Final answer:
For quick breads, you should grease only the bottom of the pan to prevent sticking and assist in the rising process. Vegetable oil is commonly used due to its high smoke point and neutral flavor. Remember that greasing a pan is different from adding toppings like butter or syrup.
Step-by-step explanation:
When preparing quick breads, like pancakes or cornbread, it is often recommended to grease only the bottom of the pan. This technique helps prevent the batter from sticking while allowing the sides to remain ungreased, which can aid in the rising process during baking. It's important to be aware that the greasing process is related to the cooking aspect of food preparation, and does not include additional topping items that may be high in calories or fat, such as butter or syrup, which would be considered part of the 'goodies' you add once the bread or pancake is cooked.
Using vegetable oil is a common choice for greasing due to its high smoke point and neutral flavor. For practical application, you would use a paper towel or brush to apply a thin layer of oil to the bottom of the pan before pouring in the batter.
The amount needed to grease is minimal compared to the volume of ingredients like in the provided example, where a large bottle of vegetable oil (about 3 cups) can be used for many batches of pancakes but is limited by other ingredients, such as the number of eggs available.