The Best Muffin Pans For Home Bakers
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Nordic Ware Pro Cast Filled Muffin Pan -
USA Pans Crown Muffin Pan -
Lodge StraightSided Muffin Pan -
Wilton Perfect Results Muffin Pan -
Buyer's Guide
If you're craving homemade muffins or cupcakes you'll need a muffin pan. These pans contain a series of cups that cook up a batch of hand-held treats. Though many people use baking cups to allow these tiny cakes to slip right out of the pan, the pans on this list are made so you can bake cup cakes or muffins without a paper or foil lining. The five best muffin pans in 2022 on this list are also made from high quality materials that heat up evenly so there won't be burned or raw spots on your baked goods. The final quality we looked for in a muffin pan was the ability to make out-of-the ordinary cup cakes or muffins that are absolutely delicious.
Compare The Best Muffin Pan Of 2022
Nordic Ware Pro Cast Filled Muffin Pan - Best Muffin Pan Overall
The Nordic Ware Pro Cast Filled Cupcakes Pan is one of our favorites. The steel in the pan heats up and cools down quickly which makes cakes cook evenly. The non-stick coating allows baked goods to slip easily out of the tray when they're finished without the need for any extra oil or a baking cup. What makes this pan special is that it's molded so that cakes come out with hollow centers. This makes it possible to make cupcakes that are stuffed with frosting and muffins that are stuffed with fresh fruit compote, making a special treat even more delicious.
USA Pans Crown Muffin Pan - Runner Up
For delicious muffins with extra wide muffin tops, the pan of choice is the USA Pans Crown Muffin Pan. Made from aluminized steel with a corrugated texture, this pan cooks cupcakes and muffins much faster than the competition. The sides of the pan are also reinforced with steel wires, making this an incredibly durable piece of bakeware. The entire pan is also coated with a light-colored silicone-based coating that creates a superior non-stick surface. USA Pans also makes muffin pans for extra-large Texas muffins, cupcakes with swirled or fluted sides, and half-sized cupcakes.
Lodge StraightSided Muffin Pan - Honorable Mention
The Lodge Muffin Pan is a traditional cast iron pan that gives baked goods a beautiful golden-brown crust. Since this pan is cast iron, it isn't non-stick, and it can take a year or so before baked goods will slide easily out of the pan. Until then, you'll want to oil the cups before pouring the batter in. Though a cast iron muffin pan is a little more work than a non-stick pan, it does create some of the most delicious cup cakes and corn bread muffins around. These pans also get better with age, and many people pass down their used cast iron to children and grandchildren.
Wilton Perfect Results Muffin Pan - Consider
Everybody knows that the best part of the muffin is the muffin top, which is why Wilton made the Perfect Results 12 Cavity Muffin Tops Pan. This pan has a dozen shallow cups that create perfect muffin tops without any of the muffin stump. The pan is made from heavy-gauge steel that heats evenly and doesn't warp. The outside of the pan is covered with a non-stick coating that cleans up easily. It also has wide handles that make it easy to move the tray in and out of the oven.
Buyer's Guide
When you head to the market to buy the best muffin pans for an exceptional baking experience, you will come across a wide range of sizes, materials, and colors. As with any other sort of bakeware, the devil gives varying baking results depending on some or all of these traits. This guide may be useful to differentiate between different muffin pans available.
What factors regarding a muffin pan will affect your buying decision?
Material
The material you select has an effect on the pan’s overall performance and dependability. Metallic pans are more robust and long-lasting. Additionally, they are superior heat conductors.
If you choose silicone, you will be amazed at its non-stick properties. However, silicone muffin pans don’t conduct heat as efficiently as metallic pans.
You can also opt for either a ceramic or a glass muffin pan. They are typically free of toxins, are nonstick, and offer healthier alternatives. Another variant is to use a rubber muffin pan, but be sure to use nonstick spray for best results.
Size
There are two approaches to the size of these vital kitchen appliances. To begin with, the pan's overall dimensions dictate the size of the oven it will fit. Therefore, be on the lookout for bakeware that can be used in your oven.
The size of the muffin cups translates to the size of the muffins. Round muffin pans come in normal, mini, and giant cup sizes. The trick is to match your selection to the quantities specified in the recipe.
Convenience
If you opt for a muffin pan that fulfills a professional pan's weight criteria, these will be extremely convenient to use. A pan that is too thin may bend quickly, whereas a pan that is too heavy is more difficult to work with. Large, solid handles make it easier to set pans in the oven and remove them when the muffins are done.
Non-stick
Making muffins is a rather straightforward process. You only need to pay attention to the details of your ingredients; the pan and oven will take care of the rest. However, the procedure for removing baked muffins from every type of baking equipment varies according to their non-stick properties.
You will find food-grade silicone pans that have the best nonstick properties. Metallic materials with long-lasting nonstick coatings are also excellent choices.
Durability
Who wants to be in the market on a regular basis in search of a single product? To avoid this inconvenience, you should select a product that will last as long as you require it. The most durable solutions are those made of metal. However, be cautious with the coating, as some are prone to peeling off after a few uses.
Cups/capacity
Regardless of the pan's size, the number of cups in a tray dictates the number of muffins that can be baked in a single batch. The majority of muffin pans designed for household usage have a capacity ranging from 6 to 24 cups.
Which type of muffin pan should you buy?
As is the case with nearly all types of cookware, muffin pans are classified according to the material used in their production.
Aluminum muffin pans
Almost half of the muffin pans that you will find are made of aluminum. It is a popular choice for the majority of people due to its excellent conductivity. Additionally, even heat distribution results in uniformly baked foods that are both appealing and appetizing.
Aluminum pans are compact and lightweight. However, the primary disadvantage of these pans is their strength. These don’t work well under rapid temperature changes of the oven and might end up wrapping. However, options with multiple layers will perform better.
Stainless steel pans
The material is unmatched in terms of strength. They are corrosion and warp resistant. Cleaning stainless steel is extremely simple, so there is no need to be concerned.
The only disadvantage of these pans is that they conduct heat less efficiently than their aluminum counterparts. This means they will heat significantly more slowly, and the entire baking process will likely be slower.
Carbon steel muffin pans
It combines the strength of steel with the lightness of carbon fiber in a single piece of cookware. They stand out for their ease of seasoning and cleaning, as well as their ability to remain nonstick with regular care and maintenance.
Steel pans
This is likely to surprise you, but you may also find muffin pans that are constructed entirely of steel. This category contains the most robust and durable options. They are protected against corrosion by a nonstick coating.
Silicone muffin pans
The most frequently cited reason for bakers' preference for silicone muffin pans is their non-stick properties. Flexible silicone muffin plates are the best option. This feature means that muffins can be readily popped out of the flexible tray. A well-formulated silicone is also an excellent conductor of heat. However, even heat dispersion might be a challenge.
Cupcake pan vs. muffin pan: Are both the same?
Many individuals are unaware that there is a distinction between muffins and cupcake pans. If you've jumped on the same bandwagon, you've been duped.
While a muffin pan can be used to make cupcakes and vice versa, it's important to note that each of these delicacies requires a unique pan.
Muffins have less sugar and are thus more nutritious than traditional cupcake recipes. Also, muffins incorporate more natural ingredients like whole wheat flour, dried fruits, milk, self-raising flour, almonds, and chocolate chips. Cupcake recipes, on the other hand, call for butter and sugar.
Most muffin pans have been adjusted to include larger filling areas, which contributes to the crispness of each muffin you serve. Different pans should be used to make these entirely different recipes.
How much do muffin pans cost?
Because the great majority of muffin pans are pretty reasonably priced and quite inexpensive, what matters in this category is that you have considered the properties of the pan as these should match the purpose(s) for which you intend to use it!
There can be price outliers—for instance, if a pan is significantly less expensive than the others you're considering, it may be lacking in weight, sturdiness, or heat dissipation. If it is more expensive than the average, it should have readily recognizable qualities, such as a well-known brand name or innovative technology integrated into the design.
The price of muffin pans varies according to the type of metal and the size. You can find pans for as low as $3 or as high as $40.
Best Muffin Pans FAQs
Q: Should you use cooking spray on a nonstick muffin pan?
A: Yes! To avoid the hassles of taking out muffins, you should coat a nonstick muffin pan with cooking spray. This will help you take your muffins out of the pan easily.
Q: Is it possible to bake muffins without using muffin liners?
A: While the muffin liners improve the ergonomics of baking a muffin, you can cook without them. This means the batter will conform to the shape of the mold.
Q: When is the optimal time to remove muffins from the pan?
A: It is recommended that you wait an average of 5 minutes before removing the muffins from the pan. This time can be cut in half for mini muffins and doubled for jumbo muffins.
