What to Buy Bakeware The 5 Best Muffin Pans of 2023, According to Our Tests Our easy-to-clean top picks offer durability, versatility, and even baking every time. By Laura Denby Laura Denby Laura Denby is a food writer and chef with six years of professional culinary experience. Find her work in Real Simple, Food Network, Better Homes & Gardens and more. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines and Christa Glennie Christa Glennie Christa Glennie is a former restaurant professional who has logged nearly two decades as a writer and editor covering people and trends in food, drink, dining, and agriculture. She's the food editor of Buffalo Spree magazine and has published work in Food & Wine, USA Today, Feast and Field, and more. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines Updated on January 12, 2023 In This Article Expand Jump to a Section Our top picks Reviews Our Favorite The Tests What Didn't Make the List Factors to Consider FAQ Our Expertise We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Food & Wine / Irvin Lin Despite the limitation implied by its name, a muffin pan is one of the most versatile tools in your kitchen when put to the test. Ultra-flexible, the muffin pan is a powerhouse capable of making everything from delicate cupcakes to hearty meatballs. It pulls its weight when it comes to batch cooking and prepping lunch for the week while baking perfectly airy popovers for Sunday brunch. You won’t want to skimp on this catch-all tool, so we tested 14 muffin pans to make selecting the right one for your kitchen a no-brainer. Muffin pans come in a wide variety of materials and sizes — not to mention other factors, like whether or not a tin is nonstick or has grip handles — so our test kitchen worked with the leading models on the market to find the best of the best. We baked cupcakes, muffins, and mini frittatas, assessing everything from functionality to durability. Here are some great options for even, perfectly fluffy results every time. Our Top Picks Best Overall: USA Pan Nonstick Muffin Pan at Amazon Jump to Review Best Overall Runner Up: Williams Sonoma Goldtouch Pro Muffin Pan at Williams-Sonoma Jump to Review Best Value: OXO Nonstick Pro Muffin Pan at Amazon Jump to Review Best Splurge: Le Creuset Muffin Pan at Amazon Jump to Review Best for Gifting: Great Jones Stud Muffin at Greatjonesgoods.com Jump to Review Best Overall USA Pan Nonstick Muffin Pan Amazon View On Amazon View On Williams-Sonoma View On Walmart Pros Even heat dispersal makes for perfectly risen and browned bakes in this pan. Cons While cleanup is still simple, this pan needs to be hand washed, and using spray oil on the silicone coating is discouraged. The USA Pan Bakeware 12-Well Muffin Pan was undoubtedly the best muffin pan we tested. The AMERICOAT® nonstick silicone coating made the muffin tin easy to clean without inhibiting the steel from heating evenly. In our baking tests, cupcakes, muffins, and mini frittatas were all browned and cooked evenly. We’re also big fans of its smart design. The silicone coating helps with extra grip when maneuvering the pan in and out of the oven. No worries about spilling here, either — the well size is just right. While there is a downside in having to hand wash this muffin pan, we think it’s worth it for any cook in any kitchen, at home, or professionally. The classic look paired with a modern nonstick coating is certainly built to last: No damage or scratching was evident in our durability tests. With a design that complements any task, this muffin tin will get down to work in the kitchen. Price at time of Publish: $29 Material: Aluminized steel with AMERICOAT® nonstick silicone coatingDishwasher-safe: No, hand wash only Best Overall Runner Up Williams Sonoma Goldtouch Pro Nonstick Muffin Pan Williams Sonoma View On Williams-Sonoma Pros This is a functional and versatile muffin pan across the board. Cons While we still think it’s a good value, this is slightly more expensive than some of our other picks. Coming in at a very close second, the Williams Sonoma Goldtouch® Pro Nonstick 12-Well Muffin Pan lacked somewhat in its ease of use and cleaning score. That being said, it only just trailed behind the overall favorite. This muffin pan is similarly designed in aluminized steel with a nonstick coating. In our baking tests, all the results were even cooks with no issues leaving crumbs behind or catching on the pan. This also made clean up simple as can be. We love the attractive, light-gild appearance of the Williams Sonoma Goldtouch®. This muffin tin performed just as well as some of our other top choices, including when it came to durability (no scratches!), and would be stylish atop any oven holding freshly baked cupcakes. If price isn’t as much of a concern, this beautiful muffin pan might be the right choice for you. Price at time of publish: $40 Material: Aluminized steel with nonstick coatingDishwasher-safe: Yes, but handwashing recommended Best Value OXO Nonstick Pro 12-Cup Muffin Pan Amazon View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Home Depot Pros The large rim and squarer shape of the rolled edges are extremely user-friendly, and it’s a great value. Cons The large size of this pan can assist with baking but may be difficult to store in the kitchen. The OXO Nonstick Pro 12 Cup Muffin Pan was a favorite in our research, scoring very highly in our experts’ findings. The best thing about it is arguably the price; coming in at $28, this is the perfect muffin pan for anyone looking for a long-lasting tool on the affordable side or those who want to purchase their first muffin tin. This muffin pan is perfect for beginner bakers or pan-purchasers because of the easy-to-grip design, ideally sized wells, and cleanup with minimal scrubbing involved. While lightweight compared to many of the pans we tested, this pan is one of the largest muffin pans we tested. That said, while not so bulky as to make usage difficult, it may be a hassle when looking for storage in your kitchen. Price at time of publish: $28 Material: Aluminized steel with ceramic-reinforced nonstick coatingDishwasher-safe: Yes, but handwashing recommended The 6 Best Cookie Sheets of 2023, Tested and Reviewed Best Splurge Le Creuset Muffin Pan Amazon View On Amazon View On Lecreuset.com View On Davidjones.com Pros Le Creuset produces beautiful, functional, trusted products to last a lifetime. Cons The price can be deterring if you’re not looking for a pan to splurge on. Our test kitchen felt that the Le Creuset Muffin Pan did well enough in our tests to warrant its $75 price tag. When it comes to kitchen products that will last seemingly forever, Le Creuset produces goods that can be passed through generations. If longevity is your goal, this pan is perfect for your needs. The silicone handles on either side of this muffin pan make transferring between the oven and countertop effortless. Its dark nonstick coating is also helpful when it comes to even baking and cleaning up, though it may bake recipes quicker than expected in some instances. Some time adjustment may be necessary, though worth it for a muffin tin that’s seemingly invincible. If you’re looking for a truly enduring pan, this is the one to splurge on. Price at time of publish: $64 Material: Carbon steel with silicone nonstick coatingDishwasher-safe: No, handwash only Best for Gifting Great Jones Stud Muffin Great Jones View On Greatjonesgoods.com Pros A gorgeous gift for any baker or brunch hoster alike, and its coating showed no signs of wear after the durability test. Cons It bakes a bit quicker than others we tested. Gifting a kitchen instrument can be tricky, but Great Jones has a perfect solution. The Great Jones Stud Muffin is a muffin tin that does it all while wearing chic shades of either ‘Blueberry’ or ‘Raspberry’ that are perfect for any stylish home cook’s collection. At a $45 price point, this muffin pan is nice enough to wow any recipient without breaking the bank. It’s not just a pretty face, either, having withstood our durability test like a champ. This pan also gets brownie points for its versatility, having carried out our cupcake, muffin, and mini frittata tests with ease. Price at time of publish: $45 Material: Aluminized steel with nonstick coatingDishwasher-safe: Yes, but handwashing recommended Our Favorite The Best Overall pick, USA Pan Bakeware 12-Well Muffin Pan, was an instant hit for our test kitchen. It tore through all four of our research tests with no issues. It was the easiest to clean, baked all of our test recipes to perfection, and made for simple clean up after. We recommend this muffin tin to anybody looking to bake anything, really. You can’t go wrong. The Tests We tested 14 muffin pans of various materials and sizes. Our experts noted details like functional design (especially if the pan was nonstick and if it had grip handles) and ease of use and cleaning. We also put each muffin pan through a specific set of tests to ensure that we understood everything each pan was capable of. Our experts baked cupcakes and muffins in each pan. In both cases, they monitored how easy the pan was to move in and out of the oven when full of batter and whether there was even rise and browning. They made mini frittatas, which help to monitor even heat in a pan — often, if heat is distributed poorly, edges may brown while the middle remains undercooked. This also was key for checking the well size on each pan, as overflow is a common issue. Finally, our testers determined durability with a scratch test. In some instances, the quality of the nonstick coating varied greatly, easily scratching or simply underperforming when put through the wringer with unsuitable kitchen utensils. What Didn't Make the List Strong Contenders Anolon Advanced Nonstick 12-Cup Muffin Tin With Silicone Grips ($27 at Amazon) Rachael Ray Cucina Nonstick 12-Cup Muffin Tin With Grips ($20 at Amazon) Wilton Perfect Results Premium Nonstick Bakeware 12-Cup Muffin Pan & Cupcake Pan ($10 at Amazon) Results Still Simmering GreenLife Bakeware Healthy Ceramic Nonstick, 12-Cup Muffin and Cupcake Baking Pan ($25 at Amazon) All-Clad® Pro-Release Muffin Pan ($30 at Amazon) Wilton Recipe Right Muffin Pan, 12-Cup Nonstick Muffin Pan ($15 at Amazon) Low Performers Trudeau Structure Pro Standard Muffin Pan ($34 at Amazon) Silpat Perfect Muffin Mold ($55 at Amazon) Nordic Ware Naturals Aluminum Muffin Pan ($23 at Amazon) Factors to Consider Functionality An excellent muffin pan should allow its contents to rise slightly, producing a nicely domed top on cupcakes and muffins. We tested each pan's ability to conduct heat evenly by looking at each muffin's size, shape, and color to make sure that the batter in the middle of the pan reacted the same way as the batter in the outer wells of the pan and the color and shape were consistent throughout. Look and Feel One of the most important considerations when choosing a muffin pan is whether you can grab it by the sides without the edge of our oven mitts dipping into the batter. That's why it's important to consider weight, size, and grip space before purchasing a pan: How heavy is the pan, and how much strain does it put on your wrists? When using only one hand to take the pan out of the oven, does the pan feel steady and balanced? Or does the pan dip, causing the batter to spill over the edge of the wells? Durability and Cleanup Ease of care and cleaning are factors to consider before purchasing a pan because ease of use directly correlates to functionality. It's also important to examine the manufacturer's instructions before buying a pan to see if its cleaning recommendations align with your cooking style. Frequently Asked Questions What’s the best material for muffin pans? Metal is the most popular choice, as it conducts heat well and is oftentimes finished with a nonstick coating. If you choose silicone pans, do note that they do not conduct heat as well as metal ones. That said, they are usually easier to clean and can be stored in a fridge or freezer when finished baking in the oven. How do I clean a muffin pan? While many pans are advertised as dishwasher-safe, it’s still best to hand wash. That way, you have a better handle on getting any leftover batter caked in any crevices, and it will prolong the nonstick coating. Should I still grease a nonstick pan? It’s still a good idea to grease nonstick pans to ensure your bakes won’t stick. You can grease your pan in many ways, including nonstick spray, oil, butter, foil, liners, or parchment paper. Be sure to research the best way to grease the pan according to the manufacturer's instructions. Our Expertise Laura Denby is a food writer and former professional chef who focuses on finding the most efficient and functional kitchen equipment for home cooks. She uses her years of experience cooking in professional kitchens, along with her degree in Culinary Arts from the Institute of Culinary Education, to guide her expert product reviews. For this piece, Laura performed competitive research to develop a comprehensive product set, then personally tested each muffin pan with multiple recipes. You can find more of Laura's work in Real Simple, Better Homes & Gardens, Taste of Home, FoodNetwork.com, and more. Christa Glennie has been a freelance writer and food editor for nearly 20 years. She is also the author of two cookbooks and specializes in food and drink trends, agriculture, the regional foodways of Western New York, and the restaurant business. Her respect for simplicity and uncluttered counters in the kitchen ultimately fuels a desire to find and own well-designed, multi-purpose, best-in-class kitchen tools. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit