Buzz
Take a moment to check the drawer where you store your trivets and hot pads. Count them. How many do you own? Personally, I have four, which typically suffices for my needs.
Now, consider how many of those trivets or hot pads can handle an extra-large, heavy pot. I have zero. In the past, I’ve resorted to placing two trivets or pads side by side. But when all four are in use, what’s the solution?
“Why not use kitchen towels?” you might suggest. However, this often results in singed fabric. Instead of opting for cloth, choose something durable, raised, and metallic. Grab a muffin tin—and don’t forget to flip it upside down.
A flipped-over muffin tin serves as a fantastic trivet. Built to withstand oven heat, it won’t suffer damage from a scorching casserole dish. Its robust design can easily support even the heaviest enameled cast iron Dutch oven without bending. The raised cups lift your dish off the surface, promoting airflow and cooling the base of your piping-hot cookware. (What about a wire rack? While effective for lighter dishes, it may buckle under cast iron, risking contact with your table and potential scorch marks.)
The best part? You likely already own a muffin tin. Though I rarely use mine for baking, I’ll never part with it—just in case I need to whip up cupcakes, bake cornbread, or, as it turns out, require a sizable trivet in a pinch.
