My popovers always stick to the pan!

Solved the sticking problem. Oil pans well, bake for 10 minutes in a 450 degree over. Remove from oven and let cool to room temp. Recoil the pans and bake another 10 minutes. Wipe out excess oil. Cool to room temp. Before baking popovers place a teaspoon of butter in each well. Place pans in 450 degree over and heat until butter just starts to brown. Fill pans and bake popovers.

I have never made popovers, just many muffins, and I generously butter the tins (including the rims) with cold butter, and it works great. Buttering then flouring (like a cake) might work?

Also try heating the pan in the oven and then grease with a little oil, then fill with the batter. The popovers come out easily.

We used the regular popover pans at my family's restaurant -- I made up to 60 a day. They became extremely well seasoned, and just needed a film of oil and like cast iron, were never washed w/soap. Very few stuck, but if they did, a small, sharp knife was all that was needed to loosen them up -- since the pans didn't have a non-stick coating, that wasn't a problem. Not sure if it makes any difference -- we also let the batter rest for some time - a small batch for at least 30 minutes.

Greenstuff, let's hope there's a Jordan Pond House popover person lurking around here to come to the rescue, because that person surely knows the answer. Or perhaps I should say "the secret."

Hi mainecook61! I had my share of Pier 4 popovers!! I've also had my share of Maine's Jordan Pond House popovers on Mount Desert Island, have you gone there?. And popovers have been a big family favorite for decades, many decades. Since this pickle came up I've been trying to count up the numbers of pans I've tried and had to throw away. Solve this one and I will be an extra-happy pickler.

Judging by these answers, there's a mystery here! Bostonians may remember a place called Anthony's Pier 4, where the popovers were the crowning glory of the breadbasket---and this was before anyone ever conceived of a "nonstick" popover pan. How did that place ever get them out of the pan without digging and deflating??
(Note: I've got one of those "nonstick" popover pans, and the popovers stick there, too.)

JimmyC, all I can tell you is that for me, those Nordic Ware popover pans are good but for a very limited time. I've gone through several, and when they stop working, there's no visual cue. I've tried the extremes--not washing with soaps or detergents and washing very well. Something happens, and I haven't been able to figure out what it is. I'm so glad this topic has come up!

If you're really into popovers, nothing works as well as the Nordic Ware popover pan (about $30). I got one for Christmas. They are awesome. Be sure to melt butter in the bottom of each cup. Much better than regular muffin tins!

Agreed with @greenstuff - I do as @GracePiper says with the butter in the pre-heated pan, but after a year or so, it started sticking more and more, and now the bottoms (but not the sides) almost always stick! V. annoying.

I find that muffin pans and popover pans work for about a year and then start sticking. It's maddening! I've written to manufacturers but gotten no responses.

Did you preheat the pan and melt a tablespoon of butter in each container? Those are the directions from my nonstick popover pan. That may work for you. I wouldn't use a spray. The popovers, like a souffle need to "climb" up the sides of the tin/cups.

I use cooking sprays. Seem to work best.