Welcome to Kitchen Queries, where the nigella.com team will answer your cooking or food related questions.  We’d love you to submit some of your recipe problems, dilemmas or queries for us to get our teeth into!

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• Cupcake Moulds

  Hello Nigella Team. I have always wanted to make cupcakes but cannot, as I have a microwave and can't use metal pans. Is there any alternative to metal pans? Can I use small porcelain bowls? If yes, then will the temperature differ while preheating? 

  Posted by deeptiphansalkar. Answered on 9th Apr 2012 at 12.00

  From the nigella team:

  Silicone baking moulds have become very popular in the past few years and most of these are suitable for microwaves. However do check packaging for confirmation as some silicone pans have metal in the edges to make them more rigid. There are individual silicone cupcake moulds that should be safe for microwaves and come in a variety of shapes. They look like colourful cupcake cases and generally you would serve the cupcake in the mould and then wash and re-use it. Silicone bakeware can usually be found on-line.

  In conventional ovens you don't need to adjust the temperature for silicone bakeware, though the cakes can cook more quickly so it is best to start checking cakes several minutes before the end of the recommended cooking time. Unfortunately for microwave and combi ovens you will need to check your manufacturer's handbook for guidance on cake cooking times and temperatures, as all ovens vary. 

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