BAKING CUPS

Baking cups are available in a wide array of colors, shapes, sizes and materials, so choosing the perfect type can be somewhat overwhelming. Used primarily to line cupcake or muffin pans to prevent batter from sticking to the sides, these cups are not a one style or one-size-fits-all product. Through explanation and analysis of different options and advantages, this guide will help ensure that your culinary and confectionary creations look and taste delicious, and are consistent in size, shape, and style.

Advantages

The first step in choosing the right baking cup is determining your purpose for baking. Will the finished product be on display? Is it intended to serve a high-volume crowd? After making these decisions, consider the many benefits of baking cups. Some common advantages include:

• Easy Clean-Up. A high-volume restaurant or bakery might not have extra time to dedicate to cleaning dirty pans. Avoid the messes that result from sticky batter in unlined pans and create a finished product that has a consistent shape by using baking cups.
• Sanitation. Baking cups provide a protective outer layer that helps prevent the spread of germs during the transfer from oven, to display, to customer. Great for public events during which baked goods are on display, liners can offer customers peace of mind by guaranteeing that their food has not been unnecessarily touched.
• Moisture. Without a baking cup, cupcakes, muffins, and other baked goods can become dried out after removing them from the pan. Using a liner helps you preserve the desirable moist taste and texture that will set your business apart from others.
• Shape. Providing stability and shape, baking cups can help create a uniform look and prevent crumbling . Liners can even act as a buffer between a hot pan and the batter, which can prevent the baked good's edges from cooking too fast.
• Overall Presentation. While some baking cups are not intended to be decorative, others are both functional and ornamental. Colored and patterned cupcake liners can complement a theme, correlate with a holiday or season, or contribute to your unique style. Match colorful wrappers with icing and designs for a fun, individualized look. Apart from baking, others may choose to use baking cups to display small candy, truffles, or fudge.

Sizes

When choosing a baking cup size, knowing the dimensions of the pans you will be using is essential. Though size classifications exist, individual manufacturers might have slight variations. Whether you're baking a large, tasty muffin to sell in your coffee shop or a delectable bite-sized truffle for your café, it’s imperative to use the perfect sized baking cup for your unique needs. Perhaps you have already found the perfectly-sized cup and need to restock your business with a similar item. Typically, standard baking cups measure 2" x 1 1/4" and are commonly used for traditional-sized cupcakes or muffins.

Mini baking cups with a 1" diameter and be used for presenting chocolate covered cherries or caramels, and 3 1/2" diameter jumbo baking cups can be used for gorgeous gourmet cupcake creations! To help simplify the search and selection process, we have consistently labeled the baking cup item titles and measurements on our site so that they are easy to read and understand. The first number listed is the baking cup's bottom diameter measurement, and the second number listed is the overall height.



How to Get an Accurate Measurement
Although usually available in mini, standard, and jumbo sizes, baking cups' measurements can vary slightly. To determine accurate baking cup sizes, measure the bottom diameter of the cup without flattening the sides, then measure the wall height. Before purchasing, be sure to know the precise measurements of the pans you will be using.

Styles

Baking Cups: Pour batter directly into these cups for use during baking.

White Paper Baking Cups: These fluted cups provide a neat, sanitary look and ensure easy clean-up.

Colored/Decorative Paper Baking Cups: Enhance presentation with a variety of colors and patterns that will complement themes, seasons, or décor.

Glassine Baking Cups: Both air and water resistant, glassine cups provide an easy release and attractive grease-resistant presentation.

Foil Baking Cups: Prevent unwanted grease marks or stains with a variety of stylish foil baking cups. These opaque cups keep batter hidden, and offer a clean, eye-catching presentation.

Specialty/Decorative Baking Cups: Featuring unique designs, these baking cups can complete the look your bakery or restaurant is striving to achieve, and are available in tulip and lotus varieties.

Corrugated Kraft Baking Cups: Perfect for freezer to oven applications, these corrugated cups are suited for baking small cakes, pies or individual portion items. The PET coating allows for an easy product release and quick clean-up. Made of 100% recycled content, they're a great alternative to foil, paper, or glassine cups.

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Wrappers and Display Cups: For a polished look, add these decorative wrappers to your baked goods after baking.

Wrappers: Fasten a wrapper around a cooled cupcake or muffin for an instant accent and lively presentation. Conceal grease or oil spots that might have been visible through a paper baking cup.

Eclair Cups: Neatly display pastries in sanitary white eclair liners that provide stability. Available in 4 1/2" and 5 1/2" lengths.

Paper Fluted Holders: Ideal for serving burgers, tacos, bagels, and more, these versatile fluted holders/burger cups are a sanitary solution to your serving needs.

Which Baking Cup is Best for You?

	Used for sanitation	Provides Stability	Grease/oil proof	Fluted	Available in Mini	Available in Standard	Available in Jumbo
Baking Cups (Before Baking)
Tulip Liner
Lotus Liner
White Paper Liner
Foil Liner
Colored Paper Liner
Glassine Liner
Corrugated Kraft Liner					n/a	n/a	n/a
Wrappers/Display Cups (After Baking)
Wrappers
Eclair Baking Liner					n/a	n/a	n/a

Quick Fixes

Choosing the right baking cup could be a quick fix to many of the problems encountered during baking. Maximize efficiency and create the perfect look, taste, and consistency by following some of these recommendations!

When this happens...	...Try this quick fix!
Oil or grease bleeds through the baking cup	Try doubling paper cups or opt for a foil or glassine variety
Dark-colored cake makes a decoration on a baking cup difficult to see	Bake the dark-colored mix in a white paper cup, then drop it into a second darker or decorative liner after cooling
The cake crumbles when peeling away the liner	Be sure to bake the cupcakes completely. Under-baked batter can cause peeling. To make peeling even easier, try lightly spraying the cups with non-stick cooking spray or another similar spray release
The liner peels away from the cake after baking	Be sure that cupcakes have cooled and reached room temperature before storing them in a container. Storing them when they are too hot can cause the liners to detach.

 Source:http://www.webstaurantstore.com/guide/629/baking-cups.html