Why do some cake recipes say you have to grease and flour the pan?

What does the flour do every cake I have baked (boxed :D ) never said to flour what does the flour do? What kind of flour do I need?Why do some cake recipes say you have to grease and flour the pan?
Any kind of flour will work. It's just so the cake releases from the bottom of the pan. You could use just the grease (butter, shortening, cooking spray) but it might be absorbed into the cake and be worthless as a release agent. Adding the flour keeps the ';slippery'; between the cake and the pan.





EDIT: There are non-stick cooking sprays available that have flour in them.Why do some cake recipes say you have to grease and flour the pan?
It is a release agent so your cake will not stick in your pan. Any kind of flour will do. The ';old fashioned way'; is to rub the grease (oil or butter) in the pan %26amp; put a couple spoonfuls of flour in the pan. Shake it around until all the sides %26amp; bottom are lightly dusted. I prefer to use the new baking sprays that are available at the supermarket. They are right next to the non-stick cooking sprays (Pam, etc.) They already have the oil%26amp; flour %26amp; you just spray the pan. REALLY EASY! Good luck :)
To flour the pan after you grease it is to ensure that the cake will come out without sticking to the sides. If you're making a chocolate cake tho ugh use cocoa powder instead so you don't get white spots on your cake.
I line with my pans with brown paper. After the cake is cool I run a knife around the sides, place board on top of pan and flip over...cake some out no problem and paper peels off very easily and no bitter taste from canned spray.
the flour makes the batter/ dough non sticky, and so does buttr or pam, but combining is the best
probably just normal flour... its to keep the cake from sticking to the bottom of the pan
cause you don't want ur cake to stick to the pan!