PanSpan9 Inch Tube Pan
Which 9 inch tube pan should I choose for angel food, chiffon or pound cake?
I’d choose the Chicago Metallic for most home bakers: its removable center and built-in cooling feet make it the most practical match for tall cakes that need to cool upside down. If an exact 9-inch diameter matters most, take the USA Pan; if easy cleanup and resistance to warping matter more, choose Wilton. One important catch: all these pans have nonstick coatings, which can make it harder for classic angel food batter to grip the sides and climb.
#1 · Chicago Metallic
Chicago Metallic Angel Food Cake Pan 2-Piece Tube Pan with Removable Center | Nonstick Carbon Steel, 9.5 Inch, 16-Cup Capacity, Built-In Cooling Feet for Even Air Circulation
Choose this for a classic two-piece setup without stepping up to a larger pan: the removable center helps with release, and the built-in feet let you cool a cake upside down without balancing it on a bottle. Its nonstick coating makes it more versatile for other cakes, but traditional angel food recipes generally need an ungreased surface they can grip.
#2 · USA Pan
USA Pan Global Bakeware Angel Food Cake Pan
This is the one to take if you want a true 9-inch angel food pan and prefer aluminized steel, which combines steel strength with aluminum heat conductivity. Its easy-release nonstick surface suits bakers who value cleanup and intact cake removal.
#3 · Wilton
Wilton Gold Non-Stick Angel Food Tube Cake Pan, Made Without PFAS, 9.37 in. | Non-Stick Steel with Scratch-Resistant Coating, Resists Warping, Dishwasher Safe, Perfect for Angel Food & Tube Cakes
Pick the Wilton if scratch resistance, dishwasher-safe cleanup and resistance to warping are your priorities. Its detachable two-piece design also helps with removing cakes, though the nonstick surface still calls for care with recipes that rely on batter gripping the pan.
#4 · HONGBAKE
HONGBAKE Angel Food Cake Pan with Removable Bottom, 10 Inch Tube Pan, Nonstick Pound Cake Pans for Baking, Chiffon Cake Mold, 16-Cup, Heavy Duty - Dark Grey
Take the HONGBAKE if you want a larger 10-inch pan with a removable bottom and feet for upside-down cooling. Its wider diameter and heavier-duty construction make it a step up in size from a 9-inch pan.
#5 · Novery
Novery 9.5" Non-Stick Carbon Steel Fluted Tube Cake Pan | For Pound Cake Jello Gelatin Flan Chocoflan, Heavy Duty, Non-Stick Easy Release, Sturdy Baking pan
This is for bakers who want a straightforward fluted pan for pound cake, gelatin desserts or chocoflan rather than a dedicated angel food setup. Its 3-inch height and fluted shape make it a different choice from the taller pans with removable bottoms and cooling feet.
Do you need a removable bottom and cooling feet?
For angel food or chiffon, those features make cooling and demoulding less awkward. The Chicago Metallic is the best-balanced choice here: it has a removable center and built-in feet, while the HONGBAKE adds a removable bottom and feet in a larger 10-inch format. If you want a removable two-piece pan with a nonstick surface and dishwasher-safe cleanup, the Wilton is the alternative.
Will nonstick work for angel food cake?
A classic angel food cake needs to cling to the sides as it rises, so a nonstick surface can work against the recipe. Every pick here is nonstick; none is the straightforward choice for a recipe that specifically calls for an uncoated pan. If you choose one anyway, do not grease it, and follow the recipe’s cooling instructions; the Chicago Metallic is the most convenient of these for upside-down cooling.
Which pan is the closest match to a heavy-duty 9-inch tube pan?
The USA Pan is the exact 9-inch choice and uses aluminized steel. For a two-piece design, choose the 9.5-inch Chicago Metallic: it is made from heavy-weight carbon steel and includes cooling feet. The HONGBAKE emphasizes heavy-gauge carbon steel, but its 10-inch size makes it less of a fit if you want to stay near 9 inches.
Are tube pans and Bundt pans interchangeable?
Not reliably. A tube pan has a central tube and is suited to angel food, chiffon and many pound cake recipes; a Bundt pan has a decorative shape and is often harder to release a delicate cake from. For a recipe that explicitly calls for an ungreased tube pan, use a tube pan rather than substituting a Bundt pan.
How they compare
Which one is yours
Chicago Metallic: Choose this for the best all-around combination of a removable center, cooling feet and a size close to a standard tube pan.
USA Pan: Choose this when an exact 9-inch diameter and aluminized-steel construction are your deciding points.
Wilton: Choose this when dishwasher-safe cleanup, scratch resistance and resistance to warping outweigh having cooling feet.
HONGBAKE: Choose this when you want a larger 10-inch pan, removable bottom and feet for upside-down cooling.
Novery: Choose this for fluted pound cakes and gelatin desserts when you do not need a removable bottom or cooling feet.
You will also want
A couple of small kitchen basics make handling and caring for a coated tube pan easier, especially when it comes out hot or needs a gentle clean.
KITCHENAID Ribbed Soft Silicone Pot Holder 2-Pack Set, Matte Black, 7"x9"
Use these silicone pot holders to handle a hot tube pan securely when moving it to a stable cooling spot.
Joyhalo 4 Pack Trivets for Hot Dishes | Hot Pads for Kitchen, Silicone Pot Holders for Kitchen Countertops,Table, Hot Pots and Pans, Easy to Wash and Dry,Black
A silicone trivet gives the hot pan a protected, steady place to rest after baking.
Scotch-Brite Zero Scratch Scrub Sponge, 6 Pack | Kitchen Sponges for Cleaning Home, Bathroom, Effective + Gentle Dish Scrubber, Safe on Nonstick surfaces
These zero-scratch sponges are a sensible choice for cleaning nonstick coatings without reaching for an abrasive scrubber.
Kitchen Utensils Set, Silicone Cooking Utensils Set,Non-Stick Silicone Spatula Set with Natural Acacia Hard Wood Handle, 5 Piece, Upgraded Thickened Cookware
Silicone utensils help loosen or serve cake without scraping the pan’s nonstick surface with metal tools.
Questions buyers ask
What is the closest match to a heavy-gauge aluminum tube pan with a removable bottom?
The USA Pan is the closest material match: its aluminized steel combines steel for strength with aluminum for heat conductivity. If removable two-piece construction matters more, the Chicago Metallic is the alternative, but it is carbon steel rather than aluminum.
Which of these tube pans is least likely to warp?
The Wilton specifically emphasizes resistance to warping, while the HONGBAKE uses heavy-gauge carbon steel for stability. For a near-9-inch choice, I’d take the Wilton if warp resistance is the priority and the Chicago Metallic if cooling feet and a removable center matter more.
Can batter leak from a two-piece tube pan?
A loose seam can let thin batter escape, especially before it sets. Set the pan on a baking sheet if you are unsure about the batter’s consistency, and avoid treating a removable-bottom angel food pan as leakproof for very loose mixtures.
How do I cool an angel food cake without a bottle?
The Chicago Metallic and HONGBAKE have feet that elevate the pan for upside-down cooling. Follow your recipe’s cooling directions, and make sure the pan is stable and has room for airflow before turning it over.
How do I avoid sticking or damaging a nonstick tube pan?
Use non-metal utensils and gentle, non-scratch cleaning tools, then dry the pan fully before storing it. For angel food cake, do not grease the pan unless your recipe specifically tells you to; the batter needs to rise against the sides.