Greasing A Rubber Muffin Pan: Necessary?

Whether you're making muffins, cupcakes, or egg cups, greasing your muffin pan is essential to ensure your treats don't get stuck and that your pan is easy to clean. While non-stick pans are popular, they still require light greasing. There are several ways to grease a muffin pan, including using melted butter and a pastry brush, vegetable oil spray, shortening, clarified butter, or professional baking grease. Greasing the top of the muffin pan can also make cleaning easier in case of batter drips or muffin expansion during baking.

Using butter to grease a muffin pan

Greasing a muffin pan is essential to prevent muffins from sticking to the pan and falling apart. While there are many ways to grease a muffin pan, butter is one of the best options. Here is a detailed guide on using butter to grease a muffin pan:

Using Room Temperature Butter:

• Start by ensuring your muffin tin is clean and dry. Use scouring pads to remove any baked-on food residue, but avoid using scouring pads on non-stick pans as they can scratch the coating.
• Take a stick of butter at room temperature and peel back the packaging to expose one end.
• Use the stick of butter to grease the muffin pan, making sure to reach all the crevices. Use your finger to spread the butter evenly.

Using Melted Butter:

• If you prefer, you can melt a few tablespoons of butter on the stovetop or in the microwave.
• Once melted, use a pastry brush or your fingers to grease each cup of the muffin tin with the melted butter. Ensure you coat the bottom, sides, and corners of each cup.
• Be careful not to let the butter pool at the bottom of each cup. Use paper towels to soak up any excess butter.

Tips for Using Butter:

• Butter is an excellent option for greasing muffin pans, but it has a lower melting point than some other fats, so be mindful of this when baking.
• If you are using butter, it is generally recommended to grease the pan just before pouring in the batter to prevent the butter from melting and pooling.
• You can also dust the buttered muffin cups with a light coating of flour to help absorb the butter and create a non-stick barrier.

By following these simple steps, you can effectively grease your muffin pan with butter and ensure your muffins come out perfectly every time!

Using cooking spray

There are many different types of cooking spray available, and most high-heat sprays will work well. Popular options include avocado oil spray, coconut oil spray, vegetable oil spray, olive oil spray, and butter spray.

To apply the cooking spray, first, shake the bottle well. Then, hold the bottle a few inches away from the muffin pan and spray lightly and evenly until each cup is greased. Be careful not to use too much spray, as this can cause the edges of your muffins to become too crispy. If a pool of oil forms in the bottom of the cups, use a paper towel to spread the oil evenly across the pan, ensuring there is no pooling.

In addition to using cooking spray, you can also use paper liners or parchment paper to further prevent your muffins from sticking. If you prefer to use paper liners, you can lightly spray the liners as well, which will help ensure that the muffins peel away from the liners easily once they are baked.

Using paper liners

To make your own paper liners, you will need parchment paper, scissors, and a small can or jar that fits inside the muffin well. First, cut the parchment paper into squares. For regular-sized muffins, cut the paper into 4-5-inch squares. For larger muffins or extra "fluttery bits", cut 6-inch squares. Then, place the parchment paper over the base of your can or jar. If your parchment paper curls in one direction, turn the curl away from the can. This will help the liner to spread open when you put it in your muffin tin. Run your finger or thumbnail around the base of the can to create a strong crease in the parchment. Press your hand firmly along the parchment against the can to set the creases. Finally, transfer the liner to your muffin tin. Keep the can in the liner while you do this to set it firmly in place.

If this method sounds too fussy, you can skip the cutting step and simply place the can on the parchment paper, trace around it, and cut out the circle. Then, place the circle of parchment paper into the muffin tin and press it down into the cup.

Once you have your paper liners in place, you can fill them with batter and bake as usual. If your batter is particularly moist, spraying the cups with non-stick spray will help the muffins to release cleanly. After baking, gently lift the muffins out of the tin using the corners of the paper liners.

Using silicone liners

Silicone muffin pans are a great option for baking muffins, cupcakes, and other treats. They are flexible, so your baked goods should pop out easily, and they are also dishwasher-safe, lightweight, and easy to store. However, they may increase the bake time of your muffins and won't brown them like a metal pan. Here are some tips for using silicone liners:

Using a Cookie Sheet or Muffin Tin

It is recommended to place silicone muffin cups on a cookie sheet or metal muffin tin for added stability. A cookie sheet is especially useful for putting the cups in and out of the oven. A muffin tin can help the cups keep their shape, especially if the silicone is thin.

Greasing the Liners

Silicone liners are non-stick, so you don't need to grease them. However, some bakers have found that greasing the liners helps the muffins release more easily. If you choose to grease the liners, you can use butter, cooking spray, or oil.

Filling the Liners

When filling the silicone cups with batter, be careful not to overfill them. This can make it difficult to remove the muffins or cupcakes from the cups and may affect their shape.

Removing the Muffins or Cupcakes

Silicone liners make it easy to remove your baked goods. A slight twist of the pan or a gentle pull on the sides should be enough to release the muffins or cupcakes. They will pop out more easily once they have cooled down completely.

Cleaning the Liners

Silicone liners are easy to clean and can be washed by hand or in the dishwasher. Be sure to wash them thoroughly before their first use. To remove any residue, use a small brush, such as a toothbrush, to scrub the grooves and bottom edge of the liners.

Using parchment paper

• Cut the parchment paper into squares: For regular-sized muffin cups, cut the parchment into 4.5- to 6-inch squares. If you are making jumbo muffins or cupcakes, or if you want more "fluttery bits," opt for 6-inch squares. From a typical 15-inch roll of parchment paper, you will get three 5-inch squares.
• Prepare the parchment squares: Most parchment paper tends to curl in one direction due to being rolled up. If your parchment does this, turn the curl away from the can. This will help the muffin liners spread open a bit when you put them in your muffin tin, making it easier to fill with batter.
• Crease the parchment: Place the parchment paper over the base of your can or jar. Run your finger or thumbnail around the base of the can to make a strong crease in the parchment. Press your hand firmly along the parchment against the can to set the creases.
• Transfer the muffin liner to the muffin tin: Keep the can in the liner while transferring it to the muffin tin to help set it in place.
• Spray the muffin liners (optional): If your muffin batter is particularly moist or rich, or if it contains a lot of fruit, you may want to spray the liners with non-stick spray to help the muffins release more easily.
• Fill the muffin liners with batter: Use a cookie scoop with a spring or a piping bag to fill the liners. Hold the liners open with one hand while filling with the other. If using spoons, it may be helpful to have someone assist you by holding the liners open. Don't worry too much about drips or smudges on the edges of the liner, as these can be cleaned up later.
• Bake as usual: Follow your recipe's instructions for baking.
• Clean up the edges (optional): If you got smudges or drips on the edges of your muffin cups, they will bake to a crisp in the oven. You can pinch or brush them off with your fingers after baking.
• Let the muffins cool: Gently lift the muffins out of the muffin tin using the corners of the muffin liners. Allow them to cool completely or according to your recipe's instructions.

Frequently asked questions