge (here is where the flat stacking really comes in handy. Fridge space is even more precious than cupboard space).
Nesting Pryex glass baking pans stack every bit as compactly as the FoldTuk (with the lids stored at the side), but they weigh more. At $16 to $22 ($80 for roaster), FoldTuk is affordable by comparison with the big names in bakeware but about twice as much as similar Pyrex products. In a tradeoff between weight and space, FoldTuk would come out ahead of Pyrex.
Disclaimer: FoldTuk Kitchenware provided test products for this solicited review.
Thomas Alan Gray - Tom has been writing for over 30 years; curiosity leads him to dig into a wide variety of topics.
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