Bakers at any skill level know that some pans are made for certain treats—baking sheets for perfect cookies, square pans for brownies with crunchy edges, and loaf pans for loaves of course! But nowadays there are even more things to consider before pulling out the ingredients. The material, size, and even the color matter.
That’s why I dove into the world of baking pans to pick out the best ones for every type of dessert. Baking experts Vallery Lomas, a recipe developer, author of Life is What You Bake It and the winner of season three of The Great American Baking Show, and Jesse Szewczyk, a food stylist and author of Tasty Pride and Cookies: The New Classics gave us a few tips along the way, too.
My Favorites
- My Top Pick: Farberware Nonstick Bakeware Set
- Best Budget: Farberware Nonstick Bakeware Rectangle Baking Pan
- Best Sheet Pan: Nordic Ware Naturals Baker's Half Sheet
- Best Cake Pan: Chicago Metallic Professional Non-Stick Round Cake Pan
- Best Loaf Pan: Great Jones Breadwinner
- Best Muffin Pan: USA Pan Bakeware Muffin Pan
- Best Square Pan: Cuisinart 9-Inch Chef's Classic Nonstick Square Cake Pan
- Best Springform Pan: Nordic Ware Springform Pan
- Best Pie Plate: Nordic Ware Naturals High Dome Covered Pie Pan
My Top Pick: Farberware 10-Piece Nonstick Bakeware Set
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Why It’s Great: All the pieces you can need; made from steel; includes a cooling rack
Grain of Salt: Might be prone to rust
Convenience is key when baking—because no baker wants to use the wrong pan for their treat. I especially like that this comes with both two round cake pans and two square ones. This means you can bake a layer cake or a big batch of brownies at once.
The set's nonstick-coated steel means your baked goods will slide right out, evenly browned and thoroughly cooked. And grabbing them out of a hot oven will be super easy with the large grips on the trays and sheet pans. Oven-safe to 450°F, these will work in most recipes, but definitely don’t put them under the broiler to quickly melt some cheese or brown a crust.
There are some reports of issues with rusting, so I suggest only hand-washing the bakeware and being sure to dry thoroughly. Otherwise, this is a great high-quality set for anyone looking to fully equip their kitchen.
The Details: Nonstick steel; oven safe to 450°F; dishwasher safe
Best Budget: Farberware Nonstick Bakeware Rectangle Baking Pan
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Why It’s Great: Durable nonstick; versatile; optional lid
Grain of Salt: Can be too shallow for lasagna and casseroles
If you’re only in need of one pan for multiple baking projects, this one is not too big, not too small, but just right. Its 9 x 13 x 2-inch nonstick interior means you can bake a cake or bars, if need be, without spraying before cooking. Since the interior metal is alloy steel, rest assured that it will conduct heat evenly throughout the pan. The wide grip handles also make it easy to grab with oven mitts on.
One downside I’ve found is that this pan is a little too shallow for lasagnas and casseroles. You can still make one in it, just shorten the recipe or have a second small pan, like one of these ceramic dishes, for overflow. The light-gray coating can chip if sharp knives or forks are used to cut, stir, or serve, so keep that in mind.
The main reason this popular baking pan gets my vote is the price. For less than the price of a sandwich, this Farberware option is hard to beat! Even if you want to spend a few extra dollars on its accompanying plastic lid, it still is my budget pick.
The Details: Alloy steel; oven safe to 450°F; dishwasher safe
Best Sheet Pan: Nordic Ware Naturals Baker's Half Sheet
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Why It’s Great: Affordable; warp-resistant; doesn't rust
Grain of Salt: Metal can get scratched
Nordic Ware's sheet pan rivals more expensive options in almost every aspect. It’s resistant to warping, thanks to a reinforced rim. And the formed aluminum pan heats evenly and thoroughly, so you can roast and bake to your heart’s content without having to worry about a ruined dinner.
These sheet pans are mostly easy to take care of. You just need to hand wash, and avoid acidic foods and metal utensils. The former can react with the aluminum and cause pitting or otherwise damage the pan’s surface. Metal utensils can also damage the surface by scratching. You can buy these as a single pan, though I suggest getting two. That way you can cook more at once, or have a dedicated savory one and one for just sweet treats.
The Details: Aluminum; oven safe to 450°F; hand wash only
We Made Dozens of Cookies To Find the Best Baking Sheets Available
Best Cake Pan: Chicago Metallic Professional 9-inch Nonstick Round Cake Pan
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Why It’s Great: Inexpensive; thicker steel; silicone-based nonstick coating
Grain of Salt: Can only buy one at a time
Szewczyk likes baking pans, like this 9-inch cake pan from Chicago Metallic, because “they heat more evenly so the bottom of your baked goods doesn't turn out burnt along the edges of the pan.” This is, of course, ideal, as the pan has an steel interior, which means cakes won’t be unevenly cooked, and neither will brownies, tarts, cinnamon rolls, and more. It also has a reinforced wire rim to prevent warping.
It does have a nonstick coating so your cakes should all come out in one piece, but you might want the additional reassurance from a parchment round or a little grease and flour before baking. This is also only available as a single pan. If you want to bake layer cakes, you'll want to pick up a second pan. It also comes in an 8-inch diameter, if you’re looking to make a slightly smaller cake.
The Details: Alloy steel; oven safe to 450°F; dishwasher safe
Best Loaf Pan: Great Jones Breadwinner
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Why It’s Great: Colorful ceramic nonstick coating; corrugated bottom for airflow; easy to clean
Grain of Salt: Pricey; no handles
For baked goods as thick as loaves, bakers need a pan that stands up to a potentially sticky challenge. The Breadwinner pan from Great Jones was made for this, with wave designs in the bottom of the pan to help glide out any type of loaf. The interior here is also aluminized steel—it really is the best interior for evenly baked goods.
Great Jones bakeware comes with a ceramic nonstick coating that can go right in the dishwasher (but hand washing is the optimal option). Being ceramic also allows this to come in bright fun colors for a non-boring bake. I recommend this loaf pan as it is an investment—but Great Jones offers a 60-day free trial, so if you aren’t as satisfied as I am, you can send it back, no questions asked.
The Details: Aluminized steel; oven safe to 450°F; dishwasher safe but hand wash recommended
Glass vs. Metal: Which Pans Are Better for Baking?
Best Muffin Pan: USA Pan Bakeware Muffin Pan
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Why It’s Great: Sturdy; silicone-based nonstick coating; large grippy sides
Grain of Salt: Not dishwasher safe
Muffins are not the only baked good that doesn’t stick to this pan, anything mini you want to make using it slides right out, thanks to USA Pan’s patented Americoat silicone-based nonstick coating. Hot or cold, this is truly a nonstick pan.
Each of the 12 wells is about a third of a cup and the sturdy alloy steel keeps the pan from bending in hot temperatures. It is not dishwasher safe to keep its glide intact, which means a little bit more effort to clean, but as I said—everything comes right off, even baked-on bits.
The Details: Aluminized steel; oven safe to 450°F; hand wash only
Best Square Pan: Cuisinart 9-Inch Chef's Classic Nonstick Bakeware Square Cake Pan
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Why It’s Great: Inexpensive; lighter-colored pan; heavy-gauge aluminized steel
Grain of Salt: Can get scratched
This square pan from Cuisinart is another lightly colored baking pan option that also stands out among competitors. Lomas says she stays away from dark colors in favor of cream, white, silver, or gray because the lighter colors bake more evenly. This option will also give you a uniform bake since it’s made from thicker steel under the high-performance nonstick coating.
This is great for things like mac and cheese, casserole, and brownies. But if you’re making a big batch, you may need to spring for two or more of these pans, and the cost can add up.
The Details: Aluminized steel; oven safe to 450°F; dishwasher safe
Best Springform Pan: Nordic Ware 9-Inch Springform Pan
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Why It’s Great: Tight seal when closed; durable build; bakes evenly
Grain of Salt: Nonstick coating can be damaged
Lomas recommends the brand Nordic Ware, and I know this springform pan is a great choice. The seal is tight, ensuring that even if filled to the max with 10 cups, nothing will spill out in the baking process in the oven, or in the setting process in the refrigerator or freezer.
One of the many things you can do with a springform pan is a cheesecake, of course, but be careful with baking—darker pans may not heat evenly, leaving some parts of the cake more cooked than others—though that’s rarely a problem with this option. It does have a nonstick coating so nothing should stick, but that does mean being careful when slicing since you don’t want to damage it.
The Details: Carbon steel; oven safe to 400°F; hand wash only
Best Pie Plate: Nordic Ware Naturals High Dome Covered Pie Pan
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Why It’s Great: Bakes evenly; lightweight; comes with a lid;
Grain of Salt: Larger than standard pie pan
Szewczyk is also a fan of Nordic Ware baking pans as “they heat more evenly so the bottom of your baked goods don't turn out burnt along the edges of the pan.” I like this rustproof aluminum lightweight pie plate more than others thanks to its plastic dome lid that leaves room for tall pies without crushing any toppings or whipped cream.
Keep in mind that the lid could damage any intricate crimping you do around the edges. The well is also a bit larger than the standard so you might need to roll out your dough a bit more to make it fit. But it will brown your crust evenly and you don’t need to mess around with plastic wrap when reaching for your middle-of-the-night slice.
The Details: Aluminum; oven safe to 400°F; hand wash only
My Takeaway
There are a lot of baking pans out there, and a lot of options once you narrow down what kind you need. If you want to get a full set, I like the Farberware 10-Piece Nonstick Bakeware Set. A great baking sheet is also indispensable in the kitchen, so pick up the Nordic Ware Naturals Baker's Half Sheet.
How to Pick the Right Baking Pan
Type of Pan
Deep or shallow, muffin or pie, round or square—when picking a baking pan it’s important to know what you’ll be making the most. For example, if you are mostly a cookie baker, a baking sheet or pan is probably best to have among your other great cookie tools. But then you have even more to decide on. “Baking pans have rolled edges that allow you to grip onto them with oven mitts without any issue,” Szewczyk says, adding that “Anything that calls for a baking sheet can be baked on a baking pan.”
Material
Most baking pans come in steel, aluminum, silicone, or glass, and many of the metal-based pans will have a nonstick coating. Metal not only takes less time to heat up than glass, it also conducts heat more evenly. But glass is excellent at holding heat and is harder to damage. But metal can rust and aluminum can be damaged by acidic foods. In addition, look at colors when choosing a metal pan. Lomas recommends “Something with even heat distribution. I stay away from very dark colors.”
Silicone easily releases baked goods without having a nonstick coating, but it’s a poor heat conductor, can get sticky from use, and will need metal inserts to help keep its shape. It can be good for very delicate, advanced bakes. Nonstick coatings, whether PTFE-based or ceramic, won’t affect your baked goods as much, but can be damaged by metal utensils and can chip or flake.
Size
While there are standard sizes in the baking industry, that doesn’t mean all of them will fit into your oven. Measuring it can help, Szewczyk says. “Almost all ovens can fit a standard half sheet pan, but some smaller apartment ovens can't. (I speak from experience!),” he says. “If that's the case, look for smaller ones or bake on quarter pans.”
Also, pay attention to your recipes. If you’re unsure if a 8-inch round layer cake recipe will fit your 9 x 13-inch sheet pan, simply check the volume conversions. It’s important to know the volume of your pans to avoid any overflow or worse, overbaked treats.
Maintenance
Baking often requires a lot of steps, and that doesn’t include the cleanup. Many, with and without nonstick coatings, can’t go in the hot dishwasher as they can be damaged from abrasive cleaners. But a nonstick coating has always made the post-cake cleanup easier in my book. I’ve found that an aluminum pan with some baked-on grease benefits from a light scrubbing with a baking soda paste.
Common Questions
Is stainless steel or aluminum better for baking?
Stainless steel is more common in cookware than bakeware. When you see “steel” with bakeware, it often means aluminized or alloy steel. When comparing the two, aluminum is lighter and conducts heat faster, while the heavier steel is slower (but not by much) and more durable. As for the experts, “My baking sheets tend to be aluminum,” Lomas says.
Are silicone baking pans safe?
In addition to aluminum, glass, and alloy steel, some baking pans are made from silicone. This material is great for those who prioritize their treats not sticking, but there are some reserves about it.
“The one watch out I have regarding baking in silicone pans is to mind your temperature,” Szewczyk says. “Silicone can't be baked at high temperatures, so you can't broil in them or bake something at a very high temperature like 450 or 500 degrees Fahrenheit. Usually, this is fine, and baked goods don't typically bake at that high of a temperature, so it will rarely cause you any issues.”
How do you remove rust from baking pans?
Should the steel or aluminum baking pan you have rust over with use, there is a way to get it off, and it only requires something you probably have in your cabinet already—baking soda! Take the rusty pan and rinse it with water. Then sprinkle baking soda on the rusted areas and let that sit for half an hour or so. Start to scrub the rust gently, using more effort for what sticks. Then clean it off with soap and water.
Why Take Our Word For It?
Allrecipes is a community-driven brand for home cooks to find kitchen products, crowd-pleasing recipes, and cooking tips. Contributor Amanda McDonald has over eight years of experience researching, writing, and editing about all things food—from recipes to new health studies. Combined knowledge from industry experts, her expertise in kitchen supplies, ingredients, and measurements went into carefully selecting each measuring cup set we recommend above.
This list was originally written by Alesandra Dubin, an LA-based lifestyle writer and editor. As a veteran digital journalist, she's covered travel, food, parenting, and more for over 15 years.
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