Muffin tins can be used for a lot more than just sweet treats, especially if you have a top-notch pan. While we love to bake up blueberry muffins for Sunday breakfast, we also find ourselves making egg cups, individual lasagnas, mini-meatloaves, and much more in our muffin pans.
These kitchen workhorses can be overlooked too often or are usually a second-thought item you pull out a few times a year. But if you spend any time in the kitchen, it’s worth investing in one (or more) really good pick.
Your muffin pan needs are going to vary as considerably as the massive array of options on the market. Keep the following in mind and you’ll find the best fit (or two) for you.
Material: Some manufacturers are upfront about not having BPA, PTFE, and other potentially harmful materials. We included that information when it was available.
Size: Do you want to make mega, regular, or mini muffins?
Shape: We found a few whimsically shaped pans that will serve up creative and unexpected fun, no matter what you’re baking.
Once you have a great one and get in the habit of using it, you’ll be surprised how much easier — and tastier —a really good muffin pan can make your sweet and savory dishes.
This PFOA-free OXO muffin pan has something for everyone. The roomy border provides plenty of gripping space for putting it in and grabbing it out of the oven, even with bulky oven mitts on; it's suitable for muffins, cupcakes, and savory treats; it bakes evenly, with a nonstick surface that will allow your creations to pop right out.
This pan features heavy-gauge aluminized steel with a scratch-resistant coating. Its large size means you can’t put two side by side on a standard oven’s rack, so keep that in mind if you like to cook mega batches.
It is “easy” to clean by hand, reviewers say, with others praising its “perfect” results. “Where have these pans been all my life?” enthuses another happy reviewer.
This Wilton pan is Amazon’s number-one seller, with an average of 4.8 stars from almost 10,000 reviewers. This nonstick pan is priced right and performs exceptionally well in terms of heat distribution and its nonstick power.
While the pan is dishwasher-friendly, the nonstick coating will diminish slightly if you opt to not hand-wash. It also comes with a limited 10-year warranty.
Reviewers love the “solid, serious piece of cookware,” which delivers “perfect results!” for both sweet and savory baked goods.
This pan delivers serious quality and is a favorite among professional bakers and chefs. The nonstick coating allows you to pop out your mini creations easily, and the pan is designed to last for years. The pan cooks evenly, and the Silpat lining (a food-grade silicone) means you don’t have to grease the pan. But accompanying the pro-level quality is a pro-level price.
The pan is also super lightweight and flexible, which is a great option for those with mobility issues.
Reviewers with dietary issues love that you don’t need to add “any type of fat with this pan, and everything still releases effortlessly.” Others say it is “worth” the considerable price, with “pastry chef”-worthy results.
Dimensions: 17.9x12.2x2.6, 48 mini muffins (two-pan set)
Material: Cold-rolled steel
Dishwasher-Safe: Yes
This PFOA- and PTFE-free muffin pan creates perfect bite-sized muffins, cupcakes, and appetizers with a nonstick release. The durable, heavy-duty steel pans feature oversized handles for easy transporting in and out of hot ovens. The pans also cook evenly and come with a 10-year limited lifetime warranty.
Reviewers love the price on this double set, saying there’s a “nice weight to the pan,” and that everything they bake “comes out great.” Others say the pans make incredible mini brownies and is ideal for large families with “little kids” who may not have mega-muffin-sized appetites.
Dimensions: 11x7.5x3 inches,12 mega muffins (two-pan set)
Material: Silicone
Dishwasher-Safe: Yes
This BPA-, PFOA-, and PTFE-free set of Texas-sized muffin pans is perfect for anyone who loves oversized sweet and savory treats. These are also microwave- and dishwasher-safe, making them even great for cooking up individual batches of oatmeal for breakfast. Despite its mega-results, this set is also lightweight and easy to move around.
Reviewers say these pans are “much easier to clean than metal pans,” and say they “highly recommend” these for a variety of applications, including “no-bake cheesecakes.”
Dimensions: 17.9x11.2x3.3 inches, 12 regular and 24 mini muffins (two-pan set)
Material: Steel
Dishwasher-Safe: Yes
Not sure if you want regular or mini muffins? Or pretty sure you want to have both options on hand? We’ve got you covered! This set of PTFE-free mini and regular muffin pans will bake up sweet and savory bites in any size you need. They are nonstick and dishwasher-friendly, so cleanup is a snap.
Reviewers say these pans make great housewarming gifts, praise their “durability,” and say the “even baking and finish are outstanding.” Other fans of low-fat cooking say that muffins can be “easily removed without being oiled.”
You’re not going to find cast-iron muffin tins everywhere, but the heavy-duty material actually bakes the perfect golden goods. These heart shapes are an added touch and a great option for date night, or for muffins and cupcakes for your kids.
The cast-iron pans deliver even cooking and these are simple to clean with hot water and a soft brush. One thing to keep in mind: While this pan is incredibly sturdy, cast iron is heavier than steel and silicone, so if you have mobility or strength issues, this should not be your first choice.
Dimensions: 9.7x6.5x1.2 inches, 12 cups (for set of 2)
Material: Silicone
Dishwasher-Safe: Yes
This set of rose silicone baking molds is perfect if you love flowers or are planning a bridal, wedding, or baby shower anytime soon. The flower muffins (or cakes, chocolates, or egg cups) come out easily, with beautiful details. They can be used in the dishwasher, freezer, or microwave, and of course, the oven as well.
These pans clean easily and offer great nonstick release. Reviewers say they are a fun way to lure reluctant young bakers to the kitchen.
Dimensions: 15.62x11.25x3.75 inches, 12 cups plus lid and display stand
Material: Steel, BPA-free plastic
Dishwasher-Safe: Yes
This fun set is perfect for a baker who is constantly on the go, bringing creations to parties, schools, work, or games. This 12-cup muffin pan comes with a BPA-free plastic airtight lid and a handy display stand for showing off the goods. The domed lid makes it easy to load in cupcakes with generous servings of frosting on top.
The set also comes with latches to keep the lid on tight and a built-in handle for one-handed carrying. A limited lifetime warranty is included with every purchase.
This PTFE-, PFOA-, and BPA-free fluted muffin pan will crank out whimsical creations that are as fun to look at as they are to eat. These pans will bake up beautiful sweet treats for parties, and perhaps tempt some of the more timid tasters in your life to try a new food with a fun shape.
The corrugated surface of the pan encourages airflow and even cooking, and the nonstick surface makes it easy to get the muffins out of the pan, not to mention a much more painless cleanup. These pans are not dishwasher-safe, but they clean quickly with water, mild soap, and a cloth.
Kathleen WillcoxKathleen Willcox is a journalist who writes about parenting, technology, shopping, food and wine.
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