The Best Roasting Pans for All of Your Cooking Needs
Courtesy of Food52
Whether you're preparing a turkey for Thanksgiving or a chicken for a weeknight meal, a roasting pan is an essential piece of kitchen equipment. Its large size can accommodate big pieces of meat, and the included racks lift whatever you're roasting from the bottom of the pan, ensuring evening cooking. What to consider when you're shopping for a new roasting pan? "It should have the space and depth to hold the full protein and any aromatics or vegetables you're adding," Christopher Arturo, chef-instructor at the Institute of Culinary Education, says. "The pan should be made of a heavy, thick material which helps retain heat, and have straight sides which encourage steam to stay inside the cooking vessel and perfume the food from the bottom up (whereas a sloped side encourages evaporation)." He added that the tall sides also keep the pan from overflowing and making a mess in your oven.
When shopping for a roasting pan, LaMara Davidson, chef and founder of Cornbread + Kimchi, recommends looking for one made of stainless steel as it can be used on both induction and regular stoves—plus, they're easy to clean. She loves using roasting pans for making one-pot meals. "You can brown your meat directly on the stove, deglaze it, and then add any vegetables or starch before you finish cooking the dish in the oven," she said. "The best part is, it's all in the same pan so you're never sacrificing any flavor and it makes cleanup easy."
Top Picks
Best Splurge-Worthy Roasting Pan: Mauviel Brushed Copper Roasting Pan
Best Budget-Friendly Roasting Pan: Chicago Metallic Roasting Pan with Rack
Best Stainless Steel Roasting Pan: All-Clad Large Stainless Steel Roasting Pan with Rack
Best Enameled Cast-Iron Roasting Pan: Le Creuset Signature Enameled Cast Iron Rectangular Roasting Pan
Best Flat Rack Roasting Pan: Five Two Essential Roasting Pan & Rack
Related: Our Best Holiday Roast Recipes for Every Delicious Occasion
Best Splurge: Mauviel Brushed Copper Roasting Pan
This 16 x 12-inch French-made roasting pan will transform whatever you're cooking into the stunning centerpiece of your dinner table. The exterior is made of brushed copper, which, in addition to looking nice, heats faster and more evenly than other metals commonly used in cookware. It has an aluminum core and a satin finish stainless steel interior, and it weighs a hefty eight pounds. The cast stainless steel handles are large enough for you to grab firmly—even with oven mitts on—and move the pan from the oven to your table.
Shop Now: Mauviel Brushed Copper Roasting Pan, $359.95, amazon.com.
Best Budget: Chicago Metallic Roasting Pan with Rack
If you're not looking to invest a lot in a roasting pan, this budget-friendly pick will do the trick. It measures 13 x 9 1/2 inches and is made of heavyweight aluminized steel. It comes with a removable roasting rack, though note that you'll want to grasp the pan by the sides (not the handles) when removing it from the oven. It's oven-safe up to 450 degrees F and can be put in the dishwasher.
Shop Now: Chicago Metallic Roasting Pan with Rack, $30, surlatable.com.
Best Stainless Steel: All-Clad Large Stainless Steel Roasting Pan with Rack
The high sides on this heavy-duty roasting pan help reduce the amount of food splatter that ends up on your oven, plus it has riveted handles that make it easy to transfer the pan into and out of the oven. It comes with a nonstick roasting rack and is big enough to hold up to a 20-pound turkey (16 3/4 x 13 3/4 inches). This roasting pan can be used over gas and electric cooktops, and it's oven- and broiler-safe.
Shop Now: All-Clad Large Stainless Steel Roasting Pan with Rack, $179.95, williams-sonoma.com.
Best Enameled Cast Iron: Le Creuset Signature Enameled Cast-Iron Rectangular Roasting Pan
Le Creuset is an icon in the world of enameled cast-iron cookware, and for good reason: it looks beautiful, it gets the job done, and it's sturdy enough that you'll probably pass on this roasting pan to your children and even grandchildren. This 5 1/4-quart roaster (15 x 10 1/4 inches) has deep sides and an enameled surface that is designed to resist staining and dulling over time. Cast iron offers exceptional heat retention, and it's dishwasher safe for easy cleanup.
Shop Now: Le Creuset Signature Enameled Cast-Iron Rectangular Roasting Pan, $265, williams-sonoma.com.
Best Flat Rack: Five Two Essential Roasting Pan & Rack
A roasting pan designed for every season (not just for Thanksgiving), this versatile option has low angled sides and a durable flat rack that can also be used for grilling and even for cooling baked goods. It measures 16 x 13 inches and is made from induction-friendly stainless steel, with an aluminum core that helps to ensure even heat distribution (no hot spots). If you do end up bringing it out for Thanksgiving, it can hold a 20-pound turkey.
Shop Now: Five Two Essential Roasting Pan & Rack, $149, food52.com.
Best Covered Option: Granite Ware 19-Inch Covered Oval Roaster
This ceramic oval roaster measuring 19 x 13 1/2 inches is made of an alloy steel and weighs 4.5 pounds. It's big enough to hold a 20-pound turkey or roast and has a porcelain enamel surface that has natural nonstick properties. After you're done using it, it can be cleaned in the dishwasher.
Shop Now: Granite Ware 19-Inch Covered Oval Roaster, $40, amazon.com.
Best Sheet Pan: USA Pan Half Sheet Nonstick Pan and Bakeable Nonstick Cooling Rack Set
Roast vegetables, cool cookies, and more with this nonstick pan and cooling rack set. Both the pan (17 1/4 x 12 1/4 inches) and the cooling rack are oven-safe up to 450 degrees F and make for a dynamic duo in the oven. The cooling rack has a steel cross wire design and raised feet, elevating baked goods so that they can cool evenly. It also fits perfectly inside the pan, which has a nonstick silicone coating.
Shop Now: USA Pan Half Sheet Nonstick Pan and Bakeable Nonstick Cooling Rack Set, $29.95, surlatable.com.
