Ten Alternative Uses For the Muffin Tin | Family Economics

By Trisha

Muffin tins are great for more than just baking muffins. Here are 10 everyday uses beyond muffins:

1.    Oven baked eggs: Use this method to make egg muffin sandwiches. Directions: Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease each muffin section with cooking spray or butter. Crack one egg into each muffin section. Place in oven and cook for 15-20 minutes.

2.    Flavored ice cubes: With warm weather, barbeques and entertaining approaching, you will love using these lemon flavored ice cubes made in your muffin tins, perfect for punch bowls. Place two to three thinly sliced lemons and/or limes into each muffin section. Fill each with water leaving space for freezing expansion. Place in freezer on a flat surface. Freeze for six or more hours. Remove from muffin tin and place in pitcher or punch bowl. Some alternative ideas are to use berries instead of lemons or a flavored beverage instead of water.

3.    Individual meat loaves: My son calls these “meat loves.” My kids enjoy meat loaf when I make them into individual muffin sizes using my muffin tin to bake them in. Make your family’s favorite meat loaf recipe and instead of placing it in a loaf pan, prepare a muffin tin with cooking spray and then fill each section with your mixture. Bake at the temperature stated in your recipe but cut baking time in half or even less. These small meat loaf versions will cook much quicker.

4.    Soup stock: Fill each muffin section with chicken or turkey stock and then freeze. Once frozen, pop out and place in freezer bag for future use when cooking and in need of stock.

5.    Office supplies: Place a muffin tin inside a desk drawer and use it to hold your office supplies such as paper clips, erasers, rubber bands, glue sticks, coins and other supplies that need corralling and organizing.

6.    Craft supplies: Glue or use self-adhesive magnetic sheets and secure 16 ounce clear plastic cups into each section of a jumbo size muffin tin. Fill the cups with various craft supplies such as scissors, paintbrushes, glue sticks, markers and crayons. Now your kids can keep their craft supplies organized and ready to create.

7.    Dyeing eggs: When the occasion call for it, use a muffin tin for dyeing eggs by placing one color into each muffin cup and adding in your vinegar and water. This tip keeps all your dyeing in one container to simplify the clean-up process.

8.    Ice cream scoops: Scoop ice cream into lined baking cups prior to the party and place in the freezer. When the cake is served, remove the muffin tin from the freezer and serve pre-made scoops in the baking cups.

9.    Paint: Use a muffin tin for your budding artist by placing small amounts of finger paint or washable paint in each section allowing for a more controlled painting pallet.

10.    Hair accessories: Organize your little girl’s hair accessories by placing a muffin tin inside a bathroom drawer and filling each section with bobby pins, barrettes, hair ties, ribbons and bows.

What are some everyday household goods you found alternative uses for?