The three Greatest Roasting Pans of 2024, Examined & Reviewed

When it comes time to prepare dinner a big roast for, say, a giant vacation gathering, many choose to make use of an inexpensive, disposable aluminum tray. Hey, I can’t knock it! The clean-up is zilch and it does the job adequately. Nevertheless, these flimsy pans are vulnerable to collapsing underneath the burden of hefty proteins, and you’ll overlook about deglazing one to make a pan sauce or gravy. 

That’s why I choose a devoted roasting pan. It’s a daily sight in restaurant kitchens the place cooks are used to pulling off advanced recipes, like roasting veal bones and deglazing with wine to make demi-glace. Strive doing that in a disposable aluminum pan. Whereas this will likely seem to be a cumbersome addition to your cookware assortment, whenever you want one, it’s troublesome to switch.

Roasting pans are available a wide range of sizes, shapes, and supplies, so which do you have to go for? I examined eight of them to search out out.

The Winners, at a Look

This pan had a flat, even backside that did properly whether or not I used to be roasting or deglazing with it, and it had a barely flared lip for drip-free pouring. I additionally favored its curved roasting rack, which might maintain giant or small roasts with out slippage.

Flared roasting pans had a smaller capability however had been simpler to maneuver a spatula into and take away meals from. The All-Clad is costly however versatile and simple to scrub.

That is extra like a rimmed baking sheet than a roasting pan, which is why editorial director Daniel Gritzer is a large fan of it. “There are a number of key specs that make this roasting pan a compelling one,” he writes. “Like a rimmed baking sheet, it has low sides to permit for correct air circulation and the escape of steam, however they’re only a bit larger in order that if you happen to do add liquid to the pan, the chance of sloshing and spilling is much less—nonetheless attainable, to be clear, however much less.” 

The Exams

• Roasted Hen and Pan Sauce Take a look at: To see how properly every pan did at roasting a easy rooster, I adopted our roast chicken recipe, skipping the steps for browning the chook in a pan first. After the rooster was accomplished, I set the pan over a burner and deglazed it with broth and butter, scraping the underside with a whisk to loosen any bits of fond.
• Roasted Potato Take a look at: To find out if the roasting pans may be used for cooking greens, I halved two kilos of Yukon gold potatoes and roasted them with olive oil. I checked to see how evenly the potatoes browned and the way simple they had been to flip.
• Water Tub Take a look at: To see how properly every pan might be used as a water bathtub (widespread for baked items like bread pudding or custard), I positioned our favorite glass baking dish in every roasting pan. I added water to the pan till it reached the midway level on the dish, then picked up the roasting pan and carried it round to see if it brought on splashing or usability points.
• Turkey Take a look at: Any good roasting pan ought to be capable to accommodate a whole turkey. I positioned an 11-pound turkey in every roasting pan and checked to see if it will securely match on the included rack if it had one. I then picked up the pan and carried it round, evaluating how simple it was to take action. 

What We Discovered

Angled or Curved Roasting Racks Have been Preferable

Just a few of the roasting pans I examined both had no rack or flat racks. The flat racks had been tough to make use of, as uncooked rooster and turkey slipped round after I moved the pan into the oven. Roasting pans that had a curved or angled rack had been higher. Birds didn’t budge an inch throughout a number of strikes from oven to stovetop to desk. Relying on the form, these angled racks can go away sufficient room to stuff greens or aromatics beneath. The upward-angled handles had been simpler to seize and raise too. 

Straight Sides vs. Flared Sides

Straight-sided roasting pans maintain extra liquid—round two quarts extra on common. That offers you added versatility. For instance, you may roast greens within the pan, add water, and make a vegetable stock with out transferring it to a pot. Straight-sided roasting pans additionally got here with extra raised, angled racks that allowed air to flow into totally round poultry, so there was nonetheless respectable browning. 

Does that imply that flared pans weren’t good? Under no circumstances. This design had a number of benefits. Whereas the quantity may be decrease, the flared edges provided extra maneuverability when utilizing a spatula or spoon to flip greens. The flared sides allowed air to flow into across the meals, serving to with even cooking and browning. For individuals who don’t foresee themselves making recipes requiring a excessive quantity of liquid, a flared roasting pan is totally value contemplating.

Skip the Channel

Some roasting pans include a channel that runs across the perimeter. Paired with a barely elevated floor, this permits extra fats or grease to maneuver away from what’s roasting within the heart. Nevertheless, I discovered channels hindered optimum outcomes after I made roast greens and gravy. When roasting the potatoes, the oil slipped away from the tubers and into the channel, resulting in much less browning. Once I tried to make gravy, the whisk couldn’t glide easily over the floor to whisk up fond; my rooster inventory additionally pooled within the channel, main me to make use of extra inventory than I wished to cowl the pan’s floor. 

Greater Handles, Higher Grip

With regards to roasting pans, huge, looped handles which you can securely grip are essential, as chances are you’ll be carrying heavy roasts with loads of scorching grease that dangers spilling and burning. Handles that had been at the least 4 inches huge and two to 3 inches deep had been roomy sufficient for my palms plus pot holders or thick kitchen towels. I most well-liked sq. handles to spherical ones, as my palms moved round much less with the previous.

The roasting pans I examined ran the gamut with handles that bent out, bent in, or went straight up. Those that bent out had been bulkier and might be troublesome when you’ve got a smaller-than-average oven, whereas handles that bent in may intrude if you happen to’re packing your pan with a big roast. Straight handles prevented each of those pitfalls.

Stainless Metal Was Superior

I solely examined one carbon metal roasting pan, however didn’t choose it to chrome steel. Not solely does carbon metal want to be seasoned earlier than use, however it’s delicate to acidic components which are sometimes used to roast veal, lamb, and beef bones when making shares and jus, and infrequently pop up in pink meat braises and stews. For that reason, selecting a carbon metal roasting pan will restrict the flexibility of a pan that you just’re already solely going to interrupt out every so often. Stainless-steel provides none of those challenges.

The Standards: What to Search for in a Roasting Pan

By and enormous, I most well-liked the sturdiness and simple cleanup of a stainless-steel roasting pan. The sting of the pan ought to have a barely curved lip to make pouring simple, and it ought to embrace giant, looped handles which you can grip with or with no towel or oven mitts. Skip any with a channel across the backside of the pan, which makes each roasting and gravy-making tougher. Search for a pan that has an included angled or curved rack that’s rated to be used at a excessive temperature. A rack fabricated from chrome steel could have extra sturdiness and longevity in comparison with one which’s nonstick-coated.

Our Favourite Roasting Pans

What we favored: This pan produced top-notch roasting and searing outcomes. After the rooster, I used to be simply capable of dislodge fond for a pan sauce, and the pan’s rim had a barely flared edge for drip-free pouring. I discovered the pan’s nine-quart quantity to be greater than ample—deep sufficient to carry a water bathtub or simmer a inventory. The rack lifted the rooster excessive out of the pan, in order to not intrude with browning, and it left loads of room beneath for including aromatics or greens, if desired. The rack simply match an 11-pound turkey and the handles had been huge and simple to grip.

What we didn’t like: There wasn’t a lot I didn’t like about this roasting pan. Technically, the producer discourages using steel utensils to protect the brilliant chrome end, however I didn’t word any harm after whisking in it.

Key Specs

• Materials: Stainless-steel clad with an aluminum core
• Weight: 7 kilos, 11 ounces
• Capability: 9 quarts
• Dimensions: 20.75 x 6.25 x 13.25 inches
• Dishwasher-safe?: Sure

What we favored: One other nice pan from my testing was the All-Clad Stainless Metal Flared, which produced supremely caramelized potatoes and a golden brown rooster that rivaled any rotisserie chook. After cooking the rooster, I used to be simply capable of whisk the pan sauce, due to the pan’s rounded, sloping corners. Throughout the turkey carrying take a look at, there was loads of room for an 11-pound chook, with extra space accessible for a a lot bigger roast as properly. After testing, the All-Clad was simple to scrub, although Bar Keepers Friend and a scouring pad might be your buddy for eradicating baked-on bits.

What we did not like: The flat rack didn’t do a lot to carry onto the uncooked rooster or turkey, and I skilled some sliding when transferring the pan from the stovetop to the oven. The amount is a number of quarts lower than our winner, so I wouldn’t suggest making an attempt any soups or shares.

Key Specs

• Materials: Stainless-steel
• Weight: 5 kilos, 4 ounces
• Capability: 6 quarts
• Dimensions: 16.75 x 13.75 x 2.5 inches
• Dishwasher-safe?: Sure

What we favored: A hybrid between a sheet pan and a traditional roasting pan, the Misen has low sides that enable for max air circulation. Its riveted, huge, straight handles are extremely simple to seize, even with the bulkiest oven mitts. “It solves nearly each drawback I’ve listed for each roasting pans and baking sheets, making it the primary roasting pan I might really suggest with out hesitation,” Daniel writes. “One other nice element of Misen’s roasting pan is it is sized similar to a regular rimmed baking sheet (technically a ‘half-sheet pan’ measurement), which suggests it may well match any wire rack you already personal to your rimmed baking sheets, no must get an additional rack only for the roasting pan.”

What we didn’t like: Its handles are excessive, which makes them simple to by accident graze. It doesn’t include a rack and has quick sides, so that you gained’t be capable to use lots of liquid in it.

Key Specs

• Materials: Stainless-steel
• Weight: 6 kilos, 14.4 ounces
• Capability: 2.5 quarts
• Dimensions: 19.5 x 13 x 1.5 inches
• Dishwasher-safe?: Sure

The Competitors

• Anolon Triply Clad Stainless Steel Roasting Pan: The channel across the pan’s perimeter prevented even browning on the potatoes and made it arduous to whisk a pan sauce.
• Viking Culinary 3-Ply Stainless Roasting Pan: This pan was nearly a winner however the backside was barely domed within the heart, which made making a pan sauce more durable.
• All-Clad Stainless Steel Roasting Pan: The rack is nonstick however not rated as extremely because the pan itself, so I used to be pressured to skip utilizing it to roast the rooster. The channel on the underside interfered with potatoes browning, rendering them pale and flavorless.
• Williams Sonoma Thermoclad Roasting Pan: The handles are too small to be snug, however it’s in any other case a well-made pan that rivaled the profitable All-Clad Flared pan.
• Made In Carbon Steel Roasting Pan: I like the concept of a carbon metal roaster, however regardless of the merchandise’ advertising claims, this explicit pan was too small to accommodate an 11-pound turkey with out elements sticking over the perimeters, and the potatoes I cooked in it didn’t brown correctly. 

FAQs

What sort of pan is finest for roasting?

For my part, a straight-sided chrome steel roasting pan with a V-shaped or curved rack is the very best pan for roasting. One of these pan works equally properly at cooking giant roasts, caramelizing greens, and making a pan sauce.

What’s the distinction between a roasting pan and a baking pan?

A roasting pan and a baking pan serve totally different functions and have distinct options. Roasting pans are typically bigger and deeper with excessive sides, designed to accommodate bigger cuts of meat and entire poultry. They typically include racks to raise the meals, permitting warmth to flow into evenly for uniform cooking. Baking pans are normally shallower and are available a wide range of styles and sizes, corresponding to rectangular, sq., or spherical, they usually’re tailor-made for baking cakes, cookies, casseroles, and different baked items for which the first aim is even warmth distribution and containment of batter or different mixtures.

What’s the purpose of a roasting pan?

The purpose of a roasting pan is especially to roast bigger cuts of meat, like entire turkeys, standing rib roasts, or racks of lamb. That is very true if you happen to plan to make a pan sauce or gravy after the meat is finished. When you may get away with an alternate software to make this stuff, a roasting pan is specifically designed to accommodate a majority of these recipes and needs to be giant sufficient for even the most important reduce of meats or sauciest sauces.

What can I exploit as an alternative of a roasting pan?

Relying on the kind of recipe, there are a number of issues you should use as an alternative of a roasting pan. For roasting greens, a rimmed baking sheet ought to do properly. You may roast a rooster on a rimmed baking sheet, in a carbon steel or cast iron skillet, or in a deep Dutch oven. For bigger proteins like a standing rib roast or turkey, you would possibly must get an aluminum roasting pan to drag off the job. 

Why We’re the Consultants

• Taylor Murray has been working in meals and meals media for over 10 years, together with in award-winning eating places. She has written extensively for Severe Eats. 
• Taylor examined eight roasting pans, making an entire rooster in every, in addition to two kilos of potatoes. She used the pan as a water bathtub with a glass baking dish and noticed how properly every may match a turkey.