Type of Dish

Bake soufflés in dishes with straight-up sides, known as soufflé dishes. To use a casserole or charlotte mold with sloping sides is to encourage the soufflé to droop over the sides of the pan rather than to puff up straight and to form what is called a “cap.” Soufflé dishes come in all sizes from 1 to 12 cups. To know the size of your dish, simply measure water into it and see how many cups of liquid it holds.

We do not recommend anything larger than a 6-cup size. Smaller, yes— larger no. Large soufflés are apt to fall because of the large surface area. They also require longer cooking, and so too often become overcooked. It is advisable to make two small soufflés rather than a single large one.