The best muffin pans

As the company's name suggests, USA Pan's Bakeware Cupcake and Muffin Pan is made in the United States. The tin is made of heavy-gauge, commercial-grade aluminized steel and covered with Americoat, which is a patented nonstick silicone coating free of BPA, PFOA, and PTFE. Each cup is 1.38-inches deep by 2.13-inches in diameter on the bottom and 2.75-inches in diameter at the top.

You should not wash the USA Pan in the dishwasher. Instead, use hot water, a mild detergent, and a gentle sponge or brush. In addition to the standard 12-cup tin, this pan is available in nine other styles, including Mini Cake – 6 Well, Mini Cupcake – 24 Well, and Texas Sized Muffin – 6 Well. Each comes with a lifetime warranty.

Without greasing or spraying the slots, users have found that the muffins just pop out every time.

Pros: Excellent nonstick coating, several size variations, lifetime warranty

Cons: Doesn't come with a hole at the top for hanging

Silpat makes our favorite baking mats and is known in the restaurant world for producing superlative nonstick bakeware, so there's no doubt its silicone muffin pan is absolutely top-notch. The muffin pan, like all of Silpat's offerings, is constructed from a unique textile fiberglass core coated in food-grade silicone making it flexible yet heat-resistant up to 500 degrees. It's also microwave-, freezer-, and dishwasher-safe.

Insider Reviews senior editor Sally Kaplan tested it in her kitchen and gave it a rave review. "My recent batch of lemon poppyseed muffins glided out of the Silpat mold so effortlessly and smoothly I almost started crying! I know this sounds dramatic (because it is) but honestly, I'm not the best baker in the world — so any time something turns out perfectly, I get emotional about it," she wrote.

Because it is made of silicone, you can easily pop muffins or cupcakes out of the wells and cleaning up afterward is a breeze. Muffin and cupcake crumbs don't stick to silicone as fiercely as they do to metal.

The only downside of having a silicone pan is that it's a bit floppy, so popping it into the oven when it's full of uncooked batter can be challenging. We suggest placing the pan on the oven rack and then filling it with batter or sitting it in a baking sheet to transport it.

Pros: Easy to clean, lifetime replacement guarantee, durable

Cons: Somewhat floppy, quite expensive

The Williams Sonoma Goldtouch Nonstick Muffin Pan is made of commercial-grade aluminized steel, which is celebrated because it distributes heat evenly and quickly. A ceramic coating is applied to the pan to make it resistant to scratches, which in turn, ensures that it stays nonstick.

The cups are standard-sized and can fit half a cup of batter each. The overall dimensions of the pan are 5.75 by 11.25 by 1.25 inches. Williams Sonoma states that this product is oven safe to 450 degrees Fahrenheit and that you should only use plastic, silicone, and wood utensils on it, lest you scratch the nonstick coating.

The Goldtouch Pan is technically dishwasher-safe, but Williams Sonoma suggests hand-washing it to preserve the longevity of the pan.

Pros: Even baking, easy release of baked goods, secure rim

Cons: Should not be used with metal utensils, listed maximum temperature of 450 degrees

The Oven Lovin' Non-Stick 12-Cup Muffin and Cupcake Pan from Rachael Ray is made of durable steel and features a nonstick coating on the interior and exterior. The handles are extra wide and have silicone grips. The entire pan is dishwasher safe and oven safe up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit.

Though the silicone does add some grip, be aware that the handles still do get hot. You won't be able to remove the pan from the oven without the protection of some good oven mitts.

It's the most affordable muffin pan on our list. As an added bonus, the pan comes with an exclusive Rachael Ray cookbook, so you can check out some great recipes to make. And, a portion of the proceeds for the pan go to the chef's Yum-O organization, which educates kids and their families about healthy cooking habits and encourages youngsters who want to become chefs.

Pros: Silicone grips that are easy to grab with oven mitts on, terrific nonstick properties, effortless clean-up

Cons: Silicone grips still get hot in the oven

The OXO Good Grip Non-Stick Pro Muffin Pan is made of heavy-gauge aluminized steel, which is great for even heat distribution. The steel is covered with a two-layer coating that is ceramic-reinforced and Swiss-engineered to protect against corrosion, staining, and scratching. And, the non-stick, micro-textured pattern on the surface increases airflow and decreases surface contact.

The overall size of the pan is 16.5 by 12 by 1.2 inches, which is much larger than any of the other pans in our guide. As with all of its products, OXO offers a satisfaction guarantee.

In an article entitled "This Pan Changed My Muffin-Baking Life," Claire Saffitz of Bon Appétit took a feature-by-feature look at what makes the OXO Good Grips Muffin Pan great, including the effective nonstick coating, the textured surface that releases baked-on batter, and the light color of the pan, which allows for even baking.

Pros: Bakes evenly and releases baked goods effortlessly

Cons: Not dishwasher safe

Whether you are baking cookies, roasting vegetables, reviving frozen foods, or making a fancy jelly roll, you need a baking sheet. These are the best baking sheets you can buy.

High-quality loaf pans cook your baked goods evenly, release them with little fuss, and are made of heavy-duty materials. These are the best loaf pans.

The best oven mitts provide excellent dexterity, protect your hands from burns, and will last for many years to come. These are our top picks.

Baking mats provide a non-stick surface so you can safely bake foods without using butter or oil to guarantee an easy release. Here are the best baking mats.