The Best Muffin Pan
Our Review Process
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Our Picks For The Top Muffin Pans
- 1. Wilton Non-Stick Alloy Steel Muffin Pan
- 2. G & S Metal Products Non-Stick Carbon Steel Jumbo Muffin Pan
- 3. USA Pan BPA-Free Non-Stick Coating Muffin Pan
- 4. Walfos Dishwasher Safe Silicone Muffin Pans, 2-Piece
- 5. Boxiki Kitchen Steel Frame & Silicone Molds Muffin Pan
- 6. CAKETIME Flexible Non-Stick Silicone Muffin Pan
- 7. Nordic Ware Easy Clean Aluminum Muffin Pan
- 8. Tiawudi Non-Stick Carbon Steel Muffin Pans, 3-Piece
- 9. Farberware Warp-Resistant Non-Stick Muffin Pan
- 10. GreenLife Ceramic Non-Stick Coating Muffin Pan
This muffin pan features 12 cups sized for standard muffins and cupcakes. The nonstick surface makes removing the baked goods easy. The material is steel, and the nonstick coating is reinforced to ensure it holds up over many uses.
Versatile UsesMake muffins, cupcakes, egg cups, appetizers and a variety of baked goods in this nonstick pan.
Make six jumbo-sized muffins, cupcakes or other baked item in this muffin pan. It features a nonstick coating to keep cleanup to a minimum, and a durable steel finish ensures even cooking. Each muffin bakes to a diameter of 3½ inches.
Even ResultsThe durable steel of this jumbo muffin pan reduces hot spots to even baking out over the entire surface.
With each cup measuring 2.75” x 2.13” x 1.38”, this pan is great for baking standard-sized muffins. There are 12 muffin cups, and the patented silicone coating is both nonstick and BPA free. The coating ensures baked items can be easily removed, and you can easily clean it with hot water and mild soap.
Easy to UseThe coating ensures baked items release easily for fuss-free cleanup and maintenance.
This set of two silicone trays makes cleanup a breeze. You'll simply set the pan on a baking tray, then fill it. Once baking is complete, you can easily pop each item out, then toss the pan in the dishwasher to clean.
Extra DurableIf you’re looking for a muffin pan that you can pop into the dishwasher, this set of two silicone muffin pans is a great choice.
Buying Guide
Muffins pack plenty of versatility. They make a tasty snack any time of day, but they come in extra handy for breakfast. You can eat one on the go or enjoy it at your kitchen table.
But if you’ve ever made muffins, you know muffin pans have some issues. Baked goods can tend to stick to the interior of the cups, making them tough to clean. Some muffin pans aren’t dishwasher safe, either, which means you’ll have to hand wash them after you’ve scraped off the remnants of your yummy creations.
Luckily, muffin pans have come a long way in recent years. Most manufacturers apply a nonstick coating to keep pans easy to clean while also ensuring the foods slide out easily once cooled. But this nonstick coating means many pans can’t be cleaned in the dishwasher. The heat and detergent can start to degrade the coating. There are some that claim to be dishwasher safe, but chances are, they’ll suffer the same fate.
That’s where silicone can help. Some muffin pans are either fully silicone or use silicone cups to give you the dishwasher safety you need. If you choose one that’s fully silicone, you’ll need to combine it with a cookie sheet to support it. The FDA has approved silicone as safe for cooking, and you may even be able to use cooking spray to ensure your muffins release easily.
Muffin pans aren’t just for muffins, either. You can use them for cupcakes, egg cups, hash brown cups, vegetable frittatas and more. There are plenty of recipes online for use with muffin pans, so you’ll be able to have some fun with your new kitchen tool.
What to Look For
- Muffin pans come in a variety of sizes. You can find some made for baking much smaller muffins, while others have jumbo-sized muffin cups. Choose the one that matches your preferences.
- Many nonstick muffin pans are made from steel, but don’t count aluminum pans out. These usually won’t be nonstick, but they’re great for conducting heat. With an aluminum pan, you’ll also be able to clean it in the dishwasher and use cooking spray, although you may find it’s tougher to get a clean lift on your muffins and cupcakes.
- It’s best not to use cooking spray on nonstick pans. The lecithin in cooking sprays tends to cling to nonstick pans, building up over time and eventually becoming hard to clean off. Over time, the integrity of the pan will start to degrade.
- Dark pans can be problematic when you’re baking cakes and sweet breads. The dark color tends to absorb heat more quickly than lighter colors and therefore can lead to the exterior overcooking.
- Unless your muffin recipe directs otherwise, only fill each cup to about ¾ full. This will allow the extra room necessary for the muffin to rise without forcing it to spill too far over.
- Muffin liners can be great if you’re making muffins or cupcakes to take to an event or party. It will give others a way to hand out the treats without touching them. If you’re making baked goods at home, though, liners are likely unnecessary.
- Pay close attention to the material used to make any muffin pan you’re buying. You’ll want durable steel with a nonstick coating that is designed to last through many uses.
- Silicone pans bring plenty of convenience, but you may find they don’t conduct heat in the same way metal does. You’ll probably find you need to spend time experimenting with your silicone muffin pan to know how to adjust cooking time and temperature. You can also find muffin recipes designed specifically for silicone pans.
More to Explore
You may have heard the nursery rhyme “The Muffin Man,” but did you know there was an actual muffin man? Although muffins are sold in grocery stores today, in 1800s England, that wasn’t the case. Muffin men bought products like muffins from local bakers, then traveled London’s streets, selling the items at a profit to people they met along the way. The cost was typically around a half a penny each. For London’s elite, home delivery was available. Muffin men would go door to door to drop off the baked goods.
In 1861, the occupation caught the attention of Henry Mayhew, who was documenting various jobs for a book. The result, London Labour and the London Poor, had an entire section discussing street sellers. Muffin men were included among the group, and it was revealed that many of them were either sons of bakers or older men who’d previously worked as bakers.