Part of the joy of cooking is finding a gadget that makes the job easier. This season's hot new cooking tool is silicone.

Manufacturers claim that silicone bakeware needs little or no greasing and that cakes will practically pop right out of the pans. To find out if the proof really is in the pudding -- or the batter -- the Good Housekeeping Institute got cooking. The results:

Cookies and pies: Test cookies -- even the most delicate ones -- slid right off the cookie sheets. For the crispy cookie lover, the new bakeware provided more crunch than aluminum sheets. If you're making pies, the silicone sheets can be used for rolling out dough with minimal mess. Other pluses: The sheets and the pans are easy to clean and roll up for storage.

Cakes: Despite the pan's slick finish, it failed to peel easily off the cake. Compared to cakes baked in aluminum pans, ones baked on silicone lacked a nice, even crust. This could be a problem when you ice the cake because icing will tend to pick up crumbs. Another gripe: After a spin in the dishwasher, there was still residue on the cake pans.

Silicone bakeware buying advice: Look for ones for with smooth interiors. They'll be the easiest to clean. Also, make sure you buy bakeware with handles that have a secure grip.