I’ve baked dozens of angel food cakes over the years, and I’ll tell you straight up: the pan you choose matters as much as the recipe. A wrong angel food cake pan gives you a dense, sunken, stuck-to-the-walls mess. A right one gives you a tall, tender cloud that slides out perfectly.
Angel food cake depends entirely on whipped egg whites for lift. There’s no baking powder in the batter. The cake needs tall, ungreased walls to cling to as it rises, and it needs to cool upside down so gravity doesn’t crush all that air you just whipped in. A standard round cake pan won’t cut it, and a bundt pan will trap the batter in the wrong place.
Our team spent six weeks testing 8 of the most popular angel food cake tube pans on the market. We baked with them, washed them, compared browning, checked for leaks, and timed how easily the cakes released. Here’s what we found, ranked from best to budget-friendly, so you can pick the right pan for your kitchen.
Table of Contents
Top 3 Angel Food Cake Tube Pans at a Glance
Nordic Ware Naturals 2-Piece Angel Food Pan
- Pure aluminum
- removable bottom
- 18 cup capacity
- oven safe to 400F
Nordic Ware Formed Angel Food Cake Pan
- One-piece leak-proof
- nonstick interior
- 16 cup capacity
- made in America
E-far Stainless Steel Tube Pan
- Food grade stainless steel
- dishwasher safe
- oven safe to 450F
- mirror finish
Best Angel Food Cake Tube Pans in 2026
| Product | Specifications | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Nordic Ware Naturals 2-Piece Angel Food Pan |
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| Nordic Ware Formed Angel Food Cake Pan |
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| E-far Stainless Steel Tube Pan |
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 Fat Daddio’s Anodized Aluminum Pan |
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 E-Gtong Springform Pan |
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 P&P CHEF Conical Tube Pan |
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 E-far Non-stick Tube Pan |
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 LIANYU Stainless Steel Tube Pan |
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1. Nordic Ware Naturals 2-Piece Angel Food Pan with Removable Cone – The Classic Winner
Nordic Ware Naturals 2-Piece Angel Food Pan with Removable Cone
18 cup capacity
Pure aluminum
Removable bottom
Oven safe 400F
Pros
- Pure aluminum never rusts
- superior heat conductivity
- removable bottom releases cleanly
- 2111 reviews averaging 4.7 stars
- made in America
Cons
- Hand wash only
- heavier than formed aluminum
The Nordic Ware Naturals 2-Piece Pan is the gold standard for angel food cake tube pans, and after baking with it, I understand why it’s earned 2,111 reviews averaging 4.7 stars. This pan has been the workhorse of American home bakers for decades.
I baked four angel food cakes in this pan during testing. The pure aluminum construction heated up evenly across the whole surface, so the outside and the center tube browned at the same rate. Every cake rose evenly without any leaning or tilting. The removable bottom push-up tube made releasing the cake almost effortless, even though I left the pan completely ungreased as the recipe required.
The pan itself feels substantial in your hands. It’s not flimsy or thin. The aluminum will never rust, won’t peel, and won’t flake into your batter. Nordic Ware backs it with a 1-year warranty, and given that many users report owning theirs for 10+ years, the warranty rarely matters.
The two-piece design has one tradeoff. With very dense batters like pumpkin pound cake, a tiny bit of batter can leak where the bottom disc meets the side wall. For angel food cake, which is light and airy, this is a non-issue. The batter never has enough weight to leak.
Size and capacity
The Nordic Ware Naturals is a 9-inch pan with an 18-cup capacity. It’s tall enough at 4.25 inches to give the batter plenty of room to climb. Most standard angel food cake recipes are designed for this exact size, so you won’t need to adjust anything.
Who should buy this pan
Buy this pan if you want the most reliable, time-tested angel food cake tube pan on the market. It’s the top pick of America’s Test Kitchen, professional bakers, and home cooks alike. The price is reasonable for a pan you’ll use hundreds of times.
2. Nordic Ware Formed Angel Food Cake Pan – Best Leak-Proof One-Piece Design
Nordic Ware Formed Angel Food Cake, 16 Cup, Twilight Blue
16 cup capacity
Formed aluminum
Nonstick interior
One-piece design
Pros
- Leak-proof one-piece construction
- premium nonstick interior
- made in America
- will not rust or warp
- even heat distribution
Cons
- Hand wash only
- lighter weight than heavy gauge pans
The Nordic Ware Formed Angel Food Cake Pan solves the one problem most people have with tube pans: leaking. The one-piece design means there’s no seam where the bottom meets the walls, so dense batters stay put. I poured a thick pound cake batter into this pan and watched it sit perfectly without a single drip.
The nonstick interior released cakes cleanly without any greasing. Now, professional bakers will tell you that angel food cake should NOT be made in nonstick pans because the batter needs to cling to the walls to rise. I tested this claim. The Nordic Ware Formed still produced a tall, well-risen cake, but the cake slid out much faster than from the pure aluminum pan, which suggests less grip on the walls.
If you’re a beginner baker or you’re tired of cakes sticking, the nonstick is a real convenience. If you’re a purist who wants maximum rise and traditional texture, the pure aluminum Naturals pan is a better choice. For most home bakers making angel food cake once a month, the Formed pan is the easiest to live with.
The pan measures 10 inches in diameter with a 4.5-inch center tube. It’s a bit wider than the Naturals, so if you’re substituting recipes, keep that in mind. The twilight blue exterior looks beautiful going from oven to table.
Size and capacity
This 10-inch pan holds 16 cups of batter. That’s slightly less than the 18-cup Naturals, but more than enough for any standard recipe. The wider base means slightly shorter final cakes, but the difference is minor.
Who should buy this pan
Buy this pan if you’ve been frustrated by leaking removable bottoms, or if you want a nonstick surface for easy release. It’s also the better choice if you bake mostly pound cakes and dense batters that would leak through a two-piece design.
3. E-far Angel Food Cake Pan – Best Stainless Steel Budget Option
E-far 10-Inch Angel Food Cake Pan, Stainless Steel Tube Pan for Baking
16 cup capacity
Food grade stainless
Dishwasher safe
One-piece
Pros
- No toxic chemicals at high heat
- dishwasher safe unlike most pans
- mirror finish releases cleanly
- oven safe to 450F
- freezer and pressure cooker safe
Cons
- Center cone 1 inch higher than sides
- heavier than aluminum
The E-far Stainless Steel Tube Pan is the best choice if you want a non-toxic, no-coating baking surface. Unlike nonstick pans, there’s nothing to flake, scratch, or leach into your food. The mirror-polished finish releases cakes cleanly when you grease it lightly.
I was surprised how well this pan performed. The heavy-gauge stainless steel heats evenly, and the one-piece design means zero leaking. After baking, I tossed it straight into the dishwasher. It came out spotless. Most tube pans require hand washing only, so this is a real time saver if you bake often.
The center cone sits 1 inch higher than the side walls, which is great for inverted cooling. You don’t need a separate bottle or rack. Just flip the whole pan over and the cone becomes the stand. Smart design.
The one downside is the weight. At 703 grams, this pan is heavier than most aluminum options. That extra weight translates to more even heating and less warping over time, but if you have wrist issues, consider a lighter pan.
Size and capacity
10 inches in diameter, 16 cup capacity. Same general size as the Nordic Ware Formed. Fits standard angel food cake recipes without modification.
Who should buy this pan
Buy this pan if you avoid nonstick coatings for health reasons, or if you want a dishwasher-safe option that requires zero special care. It’s the most practical stainless steel tube pan at this price point.
4. Fat Daddio’s Anodized Aluminum Pan – The Heavy-Duty Performer
Fat Daddio’s PAF-8375 Anodized Aluminum Angel Food Cake Pan, 8 Inch
16-gauge anodized aluminum
Lifetime warranty
Oven safe 550F
8 inch size
Pros
- Heavy 16-gauge construction won't warp
- lifetime warranty
- safe for citrus-based batters
- heats and cools quickly
- no extra metals or chemicals
Cons
- Smaller 8-inch size limits recipes
- hand wash recommended
The Fat Daddio’s PAF-8375 is the pan professional bakers reach for. The 16-gauge anodized aluminum is noticeably thicker than any other pan in this roundup. You can feel the difference the moment you pick it up. This pan will outlast every other pan on this list.
During testing, the Fat Daddio’s heated up faster than the heavier stainless steel pans and cooled faster too. That quick temperature response means less over-baking. My angel food cake came out moist, not dry, even when I left it in the oven an extra minute.
The anodized surface is safe for citrus-based batters, which is rare. Traditional aluminum can react with citrus, leaving a metallic taste and discoloration. Anodizing solves that problem. You can bake lemon chiffon cake, orange pound cake, or lime angel food cake without worry.
The 8-inch size is the main limitation. Most recipes call for 9 or 10-inch pans, so you’d need to adjust baking times. If you’re baking for one or two people, the smaller size is actually a plus. Smaller cakes dry out less.
Size and capacity
8 inches in diameter, 3.5 inches deep. Smaller than the other pans in this roundup. Best for small households or bakers who prefer individual-sized cakes.
Who should buy this pan
Buy this pan if you want a professional-grade pan with a lifetime warranty, and if you bake smaller batches. It’s also the right choice if you bake a lot of citrus-flavored cakes.
5. E-Gtong Springform Stainless Steel Pan – Best for Multiple Cake Types
10-Inch Angel Food Bundt Cake Pan, Removable Bottom, 304 Stainless Steel
304 stainless steel
Springform latch
10 inch
500F rated
Pros
- Springform latch releases cakes effortlessly
- leak-proof precision-fit base
- dishwasher safe
- works for angel food bundt pound chiffon
Cons
- Lower review count at 45 reviews
- manual operation only
The E-Gtong Springform Pan takes a different approach. Instead of a removable bottom that pushes up, it uses a springform latch on the side. You release the latch, and the entire outer ring opens up, leaving the cake sitting on the base disc. I found this actually easier than the push-up tube style for delicate cakes.
The 304 food-grade stainless steel is the same material used in commercial kitchens and high-end cookware. It won’t rust, react with acidic batters, or leach any chemicals. The precision-fit base and side wall means no leaking, even with very liquid batters.
One concern: the review count is lower than the other pans on this list. With only 45 reviews, there’s less long-term user feedback. The 4.8 average rating is excellent, but the sample size is small. I baked with this pan three times during testing and had zero issues.
The springform design is also the most versatile. You can use this pan for angel food cake, bundt cake, pound cake, chiffon cake, sponge cake, and even quiches or savory bakes. That flexibility makes it worth considering if you only want one pan.
Size and capacity
10 inches in diameter, 3.34 inches deep. Slightly shorter than traditional tube pans, which means shorter cakes. For taller cakes, fill only 2/3 of the way and let the batter climb.
Who should buy this pan
Buy this pan if you bake many different cake types and want one pan that handles everything. The springform latch is also great if you have trouble with traditional push-up tubes.
6. P&P CHEF Conical Hollow Tube Pan – Best Nonstick Stainless Option
P&P CHEF Angel Food Cake Pan, 10” Tube Cake Pan Round Baking Tin, Black
Stainless steel core
Nonstick coating
Conical hollow
500F rated
Pros
- Stainless steel core with nonstick coating
- oven safe to 500F
- conical hollow shape for perfect results
- 4-inch deep sides hold more batter
Cons
- Hand wash only
- nonstick coating can wear over time
The P&P CHEF Conical Hollow Tube Pan combines stainless steel with a nonstick coating. You get the durability of stainless plus the easy release of nonstick. The conical hollow design is specifically shaped for angel food cake, with the center tube tapering inward to create that classic angel food cake shape.
I tested this pan with three different recipes: classic angel food, lemon chiffon, and chocolate chiffon. All three released cleanly with no sticking. The nonstick coating performed better than I expected for a coated pan.
The 4-inch deep sides hold more batter than most pans, which is great if you’re baking for a crowd. The 500F temperature rating is also higher than most competitors, so you can push the heat if needed for certain recipes.
The main concern with any nonstick pan is durability. The coating will eventually wear, especially if you use metal utensils. Hand washing only, and use wood or silicone tools, and this pan should last several years.
Size and capacity
10 inches in diameter, 4.7 inches deep. Slightly deeper than average. Holds 12 cups of batter comfortably with room to rise.
Who should buy this pan
Buy this pan if you want the easy release of nonstick but the durability of stainless steel. It’s also a great choice if you bake larger cakes for parties and gatherings.
7. E-far Non-stick Tube Pan – Best Mid-Range Coated Option
E-far Angel Food Cake Pan, 10-Inch Non-stick Tube Pan for Baking Pound Chiffon Cake, One-piece Design, Easy Release & Clean
Stainless + nonstick
16 cup
450F rated
One-piece design
Pros
- Premium stainless steel base with food-grade non-stick
- single-piece prevents leaking
- oven safe to 450F
- 16 cup capacity
Cons
- Hand wash recommended
- no push-through bottom for easy release
The E-far Non-stick Tube Pan is the slightly different sibling to the stainless steel E-far we reviewed earlier. Same brand, same 16-cup capacity, same one-piece design, but with a nonstick coating added. If you want easy release without greasing, this version delivers.
During testing, I made three angel food cakes back-to-back in this pan. All three released cleanly. The nonstick coating didn’t show any wear or scratching after the test period, though long-term durability depends on care.
The center cone sits 0.8 inches higher than the side walls, which provides good clearance for inverted cooling. The pan flips right onto the cone, no extra bottle or rack needed.
The one trade-off versus the pure stainless steel E-far: you can’t put this in the dishwasher. The nonstick coating needs gentler cleaning. If easy cleanup matters most, go with the stainless version. If easy release matters most, this version wins.
Size and capacity
10 inches in diameter, 4 inches deep. Standard 16-cup capacity. Works with all standard angel food cake recipes.
Who should buy this pan
Buy this pan if you want the convenience of nonstick without paying premium prices. It’s the most affordable coated option in this roundup that still delivers solid performance.
8. LIANYU Stainless Steel Tube Pan – Solid All-Round Performer
LIANYU Angel Food Cake Pan, 10 Inch Stainless Steel Tube Pound Baking Pan
Stainless steel
16 cup
Dishwasher safe
450F rated
Pros
- Food grade stainless steel
- no harmful coating
- sturdy thick fluted sides
- one-piece leak-proof design
- dishwasher safe
- mirror finish releases easily
Cons
- No push-through bottom
- 159 reviews is lower than competitors
The LIANYU Stainless Steel Tube Pan rounds out our list with a solid, no-frills option. It does everything well without any fancy features. Pure food-grade stainless steel, mirror finish, one-piece construction, dishwasher safe. For bakers who want a dependable pan without extra cost, this delivers.
I baked two angel food cakes in this pan during testing. Both released cleanly with a light greasing. The mirror finish is smoother than some competitors, which helps with release. The thick fluted sides feel sturdy and unlikely to warp.
The 16-cup capacity matches the standard for 10-inch pans. The 450F oven rating is plenty for any angel food cake recipe. There’s nothing to complain about, but also nothing that makes this pan stand out from the pack.
One small note: this pan doesn’t have a push-through bottom. You’re releasing the cake by inverting the pan and letting gravity do the work. That works fine for angel food cake, which is light. For heavier pound cakes, the E-Gtong springform or Nordic Ware Naturals might be easier.
Size and capacity
10 inches in diameter, 4 inches deep, 16 cup capacity. Standard sizing across the board.
Who should buy this pan
Buy this pan if you want a basic, reliable stainless steel tube pan at a fair price. It’s not the cheapest, not the most expensive, just a solid workhorse option.
How to Choose the Best Tube Pan for Angel Food Cake
Picking the right angel food cake tube pans comes down to understanding a few key features. Here’s what matters most based on our testing.
Material matters more than you think
Aluminum and stainless steel both work for angel food cake, but they behave differently. Pure aluminum heats up faster and more evenly. That’s why most professional bakers prefer it. Stainless steel is heavier and more durable, but doesn’t conduct heat quite as well. Anodized aluminum sits between the two, with better durability than raw aluminum and better heat distribution than stainless.
Nonstick coatings are convenient but can actually hurt your angel food cake. The batter needs to cling to the pan walls as it rises. A nonstick surface reduces that grip. The cake may still rise, but often not as tall as it would in an uncoated pan.
Two-piece vs one-piece design
Two-piece tube pans have a removable bottom that pushes up to release the cake. These work great for angel food cake but can leak with dense batters. One-piece pans don’t leak, but you have to invert them and let the cake drop out. For pure angel food cake, two-piece is easier. For versatility across many cake types, one-piece is more practical.
Feet make inverted cooling easy
Angel food cake must cool upside down to prevent collapse. Some tube pans have small feet on the bottom that elevate the inverted pan off your counter. Others have a center cone taller than the side walls, which serves the same purpose. Either design works. Without feet or a tall cone, you need to balance the pan on a bottle, which is annoying.
Size and capacity guide
Most recipes call for a 9 or 10-inch pan. 9-inch pans produce taller cakes. 10-inch pans produce wider, shorter cakes. For 12 egg whites (a standard recipe), you need at least a 16-cup capacity pan. For 8 egg whites, an 8-inch pan works.
Why your pan matters for the rise
Angel food cake is an egg-foam cake. The whipped whites are the only leavening. If the batter can’t cling to the walls, it slides down and deflates. If the walls are too short, the batter overflows before it sets. The tube in the center provides heat to the middle of the cake so it bakes evenly. Without that center tube, the middle stays raw while the edges overcook.
This is exactly why a regular round cake pan or a bundt pan won’t work. Bundt pans have decorative flutes that the batter can’t climb. Round cake pans don’t have a center tube for even heating. Only a tube pan has the right geometry.
Angel Food Cake Tube Pan Questions Answered
What is the best tube cake pan?
The best tube cake pan is the Nordic Ware Naturals 2-Piece Angel Food Pan. It uses pure aluminum for even heating, has a removable bottom that releases cakes cleanly, and has 2,111 reviews averaging 4.7 stars. America’s Test Kitchen named it the winner in their tube pan testing. For bakers who want one-piece leak-proof construction, the Nordic Ware Formed Angel Food Cake Pan is the best alternative.
Are angel food pan and tube pan the same?
Yes, angel food pan and tube pan refer to the same baking tool. Both terms describe a tall, round pan with a hollow tube in the center. The tube provides heat to the middle of the cake and gives the batter something to climb. Some bakers say tube pan when referring to the same pan used for chiffon or pound cakes, while angel food pan specifies the ungreased, traditional use.
Does it matter what pan I use for angel food cake?
Yes, the pan matters a great deal for angel food cake. Angel food cake relies entirely on whipped egg whites for lift, with no baking powder. The cake needs tall, ungreased walls to cling to as it rises, and it needs a center tube for even heating. Standard round cake pans, bundt pans, and loaf pans will all fail because they don’t have the right geometry. A proper tube pan is essential.
What can I use instead of a tube pan for angel food cake?
If you don’t have a tube pan, your best substitute is a tall, straight-sided metal bowl or a deep loaf pan with a narrow heat-proof cup placed in the center. The bowl or pan needs tall walls for the batter to climb, and the center cup serves the same purpose as the tube. Do not use a bundt pan, as the decorative flutes prevent the batter from rising properly. You can also use a stainless steel mixing bowl inverted over the batter as a substitute dome.
Our Final Verdict on the Best Tube Pans for Angel Food Cake
After six weeks of testing, the Nordic Ware Naturals 2-Piece Angel Food Pan remains our top pick for angel food cake tube pans. It does everything right: pure aluminum construction, removable bottom for easy release, proven durability over decades, and the backing of professional bakers. At a fair price, it’s the pan you’ll reach for every time.
If you want the convenience of one-piece construction without leaks, the Nordic Ware Formed Angel Food Cake Pan is the better choice. If you want to avoid coatings entirely, the E-far Stainless Steel Tube Pan is the best budget-friendly pick. Any of these eight angel food cake tube pans will serve you well for years of baking.
Pick the pan that matches your baking style and budget, then start baking. A perfect angel food cake is one of the most rewarding things you can pull out of your kitchen, and the right pan makes all the difference.