Dear Kitchen,
I'm a baking fiend and as such have every muffin pan imaginable, but lately I have been seeing these silicone muffin pans everywhere. Has anyone had a great deal of experience with these? Because I'm terribly tempted, but also reticent to let go of my lovely metal pans. Let me know what you think!
Hi Gretchen,
Thanks for your question.
In early January, there was a detailed article in The New York Times about silicone kitchen tools. Unfortunately, you now have to pay to access this story, but here's the jist:
• Silicone bakeware is not nonstick. They still must be greased.
• All silicone is not the same. Make sure what you're buying does not contain filler.
• For cupcakes, the Times recommends SiliconeZone cupcake pans, and calls them "wonderful for cupcakes and popovers"
The experts at Baking911.com posted about this NY Times article too and also wrote this mixed review of silicone bakeware.
Thought we don't have experience with the French Silicone Miniature Muffin Mold you mentioned, we own both silicone and metal cupcake pans and confess that we don't usually notice a difference between the two, but silicone pans are handy when flexibility is required, like when popping these German Apple Pancakes out of the pan. Cook's Illustrated reports having trouble getting some cakes to brown and develop a proper crust when baking in silicone.
You're not the only "baking fiend" here. I'm sure some readers will have more advice on silicone bakeware.
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I have not used these particular ones before but have used other types of silicone baking pans. I find them a nuisance to wash, unless you have a dish washer, and if you don't use them for awhile they get kind of sticky. Also, some of these muffin liners require you to put them into regular metal muffin tins to bake anyway. Call me old fashioned, but I think investing in good, heavy aluminum baking pans is the way to go.
I don't really like the silicone pans for muffins and cupcakes for the same reason listed above: the baked item doesn't get that crisp golden brown loveliness on the bottom. I prefer silpat for baking cookies (instead of parchment paper and greasing).
Also the muffin pans can be a bit floppy when you're taking them out of the oven so I've found that I end up putting the batter in the silicone pan and then setting that on a metal cookie sheet...
I used a set of silicon muffin cups like those in the photo... and threw them out when I was done.
Who the heck wants to clean cake crumbs out of hundreds of ridges? The best thing about paper liners is that they're disposable (or compostable) and don't have to be cleaned.
Sorry this is so long but this is the run-down from the NY Times piece. Let me know if you would like the full article and I can post it here or email it to you.
RECOMMENDED
SiliconeZone baking mats: indispensable. Three sizes, from 9 by 12 inches to 16.5 by 24.4 inches. Can be cut to fit; $14 to $24.
SiliconeZone colander: collapses for storage, free-standing; $25.
Dexas colander: sturdy, with collapsible metal legs; $24.
SiliconeZone cupcake pans: wonderful for cupcakes and popovers; six for $16.
Lamson & Goodnow PoachPod egg poacher: makes perfect eggs; two for $10.
HotSpot handle holders: indispensable for metal-handled pots; $6.50.
SiliconeZone ice tray: frozen cylinders fit water bottles; 2 for $10.
Kuhn Rikon Magic Cover lids and covers: 8- to 12.5-inch-diameter lids with light vacuum seal; $12 to $20.
SiliconeZone lids and covers: 6- to 13-inch-diameter lids and 9-by-13-inch rectangles for lasagna pan; all with light vacuum seal; $7 to $25.
SiliconeZone New Wave muffin pan: six to a pan; $18.
Pastry brushes (many makers): won't burn or melt, easy to clean but do not work well on delicate cakes; $5 to $12.
Dexas potholder: easy-to-use mitt protects fingers; $10.
iSi Orka potholder: mitt for putting hand in boiling water; $15 to $30.
Sil-Pin rolling pin: makes flouring unnecessary; $24 to $40.
Tovolo splatter screen: keeps stove clean during frying; $17.
Spatulas (many makers): useful for nonstick and enamel-lined pans; $7 to $10.
Spoons (many makers): like the spatulas, won't scratch nonstick and enamel surfaces; $8 to $12.
Trivets (many makers): double as not very effective potholders; $4 to $8.
SiliconeZone warmer/steamer: excellent way to microwave vegetables or to keep tortillas warm; $25.
Cuisipro twisted silicone-coated whisk: nice if you need one; $16.
MIXED FEELINGS
Tovolo collapsible cover: may be helpful for steaming; $17.
Lekue double boiler insert or mold: good for melting sauces but not for thickening them; $17.
SiliconeZone funnel: stores easily; $10.
Lekue spring-form cake pan: ceramic bottom goes easily to table; some adjustment of time or temperature may be needed; $25 to $35.
SiliconeZone Silly Twists: for tying roasts, closing bags; 6 for $14.
NOT RECOMMENDED
Cake pans, loaf pans (many makers): do not perform as well as metal pans; floppy.
SiliconeZone cutting board set: easily scratched by knife.
SiliconeZone garlic peeler: impractical.
SiliconeZone lemon squeezer: impractical.
Measuring cups (many makers): harder to use than metal or glass.
Pan liners without filler (many makers): too sticky.
Sili Gourmet vertical roaster: tips over in oven. MARIAN BURROS
If you already have pans that work fine, why would you get more and throw out the perfectly good ones anyway?
I love muffin pans. I have mini muffin ones, jumbo, and several regular sized. I thought about the silicone cups, and bought some starshaped ones that were on clearance to try. They are more difficult to clean, even with a dishwasher. I'd stay away from the little ridged cups and just use the paper ones.
And you always want more pans, so you can make even that many more muffins.
I'm glad I'm not the only one with this problem. Cleaning those silicone cups is a bitch, even with a dishwasher.
I notice that when you bake cupcakes or muffins, they don't come out as rounded on the top as with my older metal pans. But, clean up WAS a breeze..maybe it's because I bought a cheap version from target?
I have very strong feelings about this. I have a red silicone muffin pan from Target and it is one of my very least favorite cooking items for the same reason jennie mentioned. They are impossible to clean and always seem sticky and gross. I have an angel food silicone pan from Marshalls (don't know the brand) and find it is never sticky. Generally, though, I don't see the point in the silicone pans.
I saw that my sister had these and asked if she liked them, and she didn't. She echoes the floppiness and hard-to-clean aspect; personally I worried about burning yourself with hot batter or on the inside of the ovem when trying to get a good grip on the "pan" to take it out.
Keep pans that you describe as 'lovely'!!