What to look for when buying muffin tins?
Because honestly, I wouldn't be nearly so in love with my dutch oven without the advice I got on this site. And I really believe in getting one good lifetime tool, rather than a bunch of cheap ones.
I'm kind of creeped out by Teflon, and will probably skip coatings. I've read here that baking with the silicone cup-type things isn't necessarily any better than a metal pan.
Are there any metal types or finishes that give better baking results?
Best Answer
In general, the darker the color of the metal of the muffin tin the more it will brown its contents. You also want to look for a thick, durable metal as this will aid in even cooking. Finally, look for a tin with large, wide handles; the last thing you want to be doing is sticking your thumbs into a muffin when trying to insert/remove the tin from the oven! Most muffin tins these days are non-stick, so it may be hard to find one that is not. With that said, non-stick technology has advanced a bit since the Teflon-only days. For example, many modern non-stick pans/tins instead use other metals and ceramics that are not known to be harmful. Furthermore, some modern muffin tins are marketed as "metal-safe", meaning that one can use a metal utensil on them (e.g., to extract the muffins from the tin) without damaging the non-stick coating. Finally, muffin tins will likely never be heated to the temperatures at which the "dangerous" non-stick coatings release harmful gasses.
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Quick Answer about "What to look for when buying muffin tins?"
Muffin pans of good quality are generally made of steel, carbon steel, aluminized steel, silicone, silicone-lined steel, silicone-lined fiberglass fabric, and steel-lined silicone. The weight of a good muffin pan has been designed to make oven heat flow and transfer well for the size of the pan, and it can vary.What is the best material for a muffin pan?
Aluminum is perhaps the best material for even heat distribution, especially if it is anodized. Stainless steel bakeware, with an inner core of aluminum or copper, helps ensure even baking. Silicone muffin pans are not as good at conducting heat as metal pans.Which is better silicone or metal muffin tins?
Silicone is another popular material, and these pans tend to release their goods effortlessly. The problem is that silicone doesn't tend to cook as evenly, and it isn't as rigid as metal, which can make it harder to handle. Silicone works best as a nonstick coating on steel pans.What is the safest material for muffin pan?
The safest muffin pans are made from materials that are free from potentially toxic chemicals that can leach into food. The best non-toxic muffin pans are made from stainless steel, 100% ceramic, pure silicone, toughened glass, or stoneware.Is there a difference between muffin tins and cupcake tins?
Muffin pans and cupcake pans are exactly the same. If you are baking muffins, be sure use a nonstick pan.Top 5 Best Muffin Pans To Buy in 2021
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Answer 2
I've had very good results with this pan:
http://www.centralrestaurant.com/Large-Crown-Muffin-Pan---12-Cup-Capacity-c78p14727.html
It's made from aluminized steel and in our experience has a few things going for it:
It's very heavy and holds its temperature well - haven't had uneven cooking that occurs in some older thin muffin pans we have.
It doesn't have the dark metallic finish that can sometimes cause things to brown faster than you might like.
It makes 20 nice sized muffins, so depending on your recipe, you may be able to get the full batch cooked in one shot and with one pan
It includes a recess at the top of each muffin so you get the nice looking muffin top that everyone loves - because awesome muffins are the whole point anyway, right?
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Images: Gustavo Fring, Artem Beliaikin, Kampus Production, Max Fischer