Cupcake molds: what are they and how to choose them?

Making muffins fills your home with a pleasant aroma and is a great occasion to pamper your family and guests. The use of forms is imperative in this process. It is the quality of the dishes that determines how simple and pleasant the baking process itself will be.

The muffin tins are distinguished by their special size and raised sides. Removing cupcakes should be easy, so non-stick properties are very important. Even disposable muffin bakeware can be easily separated from baked goods.

The most popular are metal, silicone and paper forms. Ceramic products can not be found at all manufacturers. They are quite fragile and require special care. Popular forms of baking utensils are as follows.

• Aluminum. Great for making muffins and muffins. Warm up quickly, so the dish bakes well. They come with a non-stick coating, which allows you to cook more comfortably. The forms can be in the form of a single sheet or "tulip".

• Stainless steel. Most popular material. They usually have a non-stick coating, so don't use metal accessories with them. Iron molds made from dark steel heat up faster than counterparts from light steel.

• Silicone. A relatively new invention, a fairly popular material in the manufacture of muffin tins. It is considered a big advantage that the dish does not stick at all. Making beautiful cupcakes is much easier than using counterparts from other materials. Forms can be solid or separate.

• Paper. They are also called "capsules" and they are disposable. Products can have different wall densities. Thin muffin molds are made from parchment and inserted into metal molds. If the walls are thick, then you can simply place the products on the baking sheet and fill with dough.

The range of baking utensils is varied. Muffins and muffins can be prepared in the forms shown below.

• "Miracle". There is a circular indentation in the center of the product. Thanks to this design, the cake is baked evenly in the oven. The sides are wavy, due to which the dough takes on the desired shape. Ideal for making heavy doughs. Products are always large in size. Models with a removable bottom are especially popular, which allow you to cook not only cupcakes, but also other baked goods.

• Rectangular. This model is suitable for preparing large muffins. Made of silicone or metal.

• Portioned. The mini-mold is designed for one small cupcake. Sold in sets and placed on a baking sheet when in use.

• Curly. Models can be of any size, both small and large. They are made of cast aluminum in the form of cars, animals, cartoon characters.

• Shapes with grooves... The baking sheet has slots for small muffins. As a standard, the product is intended for preparing 2, 4, 6 or 12 cupcakes at once.

Many brands delight customers with quality cupcake molds. Let's consider the most popular options.

• Tupperware. The "Royal" model made of silicone is especially popular. It is rectangular and is designed for making one large cake. Silicone is dense, so the baked goods retain their appearance. Cupcakes look festive thanks to the wavy sides. Before use, you can simply sprinkle with water, no need to coat with oil.

• Natura. Eco-friendly and sustainable models are made from 100% recycled aluminum. A high-quality non-stick coating makes it easy to remove the finished baked goods from the product. Can be cooked with minimal oil addition.

• Tefal. The metal and silicone models for baking muffins involve the preparation of one large dish or a portion of small ones. It is convenient to use due to its non-stick properties.

• Calve. The most popular model is CL-4585 for 12 muffins. The steel product warms up evenly and bakes the dough well. Silicone handles do not heat up, which makes the use more comfortable. Non-stick coating does not tolerate rough mechanical stress.

High-quality forms make the cupcakes not only tasty, but also beautiful. It depends on the properties of the dishes how well the dough bakes and whether it sticks to the walls. It is worth considering the following nuances.

• For a large family it is better to take one large model or a sheet with 12 sections for small dishes.
• Aluminum the products heat up quickly, but heavy doughs may not cook well in the middle as a result. Better to take small forms from the same material.
• Silicone products will not cause trouble if the material is really high quality. Choose products from reputable manufacturers to use safe cookware.
• For gas oven molds from any material can be used. But for an electric stove, metal forms are better suited. Dishes in silicone take longer to cook.
• When using a metal mold without non-stick coating you will have to purchase disposable tissue paper capsules. Otherwise, the products will get stuck and stick.

It is quite easy to bake a delicious and beautiful cake in a quality form. Use the silicone product like this:

• slightly moisten the walls and bottom with water, you can spray from a spray bottle;
• if the form is used for the first time, then it is worthwhile to grease it abundantly with oil and let the material soak;
• place the silicone product on a baking sheet or baking sheet;
• fill with dough, not adding lightly to the edge;
• bake for the amount of time indicated in the recipe;
• to remove the cake, just turn it over and turn it inside out.

With models with non-stick coating, it is quite easy to pour the dough into a clean product and bake until tender. After cooking, you need to wait a little for cooling and just turn the dishes over. If a conventional metal model is used, then pre-lubricate it with oil. You can use paper capsules.

• Place tough tins on a baking sheet. When using parchment capsules, place them in metal sections.
• Fill capsules 2/3 full with dough.
• Bake according to the recipe. Throw away the capsules after use.

See below for an overview of the different muffin tins.