A ramekin is a small bakeware vessel used for preparing and serving individual portions of food. It is typically a single-serving dish that goes from preparation to baking to serving. Ramekins have straight sides similar to a cup, with a diameter between 3" and 4", and deep, vertical sides with a rounded lip. They are often made of glazed stoneware, including ceramic or porcelain, to be as heat-resistant as possible. Ramekins can also be made of glass and some metals, such as aluminum, cast iron, and steel, but those materials are less heat-proof and shouldn’t come in direct contact with a flame. Ramekins are versatile enough to be used for baking French desserts, but they can also be used for baking other types of dishes, such as soufflés, molten chocolate cakes, ice cream, egg dishes, and more. They can also be used to organize ingredients before cooking to save time and avoid cross-contamination when working with raw animal products. Snack foods and desserts served in ramekins can help with individual portion size control. Ramekins are commonly used in ovens or, in the case of crème brûlée, exposed to the flame of a cooking torch.