# dumb baking question--muffins

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-baking-question-muffins/336779>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [December 22, 2005, 9:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-baking-question-muffins/336779 "2005-12-22T09:30:33Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 8\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![LorieSmurf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a587f6/32.png) [@LorieSmurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LorieSmurf)\
**Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 9:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-baking-question-muffins/336779/1 "2005-12-22T09:30:33Z")

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Do you have to grease baking cups before making cupcakes or muffins?

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**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\
**Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-baking-question-muffins/336779/2 "2005-12-22T12:58:29Z")

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Yup. Or use those fluted paper cups.

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**Author:** ![The\_Big\_Cheese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@The\_Big\_Cheese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Big_Cheese)\
**Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-baking-question-muffins/336779/3 "2005-12-22T15:06:36Z")

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I use Pam. works ok. but I’m no expert. For cupcakes I’d use the paper fluted things. for muffins I’d grease and not use them.

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**Author:** ![Logically\_Loquacious](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Logically\_Loquacious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Logically_Loquacious)\
**Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-baking-question-muffins/336779/4 "2005-12-22T15:09:19Z")

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I have always heard to make them bigger that you only grease the bottom of the muffin pan. That’s what I do and then carefully unstick the sides with a butter knife.

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**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\
**Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-baking-question-muffins/336779/5 "2005-12-22T18:19:09Z")

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Use the paper cups. Saves a world of trouble.

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**Author:** ![Danalan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/76d3ee/32.png) [@Danalan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Danalan)\
**Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-baking-question-muffins/336779/6 "2005-12-22T18:32:47Z")

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> [@silenus](#):
>
> Use the paper cups. Saves a world of trouble.

Don’t use paper cups. Paper may be processed with god-knows-what, particularly dioxin, IIRC. Also, you’re left with a yucky paper glob when done with the cupcake/ muffin.

I recommend a squirt of PAM. Simple and effective.

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**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\
**Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-baking-question-muffins/336779/7 "2005-12-22T19:56:55Z")

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Baker checking in. We grease the cups, well actually I spray them with a food grade pan spray. At the cafe the papers would be an unneeded mess and expense.

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**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\
**Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-baking-question-muffins/336779/8 "2005-12-22T21:52:35Z")

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Chiming in with the squirt of Pam.

The nice added benefit is that you end up with a nice crust all around your muffin.

Mmm… Muffins.