Yes, you can melt crayons in cupcake liners, particularly when using them within a muffin tin as part of the standard melting process. While the provided reference specifically details melting crayons in muffin tins, cupcake liners are commonly placed inside muffin tin cavities to facilitate easy removal of the melted crayon shapes.
The process of melting crayons for crafting involves heating them in an oven until they become liquid. This is typically done using a mold or container that can withstand the heat, such as a metal muffin tin.
The Standard Melting Process Using Muffin Tins
Based on common methods, including the information provided:
- Preparation: Break crayons into smaller pieces.
- Filling: You fill the cavities of a muffin tin with the broken crayon pieces. The reference states, "You can fill right up to the top as the crayons will melt in the process." This indicates that the volume reduces upon melting.
- Heating: Place the muffin tin in an oven. According to the reference, this takes "between 10-13 minutes to melt the crayons." The exact temperature isn't given in the reference, but typical temperatures for melting crayons range from 250°F to 300°F (approx. 120°C to 150°C).
- Cooling: Carefully remove the hot muffin tin and place it on a heat-resistant surface. Let it cool completely for about "25 minutes" to allow the melted crayons to solidify.
How Cupcake Liners Fit In
When using cupcake liners for melting crayons, you would place a liner inside each cavity of a muffin tin before adding the crayon pieces. The heat from the oven conducts through the muffin tin and warms the crayons inside the liner, allowing them to melt just as they would if placed directly in the tin.
-
Benefits of Using Liners:
- Prevents the melted crayon from sticking directly to the muffin tin, making removal much easier.
- Helps maintain the shape of the melted crayon disc or shape.
- Simplifies clean-up as the tin remains relatively clean.
-
Practical Tips for Using Liners:
- Use sturdy paper or silicone cupcake liners. Flimsy liners might not hold their shape well.
- Ensure the liners are properly seated in the muffin tin cavities.
- Fill the liners with crayon pieces, keeping in mind that they will melt down, similar to filling the tin directly as mentioned in the reference ("fill right up to the top").
In summary, while the core melting action happens within the heated muffin tin, using cupcake liners inside the tin is a widely adopted and effective method that fits seamlessly with the described process.
