Among the most important kitchen staples, baking pans and cookie sheets serve a multitude of purposes. Cookies, cakes, candies, breads, and bars can all be made using these simple baking workhorses.
Cookie sheets are particularly great for (surprise!) making cookies, while baking pans really shine when it comes to sheet cakes, candies such as toffee and barks, as well as water baths for breads and cheesecakes.
Although many baking pans and cookie sheets function well enough, I’ve found a few to be truly superior. As anyone who bakes a lot knows, it’s really frustrating when recipes turn out wrong because of uneven cooking or burnt bottoms and edges.
Having a stellar baking pan and cookie sheet in your arsenal can really make a difference. So, I thought I’d share some of my favorites with you.
Nordic Ware Natural Aluminum Commercial Baker’s Half Sheet
Product Features
Pros
- Pure aluminum construction means that it won’t rust
- Heavy-duty aluminum helps prevent burning
- Great for multiple uses—won’t warp, even if exposed to direct, high heat, like being put under the broiler
- Naturally fairly non-stick, without the use of Teflon or any chemical coatings
- Cleans up nicely and easily with a little soap and water
- Heats up quickly and evenly in the oven—this is particularly useful if you’ve been having problems with uneven cooking
Cons
- Not dishwasher-safe, although this tends to be the case with most baking pans and sheets
- There is a possibility of small amounts of aluminum leaching into food, which isn’t much of a concern with baking, but—if this is something that concerns you—could be an issue when cooking acidic foods such as tomatoes.
When you read that this is made of pure aluminum, don’t think of it as lightweight or fragile. This is a heavy, sturdy pan that should last a lifetime. It works great for baking and can also do double duty roasting and cooking vegetables and sheet pan dinners.
The rim prevents oil and grease from spilling out and leaking all over the bottom of the oven, and since it doesn’t warp under higher heat, this pan is particularly great for broiling.
Who Is This For?
This is a great pan for anyone who bakes regularly and wants a good, solid baking sheet.
What to Consider Before Buying
If you are accustomed to cheaper, lightweight baking pans, there may be a slight learning curve. Sometimes with heavier baking pans such as this, you’ll find that baking times increase slightly—usually only by a minute or two.
After a few trial runs, though, it’ll feel like you’ve been using this forever.
Final Thoughts
Overall, this is my favorite baking pan. It’s sturdy, well-made, and does a great job of baking evenly.
Check the price of this half sheet from Nordic Ware.
TeamFar Baking Sheet
Product Features
Pros:
- Constructed from pure stainless steel, a major plus for those who worry about the possibility of trace amounts of aluminum leaching into foods.
- Dishwasher-safe
- If anything burns onto these, a little scrubbing can be make them just like new again. This is a huge plus over non-stick coated pans, which will peel and need to be thrown out if something burns onto them.
- These do a good job of cooking evenly.
Cons:
- Problems with sticking are somewhat more likely with this pan compared with those made of aluminum. You’ll likely want to use a bit more cooking spray, or perhaps parchment paper, in order to get around this.
- Can warp slightly under higher temperatures, although they do generally return to their normal shape once they cool back down. In order to get around the warping, you need to heat the pan up slowly (putting it in when you pre-heat the oven, for instance), which can be a hassle. When baking at 350 degrees, this isn’t an issue however; it’s more of a problem for higher temperatures, especially those over 400 degrees.
This is heavy duty, cooks evenly, and can even go in the dishwasher! On the downside, though, you’ll need to be a bit more vigilant about making sure that you use cooking spray or parchment to prevent sticking, and warping can be an issue with rapid temperature changes.
A great positive aspect of this pan, though, is that it works especially well for those who like a baking sheet that works for cooking and roasting too. If anything does get stuck, you can scour to your heart’s content because the stainless steel can withstand harsh scrubbing and even a run in the dishwasher without any issue at all.
Who Is This For?
This pan is a great product for anyone who prefers to cook with stainless steel over aluminum. It’s also great for those bakers who also like to use their pans for roasting meats and vegetables.
What to Consider Before Buying
When thinking about this pan versus the one by Nordic Ware, consider your priorities. If you love a stainless-steel pan that can be tossed in the dishwasher, this is a great pick, but you will need to be a bit more careful with this in terms of preventing sticking and warping.
Final Thoughts
This is another great, solid, heavy duty baking pan that will impress anyone who has struggled with flimsy pans that bake unevenly.
Check the price of this baking pan from TeamFar.
USA Pan Bakeware Cookie Sheet, Large
First of all, the completely flat surface allows more room, letting you cook more at the same time.
Secondly, the lack of edges makes it extra simple to slide the cookies straight off the sheet and onto a plate.
And lastly, many cookie sheets are specially constructed for allowing even cooking without excessive browning since cookies can be a bit finicky when it comes to cooking times.
So, now that you know why I recommend having both, I’ll go ahead and tell you a little about my all-time favorite cookie sheet.
Product Features
Pros:
- Non-stick surface ensures that food doesn’t get stuck, while also making clean-up easier
- Coating is free of BPA, PTFE, and PFOA
- Works well at high temperatures without warping
- Has one side somewhat raised to make gripping easier
- Bakes evenly without browning too quickly
Cons:
- It does have a non-stick coating, which means that peeling (or loss of non-stick function) could result from excessive scrubbing.
- Not dishwasher safe
This cookie sheet does a fantastic job of baking evenly. If you’ve ever had problems with cookies baking unevenly—burnt edges or bottoms, while the centers are not quite finished, for instance—this cookie sheet may be the answer to your problems.
It’s heavy enough to promote even cooking and its light color helps to prevent premature browning.
Who Is This For?
Anyone who loves baking cookies should be particularly fond of this. It you like baking rolls, this is also great because the lack of rims means more space to work with, and you can easily spread things out a bit more to allow for expanding during cooking.
What to Consider Before Buying
If you already have a great cookie sheet that bakes evenly and cleans up nicely, you really don’t need another one. But, if you’ve had any issues with uneven cooking or browning, this may be just what you’re looking for.
Final Thoughts
There are many cookie sheets available, but this one really stands out for its ability to cook evenly. As an added bonus, it does a great job of preventing sticking and cleans easily.
Check the price of this cookie sheet from USA Pan.
Sarah is the founder of Baking Kneads, LLC, a blog sharing guides, tips, and recipes for those learning how to bake. Growing up as the daughter of a baker, she spent much of her childhood learning the basics in a local bakery.