Is anyone using silicone bakeware?

It works quite well, though I haven't used it extensively. You need to be careful if cutting into the products for any reason (you wouldn't be if you're using a muffin pan).

Years ago I bought one of those silicone baking mats and I really like it but it was very expensive. I've always thought the bakeware would be cost prohibitive so I've never looked into it.

Today I was at Michaels to buy icing dye and they had some silicone muffin cups and I had a 40% off coupon so I thought I would give it a try.

Once I got home I realized I really had no idea if it worked any different than a metal pan. I read some good online reviews but, for me, that doesn't stack up against real world experience. The online reviews didn't really get into the nitty-gritty of baking.

Here is my feedback:

The cupcakes cooked a bit quicker than I thought they would (and much quicker than the recipe suggested). The "pan" cooled off really quick -- possibly because you can seperate them out -- but you could touch the silicone just minutes after taking it out of the oven so popping things out to cool was no problem at all. The cupcakes came out of the form perfectly. That's pretty neat. And that was with adding no extra oil to the cup itself, so that's a real positive.

Cleaning up consists of wiping them out. That's a real plus over my old muffin pan!

Storage is great!!!! 12 muffin cups take up about a 4x4x6 in space -- much less than a regular muffin pan.

I'm sold!

Good review - much better than mine....

Something about baking in silicone bothers me. I remember Dr. Sanjay Gupta on CNN warning about the use of tupperware in the microwave. He said that there is some chemical in the plastic that leaks into the food. The same with using saran wrap or styrofoam, which is why all of your fast food burger places stopped using styrofoam containers some years ago. And neglected to tell us about it!

The silicone bakeware strikes me as possibly having the same type of health risk.

I have a silicone loaf pan that I use sometimes for turkey loaf. Very easy to use, easy to clean.

I understand that hesitation, eoe, so I did a little reading around.

Silicone is made from sand and oxygen so it appears to be safter than plastics and non-stick surfaces added to regular bakeware. According to what I read it is completely biodegradable -- there really aren't any "chemicals" used in it.

Although it has been on the market in other countries for years there have been no long term studies of possible health effects, so that is surely something to consider.

A few reports I read mentioned a funny smell (this seems to be associated mostly with Kitchen Aid brand) but I didn't notice any of that. The cupcakes I made smell and taste just as they should.

The only wacky thing I noticed is that the cupcakes rose off center; they're lopsided. Since I have to finish up my basic baking today I'm going to pay more attention to how they are placed in my oven to see if that perhaps is the reason.

Square cupcakes?

You crazy girl.