Final thoughts on silicone bakeware

Don't. Buy. It.

Today, I finally used the muffin pan. I made blueberry muffins, which I have been craving for ages. The muffins are OK, but not great. First, they are kind of flat (this seems to be a theme for me with the silicone ware). I guess the different conductive properties of silicone result in less well-risen baked goods. Secondly, the muffins didn't brown at all on the bottoms (again with the different conductive properties). This is not just a cosmetic issue--browning is a form of caramelization and has important flavor implications! Thirdly, the muffins have a faint chemical flavor. I think. I'm not totally positive. I might be just imagining it, because the final negative aspect of the silicone pan is that while the muffins were baking, there was an unpleasant chemical odor. I think I detect the same odor as part of the flavor make-up of the muffins, but I might just be projecting it. In any case, the strong chemical odor is definitely unpleasant. And I was denied the a significant positive externality of baking: that wonderful scent of something baking.

The one positive thing: the muffins absolutely, positively did not stick.

So, old-fashioned metal bakeware 3, silicone bakeware 1/2 (because the muffins didn't stick). I guess the silicone pans will be on the yard sale pile this summer.

Original Source: http://republicofheaven.blogspot.com/2006/05/final-thoughts-on-silicone-bakeware.html