Non-Toxic Muffin Tins

Baking is one of the most frequently done tasks in every household. This activity increased by a significant amount ever since the turn of the decade when people had to stay at home for extended periods. This made people indulge in the habit of baking as it has been found that baking helps in relieving stress, anxiety, and even depression.

Irrespective of whether it is in an industrial setting or at home, baking is a common occurrence. Numerous items can be baked such as bread, cake, cookies, pastries, pies, and tarts. One type of quick bread that is often baked is called muffins. This a sweetened small, quick bread having a cupcake shape to it. It is not possible to bake muffins without the help of muffin tins. As a result, it is essential to know whether the muffin tin you are using is non-toxic or not. So let’s find out!

Key Takeaways

• When buying muffin tins it is important to find out what type of material the tin contains as those materials might be toxic.
• Teflon-coated and aluminum muffin tins need to be avoided as they pose health hazards.
• Different non-toxic muffin tins are available such as glass, stainless steel, pure ceramic, stoneware, 100% silicone, and carbon steel.

What Is a Muffin Tin?

Tins are one of the essential baking equipment. This is because they hold batters or mixes and give shape to the cupcake or muffin you are baking. A muffin tin is a type of pan that is used for baking muffins. It usually has 6 or 12 individual round pockets connected to the tin and formed in the shape of a muffin.

When the batter is poured into the pockets, the muffin bakes by forming a top layer over the pocket. The base of the muffin is baked in the shape of a tin. These tins are usually found in 3 sizes which can be used to bake muffins that are small, medium, or large. Homemade peanut butter cups, baked egg cups, or even some types of no-bake desserts can be made using muffin tins.

Safety Concerns with Muffin Tins

Some muffin tins may have coverings with hazardous substances that can make their way into your food. Certain non-stick coatings and metal are the two worst materials for muffin pans.  Another reason is that they contain copper or aluminum. These metals react with acidic foods turning them black over time. Acidic foods can be in the form of citrus fruits, tomatoes, and pickles. Avoiding these types of tins will greatly reduce any concern that you may have about your muffins.

There are muffin pans that have been made from plastic materials containing BPA, which can leach into your food causing harm. Additionally, there are other muffin tins that are made from materials containing lead, cadmium, or other toxic heavy metals. All of these metals pose major health problems as they can easily leach into your food.

Another reason for muffin tins to be unsafe is if they are Teflon-coated ones. These tins are grouped with silicone which leads to food getting affected. Stainless steel pans are generally safe although they can still release little amounts of chromium into your food.

Materials in Toxic Muffin Tins

Before buying muffin tins it is important to know the materials which tins contain. Certain materials are toxic and it is best to avoid those types of tins. These are:

Teflon-coated tins

You might be tempted to buy a tin having a non-stick effect to it. But where does this non-stick effect come from? This is done with the help of Teflon and poses a health concern when it is heated up to 300 degrees Celsius or 572 Fahrenheit. At these extremely high temperatures, Teflon starts to break down resulting in the release of polymer fumes. Continued exposure to these fumes will have ill effects on health. ‌ In the initial stages, temporary symptoms like flu will be experienced. Body aches, chest discomfort, headache, and fever chills will also be experienced. 

Aluminum tins

Tins made from aluminum are commonly found. This is because it is a good conductor of heat and is an excellent option when it comes to the even distribution of heat from the tin to the baked item. But there are increasing concerns when it comes to their safety. Harmful chemicals are leached into food when it is heated and these chemicals cause significant health problems such as Alzheimer’s disease and cancer. Another issue is that food gets stuck to the surface which makes it difficult to clean the aluminum tin. Since food gets stuck to the tin’s surface, harmful bacteria will start to form causing food poisoning so avoiding aluminum tins is a wise decision.

Non-toxic materials for muffin tins

When baking cakes, muffins, pastries, etc. it is important to get an end product that is both delicious and safe health-wise. The muffin tin in which the muffins will be made is equally important as the ingredients that go into baking the muffin. A good number of muffin tins found in the market have risky chemicals that can contaminate your muffin. When choosing a muffin tin it is important to know whether it is safe and durable. Some of the best non-toxic materials for a muffin tin are:

Glass

Glass is an excellent option as it is a material that is non-toxic by nature and is fully non-reactive and non-leaching. It is very durable and does not break easily, which means it is able to cope with high temperatures and isn’t adversely affected by daily usage. It is also safe to be dishwashed and isn’t difficult to clean. Instead of normal glass, it is recommended to use tempered glass as it is a strengthened form of glass that is perfect for baking.

Pure Ceramic

Another non-toxic option for muffin tin is pure ceramic as it is free of any risky chemicals and is non-toxic by nature like glass. It is made up of clay, water, natural minerals, and oxides. Even though they are tremendously resistant to wear and tear and are safe to be dish washed, they can be delicate and may break when dropped.

Stainless steel

A safe non-toxic option regarding muffin tins is stainless steel. This is because it isn’t a reactive material which means it will not react with ingredients and will not release any harmful toxins into your food. It is also one of the most secure and all-around options that can be found.

Cast Iron

An alloy of carbon and iron shaped into a single piece of metal is known as cast iron. It does not contain any other additives or toxic substances making it an excellent non-toxic option for muffin tins. The thing which makes cast iron stand out is that it is not limited to muffin tins only. You can have an entire cast iron cookware set reducing the health risks even further.

Carbon Steel

The materials which go into making carbon steel are carbon and iron. Both of those materials are safe for cooking as they are non-toxic materials. It does not have any layer of coating on its surface. This means that when you use carbon steel for baking, harmful chemicals will not leach into your food.

Stoneware

A material that is long-lasting, naturally non-toxic, and does not release harmful chemicals into your food is stoneware. Teflon and aluminum leach chemicals into your food but stoneware does not. This results in your food is safe and healthy at the same time.

100% Silicone

Silicone does not contain toxic chemicals like BPA and phthalates. It can also tolerate high temperatures which makes silicone muffin tins not only a safe option but a durable one as well.

FAQs

Final Thoughts

Baking is a widespread hobby but many people are not aware of the toxic materials which are present in the bakeware they are using. The toxic materials contain harmful chemicals which leach into the food due to the high temperatures. Since baking requires high temperatures so it is important to choose non-toxic bakeware. Different non-toxic options for muffin tins are available such as glass, stainless steel, pure ceramic, cast iron, stoneware, and silicone. All of these options are naturally non-toxic and free of harmful chemicals which means you can use them without having any health risks associated with them.