- A high-quality roasting pan is roomy enough to fit a turkey, has large handles that are easy to grab while wearing oven mitts, and you may also use it on the stove for searing or making gravy.
- The Calphalon Stainless Steel Roasting Pan with Rack is our top pick because it’s made of 18/10 stainless steel with an aluminum core, has an attractive design, and is backed by a lifetime warranty.
In my household, we have a large freezer that we like to keep well-stocked with turkeys. I like to stock up on these birds and roast them throughout the year, and one important tool for making the perfect turkey is a good roasting pan.
Roasting pans are made from a variety of different materials including tri-ply, plain stainless steel, enamel-coated steel, and hard-anodized aluminum. In our research, we found that tri-ply provides the evenest heat distribution and browning. Also referred to as triple-ply, tri-ply roasters consist of two layers of stainless steel with a layer of aluminum between them. All but one of the pans in our guide are made of this material.
Hard-anodized aluminum pans usually have a darker surface, which translates to a darker browning that occurs faster than lighter-colored pans. Plain stainless steel and enamel-coated steel pans tend not to heat contents evenly.
One feature you’ll want to pay attention to is the handles. You need handles that are easy to grip when removing a 20-pound turkey from the oven. The best roasting pans have oversized handles that you can grab while wearing thick mitts. The handles are also positioned in such a way that they don’t make the roaster too wide to fit into a standard oven, while still keeping your hands out of harm’s way.
If you only roast a large slab of meat once a year or so, you may not find it’s worth the cost (and storage space) to buy a fancy roasting pan. Though they don’t work as well, there’s no shame in using a disposable pan, especially if you plan on transporting your food. Just keep in mind that if you are cooking something heavier, you may want to double up on pans.
While researching the best roasting pans, we looked at countless reviews and ratings of dozens of models from buyers and experts. Our guide features pans that are designed to last, cook evenly, and are versatile enough to use for a variety of purposes.
Here are the best roasting pans:
Updated on 6/5/2020 by Emily Hochberg: Updated prices, links, and formatting.
