No sticking, better baking: PricoPlex’s new Leberkäse pans are a hit

Made of premium silicone with stainless steel reinforcements, PricoPlex’s Leberkäse molds make work easier for employees at butcher shops, meat processing plants, wholesalers, and fresh food counters. The biggest advantage: the time saved during preparation and cleanup.

The Globus supermarket in Koblenz-Bubenheim sells two million meatloaf sandwiches—or, as they’re called in Bavaria, “Leberkässemmeln”—every year. That’s just under 5,500 a day. The snack, which sells for about one euro at the counter, is a flagship product for the supermarket chain, but it also presents challenges for the counter staff. After all, all that meat mixture has to be baked. And to ensure this process is as quick and efficient as possible, having the right equipment is crucial. “Globus approached us with the problem that they were spending a great deal of time on the preparation and cleanup of the metal molds,” says Fabian Zanoni, sales manager at PricoPlex. Since the sausage meat stuck to the molds after baking, store employees had to spend a great deal of time cleaning them afterward. In addition, a release agent was required before baking.

Meatloaf pan Designed with nonstick properties

PricoPlex set to work on this task and developed a new mold. “As is well known, silicone molds are well-suited for baking. However, since there were no products available for professional use with meat mixtures, we took the shape and volume of metal molds as our guide and considered how we could optimize the standard household silicone mold,” Zanoni explains the process. The company, which has been developing display trays for professional food presentation in Eresing on Lake Ammersee for more than 70 years, solved the challenge with a premium silicone featuring thick walls and a stainless steel reinforcement frame. Thanks to its nonstick properties, nothing sticks to the mold when baking meatloaf—not even the highly sticky pizza-style Leberkäse. After use, the mold can be placed in the dishwasher without any further preparation and is ready for its next use.

“As is well known, silicone molds are well suited for baking. However, since there were no products available for professional use with meat mixtures, we took the shape and volume of metal molds as our guide and considered how we could optimize the standard household silicone mold.” Fabian Zanoni

Test users "impressed" by Meatloaf pan

During the development phase, numerous users from REWE, EDEKA, Globus, and other large butcher shops tested the Meatloaf pan . A technical advisor from EDEKA’s Southwest Region confirms the positive feedback. “Everyone was impressed. For most testers, ease of cleaning was the deciding factor. In addition, the pan was well-received because it is heat-resistant and retains its shape.” The specialist consultant knows from his retail clients that, when using other stainless steel pans, they previously had to laboriously scrub away meat mixture residue with a steel sponge. This is no longer necessary with the new PricoPlex pan. Thanks to its nonstick properties, no release agent is needed during baking.

“Everyone was impressed. For most testers, the issue of cleaning was the deciding factor. The design was also well-received, as it is heat-resistant and retains its shape.”

EDEKA Southwest Region Technical Advisor

The large number of pre-orders confirms the added value

The baking results also received high marks in the tests. Thanks to the food-safe, sturdy pan, the meat mixture cooks evenly and develops an appealing golden-brown crust. Available in capacities of 3.7 liters (390 x 190 x 90 mm) and 2.7 liters (GN 1/3, 325 x 176 x 90 mm), the Leberkäse molds will be available starting in May. But demand was already high even before that: PricoPlex received more than 100 pre-orders in a short period of time after the news about the new molds was released. The positive reception was also confirmed at the Meat Congress in Königswinter and the EuroShop trade show in Düsseldorf, where the new molds were presented live for the first time: “The Meatloaf pan was passed around by many people, and alternative uses were also discussed,” says Zanoni. For example, a PricoPlex partner from Spain suggested that the mold could also be used for baking ham.

Whether it’s ground meat, ham, or something else entirely, PricoPlex molds make life easier for employees at butcher shops and deli counters. No sticking, better baking. And even if you’re not making 5,500 meatloaf sandwiches or Leberkäs rolls a day, the time savings are significant. When the molds aren’t in use, they stack up perfectly. Thanks to high-quality materials and professional craftsmanship, they’re also durable and will hold their shape perfectly—even after the millionth meatloaf sandwich.