Popovers are a light, airy roll, similar to Yorkshire pudding, made from a batter of eggs, milk, flour, and butter. They are baked in a special popover pan, which has deep wells with straight-walled sides, or a muffin tin. The amount of batter you put in each cup will depend on the size of your pan and how large you want your popovers to be. For a standard 12-cup muffin tin, fill each cup about halfway. For a popover pan, fill each cup about 2/3 to 3/4 full.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Number of eggs | 4 |
Amount of milk | 1 1/2 cups |
Type of milk | Whole milk |
Amount of flour | 1 1/2 cups |
Type of flour | All-purpose flour |
Amount of salt | 1/2 teaspoon |
Amount of butter | 3 tablespoons |
What You'll Learn
Popover pans are best, but muffin tins can be used
Popover pans are best for making popovers, but muffin tins can be used. Popover pans are distinguished from muffin tins by their deep, steep-sided wells, which force the batter upwards and result in a popover with a puffy dome and crispy sides. Most popover pans have the cups welded to a wire rack, which promotes even circulation of air and heat around the tins.
Popover pans are also usually made from heavy steel or cast aluminium coated with a non-stick surface. Some say that seasoned cast iron makes the very best popovers, but these pans can only be found by eagle-eyed shoppers at thrift stores and garage sales.
If you don't have a popover pan, you can use a muffin tin. Your popovers will be smaller and possibly denser, but they will still taste good. You will also need to reduce the cooking time by 5 minutes at the higher temperature and 5 minutes at the lower temperature.
To make popovers in a muffin tin, place 1/4 teaspoon of oil into 10 of the muffin cups, leaving the middle two empty. Place the pan into the oven and heat it to 400 °F. While the pan heats, make the batter by whisking two eggs, then whisking in the milk, flour, and salt. Finally, whisk in the melted butter.
By now, the pan should be piping hot, so carefully take it out of the oven and evenly pour the batter into the 10 greased cups. Place the pan back into the oven and bake for 30-40 minutes. Do not open the oven door during the baking process, as this will cause the popovers to fall.
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Popovers are similar to Yorkshire pudding
Popovers are indeed similar to Yorkshire pudding. Both are made from a batter of eggs, milk, flour, and salt, and both are baked in the oven. The main difference lies in their traditional cooking methods and the type of fat used.
Yorkshire pudding is a traditional English dish that is typically baked in an angled muffin pan to create a large, puffed top. It is cooked in meat drippings, giving it a savoury flavour. The batter is also often left to rest overnight before baking.
Popovers, on the other hand, are an American creation, inspired by Yorkshire pudding. They are usually baked in a special popover pan with deep wells, which forces the batter to expand and creates a puffy top and crispy sides. Popovers are traditionally cooked in butter, giving them a buttery flavour, and can be served with either sweet or savoury toppings.
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Popovers are best served immediately
If you want to prevent sogginess as the popovers cool, you can puncture the top and/or side of the popover with the tip of a small, sharp knife to help release some of the steam trapped inside. This makes it more likely that the outer structure will stay set as the steam escapes.
Popovers can be stored in an airtight container for one to two days and re-warmed in the oven for the best effect.
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Popovers are simple to make
While popovers are simple to make, there are some key tips to ensure optimal results. Firstly, it is important to spoon and level the flour instead of scooping it to ensure accurate measurement. Secondly, the eggs and milk should be at room temperature before mixing to form an emulsion that traps air, resulting in fluffier popovers. Thirdly, allowing the batter to rest for at least 15 minutes is crucial for better-risen popovers with an airier texture. Additionally, spraying the popover pan generously with non-stick spray ensures that the popovers release easily. Lastly, it is recommended to position the oven rack on the lower third shelf to prevent the popovers from burning.
Although popovers are typically made in a popover pan, they can also be made in a muffin tin. However, using a muffin tin may result in smaller and denser popovers. Overall, popovers are simple to make and only require a few basic ingredients and kitchen tools.
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Popovers are an American creation
Popovers are made from an egg batter similar to that of Yorkshire pudding. The batter is mixed similarly to pancake or crêpe batter, but it's much thinner than pancake batter and a bit thicker than crêpe batter. It's distinguished by its high egg content, which is important because when the batter hits the hot pan, the eggs immediately begin to coagulate.
Popovers are made in muffin tins or dedicated popover pans, which have straight-walled sides rather than angled. The tall, narrow vessel forces the batter upwards as the steam is created.
Popovers are best served immediately, as they will begin to settle and deflate after a few minutes outside of the oven. They can be served either as a sweet, topped with fruit and whipped cream, or with butter and jam for breakfast, or with afternoon tea, or with meats at lunch and dinner.
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Frequently asked questions
Fill the cups about 2/3 to 3/4 full.
The popovers may pop too early, when the batter is still liquidy. They will eventually set, but it will create a big mess in your oven and the finished popovers will be very misshapen.
You want to provide room for the popovers to begin to expand before their structure is fully set. If you don't fill the cups to at least 2/3 full, your popovers won't rise enough.
Yes, but your popovers won't get quite as tall and may be slightly more custardy inside as a result of there not being as big of a steam pocket. Muffin tin popovers are also slightly more likely to fall over or become misshapen during baking.
Fill the cups about 2/3 full.