Food
Fact-checked

At DelightedCooking, we're committed to delivering accurate, trustworthy information. Our expert-authored content is rigorously fact-checked and sourced from credible authorities. Discover how we uphold the highest standards in providing you with reliable knowledge.

Learn more...

What is a Ramekin?

S. Mithra
S. Mithra

A ramekin cooks and serves food in a single-serving, heatproof, cylindrical dish. A ramekin is made of glass, porcelain, or ceramic commonly in a round shape with an exterior ridged surface. Soufflés, mousses, custards, puddings, and casseroles in individual sizes are ideal meals and desserts to cook or bake in a ramekin. Potent foods in small amounts, like dips, can also be served in these miniature decorative dishes.

Since ramekins are designed to hold a serving for just one person, they are frequently sold in sets of four, six, or eight. Traditional ramekins are solid white, round, with a fluted texture covering the outside, and a small lip. However, there are many decorative ramekins that come in shapes of a heart, oval, or rounded square. They come in countless colors and finishes, with transparent, milky red, or forest green crackle finish ramekins. Some have imprinted designs for special occasions, like a wreath, leaf, or blossom.

Tapenade in a ramekin, served with a slice of bread.
Tapenade in a ramekin, served with a slice of bread.

Ramekin might come from a Dutch word for "toast" or a German word for "little cream." Fluffy, airy dishes that contain a lot of eggs or egg-whites benefit from being cooked in a ramekin because the heat can be distributed evenly, resulting in a uniform texture. The straight sides allow foods that rise to cling to them, giving height to puffy desserts like mousse or creme brulee. Some recipes call for a set of ramekins to be placed in a pan of hot water, called a bath, and then baked in the oven, to protect food from scorching.

Many restaurants serve creme brûlée in a large ramekin.
Many restaurants serve creme brûlée in a large ramekin.

Ramekins act as attractive serving dishes as well. They beautify the presentation of hummus, pesto, cashews, mayonnaise, olive tapenade, or mushroom pate. Sometimes it's prettier to present desserts outside of the ramekin. The dish's straight sides make it easy to unmold desserts, like an upside-down pineapple cake, by inverting them onto a plate. Flan, a Mexican dessert, first requires you to coat the inside of the ramekin with caramel, then pour in the flan and bake until firm. Flan can also be upended, so your guests can see the swirling glaze of the caramel.

Discussion Comments

anon164128

How big are ramekins? If you don't have any what could be substituted? I have a recipe for individual cakes. Could they be made in lined muffin (cup cake) pans? How big or small would they have to be?

anon94986

would you call those small bowls used to hold soy sauce, fish sauce or vinegar as ramekins? Many asian restaurants have these but i don't know their correct name.

anon62604

minombre, you are talking about measuring bowls. Ramekins are used for cooking, typically baking or roasting. Although you could use it for preparation, that is not its intended purpose, like using a wrench to pound a nail.

anon39365

"Ramekin might come from a Dutch word for "toast" ". Yeah, sure, please tell me the Dutch word for toast since I am Dutch but there is no word like ramekin in Dutch

anon19948

how do you pronounce ramekin? Rame kin or ram a kin?

minombre

Ramekins are practical, little containers that can be used in the kitchen. They are convenient while cooking because they can hold pre-measured food items. So when the recipe calls for an ingredient, you have the right amount ready in your ramekin.

Post your comments
Login:
Forgot password?
Register:
    • Tapenade in a ramekin, served with a slice of bread.
      By: Natalia Mylova
      Tapenade in a ramekin, served with a slice of bread.
    • Many restaurants serve creme brûlée in a large ramekin.
      By: mayamo
      Many restaurants serve creme brûlée in a large ramekin.
    • Making flan in a ramekin involves first coating the inside of the ramekin with caramel.
      By: sergojpg
      Making flan in a ramekin involves first coating the inside of the ramekin with caramel.