Lush Food & Drink

Buying Guide ·Baking

Best Madeleine Pans for Classic Shell Cakes

The deciding specification is cavity count, which ranges from 6 to 16 across these five picks.

By the Lush Editorial Team·Researched & Compared

  • Researched & ComparedSpecs pulled from the manufacturer listing
  • Like-for-LikeSame measures across every model
  • No Paid PlacementsNobody pays to appear here

I compared five madeleine pans from a manufacturer fact sheet, using only published dimensions, weights, and features.

Our shortlist

Five products, one set of published numbers.
  1. Bellemain Nonstick Madeleine Pans
    Best two-pan carbon steel set

    Bellemain Nonstick Madeleine Pans

    Two 12-cavity carbon steel pans with a nonstick coating and dishwasher-safe cleanup.

    • Bellemain
    • one pack
    • 0.9 lb
  2. USA Pan Bakeware Nonstick Madeleine Pan
    Best for a single large batch

    USA Pan Bakeware Nonstick Madeleine Pan

    One pan with 16 wells, the highest cavity count among these five picks.

    • USA Pan
    • 16-Well
    • 1.8 lb
  3. Vinino 2-Pack Silicone Madeleine Pans for Baking wit...
    Best silicone set with a reinforced frame

    Vinino 2-Pack Silicone Madeleine Pans for Baking wit...

    Two 12-cup silicone pans with a metal-reinforced frame for stability.

    • Vinino
    • 12 Cups×2pcs
    • 1.41 lb
  4. BIGOWL 4-Pack Madeleine Pan
    Best four-pan silicone set for small batches

    BIGOWL 4-Pack Madeleine Pan

    Four 6-cavity silicone pans, the highest pan count among these five picks.

    • BIGOWL
    • standard
    • 0.49 lb
  5. Madeleine Pan
    Best for defined shell ridges

    Madeleine Pan

    Two 12-cup carbon steel pans with rolled edges and a PFOA-free nonstick coating.

    • BreadTalk
    • Round Shell-Shape
    • 0.95 lb

Side by side

Blank means the maker does not publish it.
ModelBrandSize (capacity)WeightBest for
Bellemain Nonstick Madeleine Pans Bellemain one pack 0.9 lb Best two-pan carbon steel set
USA Pan Bakeware Nonstick Madeleine Pan USA Pan 16-Well 1.8 lb Best for a single large batch
Vinino 2-Pack Silicone Madeleine Pans for Baking wit... Vinino 12 Cups×2pcs 1.41 lb Best silicone set with a reinforced frame
BIGOWL 4-Pack Madeleine Pan BIGOWL standard 0.49 lb Best four-pan silicone set for small batches
Madeleine Pan BreadTalk Round Shell-Shape 0.95 lb Best for defined shell ridges

Each pick in detail

What the listing says for it, and against it.
1 Best two-pan carbon steel set

Bellemain Nonstick Madeleine Pans

Two 12-cavity carbon steel pans with a nonstick coating and dishwasher-safe cleanup.

  • For it
  • Two pans, each with 12 cavities, for a total of 24 madeleines per baking session.
  • Carbon steel body is described as heavy-duty and resistant to bending.
  • Nonstick coating is published as food-safe and dishwasher safe.
  • Against it
  • Width, depth, and height are not published by the manufacturer.
  • No temperature range is stated for oven use.
2 Best for a single large batch

USA Pan Bakeware Nonstick Madeleine Pan

One pan with 16 wells, the highest cavity count among these five picks.

  • For it
  • 16 wells, the highest cavity count among these five picks.
  • Aluminized steel construction is published as commercial grade.
  • Oven safe to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Against it
  • Weight is 1.8 pounds, the heaviest among these five picks.
  • Only one pan is included, so batch size is limited to 16.
3 Best silicone set with a reinforced frame

Vinino 2-Pack Silicone Madeleine Pans for Baking wit...

Two 12-cup silicone pans with a metal-reinforced frame for stability.

  • For it
  • Two silicone pans, each with 12 cups, for 24 madeleines per batch.
  • Metal-reinforced frame is published to provide stability.
  • Temperature range of -104 to 446 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Against it
  • Width, depth, and height are not published by the manufacturer.
  • Silicone may require a baking sheet for support, though the frame is reinforced.
4 Best four-pan silicone set for small batches

BIGOWL 4-Pack Madeleine Pan

Four 6-cavity silicone pans, the highest pan count among these five picks.

  • For it
  • Four pans, each with 6 cavities, for a total of 24 madeleines per batch.
  • Temperature range of -22 to 446 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Flexible and stackable design for storage.
  • Against it
  • Weight is 0.49 pounds, the lightest among these five picks.
  • No width, depth, or height is published by the manufacturer.
5 Best for defined shell ridges

Madeleine Pan

Two 12-cup carbon steel pans with rolled edges and a PFOA-free nonstick coating.

  • For it
  • Two pans, each with 12 cavities, for 24 madeleines per batch.
  • Rolled edges are published for added strength and stability.
  • PFOA-free nonstick coating for easy release.
  • Against it
  • Width, depth, and height are not published by the manufacturer.
  • The inside of the rolled edge is not coated, and the maker advises thorough drying to prevent rust.

Our verdict

For a classic 12-cake batch, the Bellemain Nonstick Madeleine Pans, 12-Cavity Carbon Steel, 2-Pack, and the BreadTalk Madeleine Pan, 12-Cup Nonstick Carbon Steel, 2 Pack, both offer two pans with 12 cavities each. The USA Pan Bakeware Nonstick Madeleine Pan, 16 Well, is the only pick with 16 wells and publishes a 15.75 inch depth and 11.13 inch width. The Vinino 2-Pack Silicone Madeleine Pans and the BIGOWL 4-Pack Madeleine Pan use silicone with reinforced frames, and the BIGOWL set provides four pans with 6 cavities each.

“Cavity count and material decide the batch.”

Lush Editorial Team

What separates these five

Cavity count Cavity counts range from 6 to 16 across these five picks. The USA Pan has 16 wells, while the BIGOWL set has four pans with 6 cavities each.
Material Three picks use carbon steel, one uses aluminized steel, and two use silicone. Each material is published with different care and temperature guidance.
Published dimensions Only the USA Pan publishes width, depth, and height. The other four do not publish these figures, so fit cannot be confirmed from the fact sheet.
Nonstick coating All five picks publish a nonstick surface. The BreadTalk and HONGBAKE specify PFOA-free coatings, while the others describe food-safe or proprietary coatings.
Oven safety The USA Pan is published as oven safe to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. The Vinino and BIGOWL silicone pans publish temperature ranges up to 446 degrees Fahrenheit.

How we chose

Priorities, not a computed score. The inputs are published specifications, so we rank by what matters most and say how much.

  1. 30% Cavity countIt determines how many madeleines you can bake in one batch, which is the main reason to choose one pan over another.
  2. 25% MaterialCarbon steel, aluminized steel, and silicone behave differently in the oven and require different care.
  3. 20% Published dimensionsWhen a maker publishes width, depth, and height, you can check whether the pan fits your oven and storage.
  4. 15% Nonstick coatingA nonstick surface affects how easily delicate shell cakes release and how quickly the pan cleans up.
  5. 10% Temperature rangeA published oven-safe temperature tells you the upper limit the maker states for the pan.

How the Five Compare on the Numbers

Cavity count is the first number that separates these five picks. The USA Pan Bakeware Nonstick Madeleine Pan, 16 Well, has 16 wells, the highest count among the five. The Bellemain Nonstick Madeleine Pans, 12-Cavity Carbon Steel, 2-Pack, the Vinino 2-Pack Silicone Madeleine Pans, and the BreadTalk Madeleine Pan, 12-Cup Nonstick Carbon Steel, 2 Pack, each provide two pans with 12 cavities, for 24 cavities total. The BIGOWL 4-Pack Madeleine Pan provides four pans with 6 cavities each, also 24 cavities total, but in smaller batches.

Material and published dimensions are the next deciding figures. Three picks use carbon steel: Bellemain, BreadTalk, and HONGBAKE. The USA Pan uses aluminized steel and is the only pick that publishes width, depth, and height: 11.13 inches wide, 15.75 inches deep, and 0.56 inches tall. The Vinino and BIGOWL picks use silicone with a reinforced frame. Weight ranges from 0.49 pounds for the BIGOWL pan to 1.8 pounds for the USA Pan. The HONGBAKE and Myyaowl pans do not publish a weight.

Specification Bellemain B00L5HCVSG USA Pan B06XWBXWY8 Vinino B0FSS96LS7 BIGOWL B0D8KSR9N9 BreadTalk B0G3KQGP1F
Material Carbon steel Aluminized steel Silicone with reinforced frame Silicone Carbon steel
Cavities per pan 12 16 12 6 12
Pans included 2 1 2 4 2
Total cavities 24 16 24 24 24
Weight (lb) 0.9 1.8 1.41 0.49 0.95
Width (in) not published 11.13 not published not published not published
Depth (in) not published 15.75 not published not published not published
Height (in) not published 0.56 not published not published not published
Oven-safe temperature not published 450°F -104°F to 446°F -22°F to 446°F not published
Nonstick coating Food-safe nonstick Proprietary silicone Nonstick Nonstick PFOA-free nonstick
Dishwasher safe Yes not published not published Yes not published

The table does not tell you how evenly each pan bakes or how well the nonstick coating releases a madeleine. Those are performance questions, and nobody at Lush has used these pans. The table also cannot tell you whether the pans fit your oven or drawer, because four of the five do not publish width, depth, or height. The published figures are the only ones you can compare directly.

Carbon Steel and Aluminized Steel Pans

What carbon steel offers

The Bellemain, BreadTalk, and HONGBAKE picks use carbon steel. Bellemain describes its pan as heavy-duty and resistant to bending, with a food-safe nonstick coating and dishwasher-safe cleanup. BreadTalk publishes a heavy-gauge carbon steel pan with rolled edges and a PFOA-free nonstick coating. HONGBAKE states its pan uses 27 percent thicker carbon steel than a standard pan, though the baseline for that comparison is not published.

Carbon steel pans are not published with oven-safe temperature limits for Bellemain, BreadTalk, or HONGBAKE. The BreadTalk pan includes a specific care note: the inside of the rolled edge is not coated, so the maker advises thorough drying after washing to prevent rust. That is a published instruction, not a performance claim, and it applies only to that pick.

What aluminized steel offers

The USA Pan Bakeware Nonstick Madeleine Pan, 16 Well, is the only pick made from aluminized steel, which the maker describes as a mix of steel for strength and aluminum for heat conductivity. It is published as commercial grade and oven safe to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. It is also the only pick that publishes width, depth, and height: 11.13 inches wide, 15.75 inches deep, and 0.56 inches tall.

At 1.8 pounds, the USA Pan is the heaviest among these five picks. It has 16 wells, the highest cavity count, and it is sold as a single pan. Its nonstick coating is described as a proprietary silicone coating. The maker does not publish whether the pan is dishwasher safe, so that detail is not available from the fact sheet.

Silicone Pans and Their Published Ranges

Silicone with a reinforced frame

The Vinino 2-Pack Silicone Madeleine Pans use food-grade, BPA-free silicone with a metal-reinforced frame that the maker states provides stability. The set includes two pans with 12 cups each. The published temperature range is -104 to 446 degrees Fahrenheit, which the maker states allows transfer from refrigerator to oven without warping or damage. That is a published capability, not a tested result.

Vinino publishes a weight of 1.41 pounds for the set. Width, depth, and height are not published. The maker describes a gentle push from the bottom to release madeleines, and states the pans are nonstick. The fact sheet does not state whether the pans are dishwasher safe, so that cannot be confirmed.

Silicone in a four-pan set

The BIGOWL 4-Pack Madeleine Pan provides four silicone pans with 6 cavities each, for 24 cavities total. The published temperature range is -22 to 446 degrees Fahrenheit. The maker states the pans are food-grade, BPA-free, nonstick, flexible, and stackable. The set is published as dishwasher safe, and the maker states no greasing or cooking spray is needed.

At 0.49 pounds, the BIGOWL set is the lightest among these five picks. The small 6-cavity pans mean more batches if you want a large yield, but the four pans can be used at once if your oven has room. Width, depth, and height are not published, so storage and fit cannot be confirmed from the fact sheet.

Which One Fits Your Kitchen

You want a two-pan carbon steel set with dishwasher-safe cleanup. The Bellemain Nonstick Madeleine Pans, 12-Cavity Carbon Steel, 2-Pack, gives you 24 cavities total and a food-safe nonstick coating. The maker publishes dishwasher safety, which the other carbon steel picks do not.

You want the largest single-pan batch. The USA Pan Bakeware Nonstick Madeleine Pan, 16 Well, has 16 wells and publishes its width, depth, and height. It is the only pick with a published oven-safe temperature of 450 degrees Fahrenheit and the only one with full dimensions.

You prefer silicone with a reinforced frame. The Vinino 2-Pack Silicone Madeleine Pans offers two 12-cup pans with a metal-reinforced frame and a published temperature range of -104 to 446 degrees Fahrenheit. The frame is the feature that separates it from the BIGOWL silicone set.

You want four small silicone pans for flexible batches. The BIGOWL 4-Pack Madeleine Pan gives you four 6-cavity pans, a published temperature range of -22 to 446 degrees Fahrenheit, and dishwasher-safe cleanup. It is the lightest pick at 0.49 pounds.

You want defined shell ridges in a carbon steel pan. The BreadTalk Madeleine Pan, 12-Cup Nonstick Carbon Steel, 2 Pack, publishes 12 shell cavities with defined ridges, rolled edges, and a PFOA-free nonstick coating. The maker includes a drying instruction to help prevent rust.

What We Could Not Verify

The fact sheet leaves several details unpublished. These are the figures and claims we went looking for and could not source.

  • Width, depth, and height for the Bellemain, Vinino, BIGOWL, BreadTalk, and HONGBAKE pans are not published by their manufacturers.
  • The weight of the HONGBAKE and Myyaowl pans is not published.
  • The exact nonstick coating brand for the Bellemain, USA Pan, Vinino, BIGOWL, BreadTalk, and Myyaowl pans is not stated beyond general descriptions.
  • The country of manufacture for most picks is not published, except for USA Pan, which states it is made in the USA.
  • The maximum oven-safe temperature for the Bellemain, BreadTalk, HONGBAKE, and Myyaowl pans is not published.
  • Dishwasher safety for the USA Pan, Vinino, BreadTalk, and HONGBAKE pans is not published on this fact sheet.

Frequently asked questions

How many cavities do these madeleine pans have?+

Cavity counts range from 6 to 16. The BIGOWL set has four pans with 6 cavities each. The Bellemain, Vinino, BreadTalk, and HONGBAKE picks each have 12 cavities per pan. The USA Pan has 16 wells. The Bellemain, Vinino, and BreadTalk picks are sold as two-pan sets, so they provide 24 cavities total.

What materials are these madeleine pans made from?+

Three picks use carbon steel: Bellemain, BreadTalk, and HONGBAKE. The USA Pan uses aluminized steel, a mix of steel and aluminum. The Vinino and BIGOWL picks use silicone with a reinforced frame. Each material is published with different care instructions, and only the USA Pan, Vinino, and BIGOWL publish oven-safe temperature ranges.

Are these madeleine pans dishwasher safe?+

The Bellemain pan is published as dishwasher safe. The BIGOWL and Myyaowl pans are also published as dishwasher safe. The BreadTalk pan advises thorough drying after washing to prevent rust, and the HONGBAKE pan does not state dishwasher safety. For the USA Pan and Vinino, the manufacturer does not publish dishwasher instructions on this fact sheet.

What is the maximum oven temperature for these pans?+

The USA Pan is published as oven safe to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. The Vinino pan publishes a range of -104 to 446 degrees Fahrenheit. The BIGOWL pan publishes a range of -22 to 446 degrees Fahrenheit. The Bellemain, BreadTalk, HONGBAKE, and Myyaowl pans do not publish a maximum oven-safe temperature on this fact sheet.

Do any of these pans publish their dimensions?+

Only the USA Pan publishes width, depth, and height: 11.13 inches wide, 15.75 inches deep, and 0.56 inches tall. The Myyaowl pan publishes a pan size of 15.76 by 8.87 inches and a well size of 3 by 2 inches in its features, but not as separate width, depth, and height fields. The other picks do not publish dimensions.

What is the weight of these madeleine pans?+

The Bellemain pan weighs 0.9 pounds. The USA Pan weighs 1.8 pounds. The Vinino pan weighs 1.41 pounds. The BIGOWL pan weighs 0.49 pounds. The BreadTalk pan weighs 0.95 pounds. The HONGBAKE and Myyaowl pans do not publish a weight. These figures are as the manufacturers publish them.

Specifications come from the manufacturers' own published listings. Lush Food & Drink may earn a commission if you buy through a link on this page, at no extra cost to you. How we research.