What is a tube pan for baking?

A tube pan, sometimes referred to as an angel food cake pan, is a two-piece baking pan with a tube in the middle to create cakes that resemble a wheel or "o" shape. The hollow tube is connected to the bottom and both parts separate from the side, making it easy to remove the baked good from the pan.

The primary reason that these tube pans, which sometimes have fluted sides, come in two pieces is because certain cakes, such as chiffon cakes and angel food cakes, are made without any kind of coating on the pan. Many tube pans are made from cast aluminum, but some come in different materials, such as silicone.