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Popover Pans
With more popover pans available on the market, we wanted to see how our old favorite stacked up against the competition.
Top Pick
- Release
- Handling
- Popover Shape
WInnerChicago Metallic 6-Cup Popover Pan, Non-Stick
Buy at AmazonThis pan had the perfect cups: slightly flared with high sides and narrow bases that encouraged tall, proud popovers. A dark finish gave it an edge as darker pans absorb heat more efficiently, exactly what popovers need to pop up.
Model Number: 26562
Price at Time of Testing: $13.21
- Release
- Handling
- Popover Shape
This pan had the perfect cups: slightly flared with high sides and narrow bases that encouraged tall, proud popovers. A dark finish gave it an edge as darker pans absorb heat more efficiently, exactly what popovers need to pop up.
Model Number: 26562
Price at Time of Testing: $13.21
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What You Need to Know
Unlike muffin tins, popover pans have an open design—typically six cups attached by metal wires—which allows heat to surround the batter. This is key to producing tall, airy rolls with a full cap that “pops” up high above each cup. Several years ago, we tested (and liked) the only popover pan widely available. Recently, we found three new pans (all nonstick). How did they stack up against our old favorite?
We compared how each model handled in and out of the oven, how well it released the baked goods, and, most important, how attractive the final results were. Cup shape and color proved essential. Tall cups with a gentle flare supported the batter as it expanded so that the tops of the rolls ballooned up properly. Two pans had optimally shaped cups, but our former favorite had a slight edge because of its darker finish, which conducted heat more efficiently, ensuring that batter cooked quickly to deliver the tallest, airiest popovers. Our former favorite still turns out the most consistently impressive rolls.
Everything We Tested
Highly Recommended
- Release
- Handling
- Popover Shape
WInnerChicago Metallic 6-Cup Popover Pan, Non-Stick
This pan had the perfect cups: slightly flared with high sides and narrow bases that encouraged tall, proud popovers. A dark finish gave it an edge as darker pans absorb heat more efficiently, exactly what popovers need to pop up.
Model Number: 26562
Price at Time of Testing: $13.21
- Release
- Handling
- Popover Shape
This pan had the perfect cups: slightly flared with high sides and narrow bases that encouraged tall, proud popovers. A dark finish gave it an edge as darker pans absorb heat more efficiently, exactly what popovers need to pop up.
Model Number: 26562
Price at Time of Testing: $13.21
Recommended
- Release
- Handling
- Popover Shape
Baker’s Advantage 6-Cup Popover Pan
This pan’s nonstick cups were very similar to our winner’s—tall and flared, with small bases—and it made nice tall popovers. But its light finish was a slight disadvantage: Because dark finishes transfer heat faster, this pan’s popovers were slightly less impressive. (Baking longer would not help—a quick transfer of heat is what makes popovers really “pop.”)
Model Number: 5111882
Price at Time of Testing: $18.99
- Release
- Handling
- Popover Shape
This pan’s nonstick cups were very similar to our winner’s—tall and flared, with small bases—and it made nice tall popovers. But its light finish was a slight disadvantage: Because dark finishes transfer heat faster, this pan’s popovers were slightly less impressive. (Baking longer would not help—a quick transfer of heat is what makes popovers really “pop.”)
Model Number: 5111882
Price at Time of Testing: $18.99
Recommended with reservations
- Release
- Handling
- Popover Shape
Fox Run Popover Pan
This pan’s popovers tasted good but were oddly shaped. Its shorter, wider cups didn’t support the batter long enough, so as it expanded and rose above the rim, the not-fully-set popovers flopped over.
Model Number: 4754
Price at Time of Testing: $17.01
- Release
- Handling
- Popover Shape
This pan’s popovers tasted good but were oddly shaped. Its shorter, wider cups didn’t support the batter long enough, so as it expanded and rose above the rim, the not-fully-set popovers flopped over.
Model Number: 4754
Price at Time of Testing: $17.01
Not Recommended
- Release
- Handling
- Popover Shape
Nordic Ware Grand Popover Pan
This pan’s straight-sided nonstick cups guided expanding batter into torpedo-shaped batons. The popovers tasted fine but were oddly tube-shaped. The pan’s handles were also small and hard to grab with oven mitts on.
Model Number: 51748
Price at Time of Testing: $23.72
- Release
- Handling
- Popover Shape
This pan’s straight-sided nonstick cups guided expanding batter into torpedo-shaped batons. The popovers tasted fine but were oddly tube-shaped. The pan’s handles were also small and hard to grab with oven mitts on.
Model Number: 51748
Price at Time of Testing: $23.72
*All products reviewed by America’s Test Kitchen are independently chosen, researched, and reviewed by our editors. We buy products for testing at retail locations and do not accept unsolicited samples for testing. We list suggested sources for recommended products as a convenience to our readers but do not endorse specific retailers. When you choose to purchase our editorial recommendations from the links we provide, we may earn an affiliate commission. Prices are subject to change.
Reviews You Can Trust
The mission of America’s Test Kitchen Reviews is to find the best equipment and ingredients for the home cook through rigorous, hands-on testing. We stand behind our winners so much that we even put our seal of approval on them. Have a question or suggestion? Send us an email at atkreviews@americastestkitchen.com. We appreciate your feedback!
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