Best (and WORST) Baking Pans - Handle the Heat
Filed Under: Baking Science | How To

Best (and WORST) Baking Pans

By Tessa Arias
  |  
September 12th, 2017

I performed side-by-side testing to find the best baking pans! Including nonstick vs. aluminum, and which pans specifically you should NEVER use! Keep reading to find out my all-time favorite pan.

Baking equipment is just as important as the the ingredients you use. But since most of us stocked our kitchens ages ago, we might not realize just how big of an impact our pans have on our baking!

That’s why I decided to put a bunch of baking pans to the test. For this post, I focused on sheet pans and cookie sheets to keep things simple. There are SO many types of baking pans but I figured your standard sheet pan/cookie sheet is the most used in the kitchen.

Note: if you’re curious about my FULL list of recommendations for my favorite baking equipment, or are interested in baking science, then you’ll probably LOVE The Magic of Baking online course + community I recently created. I hope you’ll check it out!

But for now, let’s focus on the best baking pans (and the worst) that I’ve meticulously tested.

Side-by-Side Testing

Take a look at the below cookies. I made a batch of my Ultimate Chocolate Chip cookie dough. I baked that dough at 350°F for exactly 12 minutes but each time on a different baking pan, one pan at a time. I also kept the dough refrigerated between batches so it would be at the same temperature every time it went into the oven. You can already see what a difference the various baking pans made:

Side-by-side testing to find the best baking pans! Including nonstick vs. aluminum, and which pans specifically you should NEVER use!
Side-by-side testing to find the best baking pans! Including nonstick vs. aluminum, and which pans specifically you should NEVER use!

Exact products used:

I knew that baking on different pans was going to result in a slightly different outcome, but the results were even more dramatic than I was expecting. They did fall in line with something I’ve known to be true, that nonstick pans or dark colored pans brown way more quickly and aggressively. So let’s get onto what you really want to know…

Which baking pan is the best?

Testing baking pans

I love my go-to unlined aluminum sheet pans. In this series of testing I used the Nordic Ware brand. To me, it yielded the perfect Goldilocks batch of cookies which were wonderfully golden brown.

This is the basic type of pan we used in culinary school, just the full sized versions. This is what you’ll find in most professional kitchens. I use these pans every single week, sometimes daily, for both sweet and savory preparations. In this case, the simplest most basic option is the best and most versatile. I have five of these pans in my kitchen!

I also use this pan so much because when I’m testing new recipes to share with you I take a few precautions. I always use the most straight forward and basic equipment possible, like these unlined sheet pans. I don’t want to skew or warp my baking results because I’m using different or high end equipment that most of you won’t have.

However, I also have two more recommendations depending on your preferences.

If you like golden crusts

Side-by-side testing to find the best baking pans! Including OXO, nonstick vs. aluminum, and which pans specifically you should NEVER use!
Then you may want to chose a nonstick option. I’d recommend the OXO Good Grips Pro Half Sheet Pan. It’s ceramic-reinforced with a two-layer coating for easy food release while protecting against scratching, staining and corrosion.

You can see from the back of the cookie on the right that it’s also micro-textured with a non-stick pattern to minimize surface contact and increases airflow for an even baking. I’m thinking this makes the pan bake more quickly, so that’s another reason why these cookies browned more than the unlined aluminum. The next time I bake with this pan, I’ll probably shave a few minutes off the baking time. I really like this one!

If you like pale crusts or a soft texture

Side-by-side testing to find the best baking pans! Including air pans, nonstick vs. aluminum, and which pans specifically you should NEVER use!

Then you may want to choose the T-Fal Air Pan option. The layer of air in the center of this pan reduces the heat of the pan, reducing browning and burning. I personally don’t like this result, but I know many of you do so I wanted to mention it.

The Worst Pan?

I would definitely NOT recommend the Walmart Mainstays pan, it was super flimsy. It warped AND rusted after first use and cleaning. I also wasn’t a big fan of the Viking pan either, which basically burnt my cookies.

Which is your favorite?

Let me know in the comments below which baking pan is YOUR favorite, and if you learned anything through my experimenting! I hope you found this helpful.

More Baking Science Articles:

Be sure to download my Baking Secrets guide for even more helpful tips:

Tessa Arias
Author: Tessa Arias

I share trusted baking recipes your friends will LOVE alongside insights into the science of sweets. I'm a professionally trained chef, cookbook author, and cookie queen. I love to write about all things sweet, carb-y, and homemade. I live in Phoenix, Arizona (hence the blog name!)

Tessa Arias

About Tessa...

I share trusted baking recipes your friends will LOVE alongside insights into the science of sweets. I'm a professionally trained chef, cookbook author, and cookie queen. I love to write about all things sweet, carb-y, and homemade. I live in Phoenix, Arizona (hence the blog name!)

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  1. #
    Connie — February 24, 2023 at 10:01 pm

    Hi Tessa, I’ve been following your tips and my baking has really improved. unfortunately before I found you I invested in some all clad ceramic non stick baking and cookie sheets. should I switch to aluminum nordicware? my cookies are dark on bottom and pale on top, using parchment paper. anyway I can NOT get all new? thank you!

    • #
      Kiersten @ Handle the Heat — February 28, 2023 at 9:56 am

      Hi Connie! We are so happy to hear that Tessa’s wonderful recipes and tips have helped your baking so much – hearing this truly makes our day!! Having not used the pans you describe much ourselves, we cannot speak to their strengths – but as you saw in this article above, nonstick pans are not a favorite of Tessa’s! As you are finding for yourself, these types of pans will typically burn the bottoms of the baked goods before the top has had a chance to nicely spread and evenly color.

      We would recommend purchasing just a couple Nordicware light-colored aluminum cookie sheets (as Tessa mentions and links to above) to use exclusively for baking, and slowly expand your collection from there over time. Be sure to use these with parchment paper (but don’t spray or grease the parchment – the cookies and other baked goods will release easily from plain parchment). Perhaps your current ceramic sheets would be okay to use for other cooking, such as roasting vegetables, so they won’t completely go to waste! Just a guess, as again, we haven’t used these specific pans too much ourselves. I hope this helps, Connie! Happy baking 🙂

  2. #
    LesnKC — February 1, 2023 at 1:43 pm

    Thank you for sharing your results. NordicWare it is!

  3. #
    PJ — January 5, 2023 at 8:15 pm

    When she says “unlined” nordicware, does she mean not to even use parchment paper? It seems like she recommends parchment paper elsewhere

    • #
      Kiersten @ Handle the Heat — January 6, 2023 at 11:37 am

      Hi PJ! No, ‘unlined’ refers pans without an added nonstick coating, like these Nordicware pans that are natural aluminum. We always recommend using parchment paper when making cookies or most other baked goods, for best results. I hope that helps 🙂

  4. #
    Rick J. — September 20, 2022 at 2:23 pm

    How do you feel about using silicon baking liners with cookie sheet pans? I like the ease of clean up. Should I adjust my baking time?

  5. #
    Linda Butler — April 27, 2022 at 8:33 pm

    Tessa, You and I must be sharing a brain when it comes to what type of pans to use for baking your cookies. I have been using the Nordic Ware pans you referenced for at least 20 years. And you are spot on that using their pans and following the recipe exactly, no substitutions, gives you a perfect cookie every time.
    Sweet Regards, Linda Butler

    • #
      Haley Wehner — April 28, 2022 at 2:04 pm

      Hi Linda! This is amazing. I was using all the wrong pans before I read Tessa’s articles, so we’re glad to hear you’ve been on the right track!

  6. #
    Leeann Seymour — March 24, 2022 at 5:24 am

    I love USA bakeware pans. They have always been my first choice. Enjoyed this article. I’ve recently been shopping for new bakeware and I’ve wondered which one is the best. I will try nordicware. Thank you.

    • #
      Emily — March 25, 2022 at 2:02 pm

      USA Pan is a great brand! Excited for you to try Nordic Ware as well 🙂

  7. #
    Terri — March 23, 2022 at 7:30 pm

    I love my pampered chef cookie pans. Sturdy and cookies turn out lovely!

  8. #
    Pamela — March 23, 2022 at 5:45 pm

    I use USA brand pans. I really like their pans. Would be curious to see you add them into the comparison

  9. #
    Jillian — March 23, 2022 at 5:38 pm

    Nordicware is my fave too! I’ve switched most of my baking pans/sheets to that after using nonstick for ages with lots of disappointment.

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