Baking pan recommendation - materials?

2sunshines · 06-10-2014, 04:04 AM

My baking pan/cookie sheet needs to be replaced.

I'm leaning more towards a baking pan, because I do use it primarily for roasting veggies, BUT I also want to be able to use it as a cookie sheet for when I do bake cookies.

I think I do not want the non-stick coating. I also am ok with paying up a little for a good quality product, but do not want to invest my life savings in a pan.

I want it large -- like probably half sheet size...

What material do I want? Most are made with aluminum, right? Which isn't ideal I would think health wise.... ???

Options? Recommendations? Brands? Features? Etc?

ViolaMum · 06-10-2014, 04:47 AM

I have a couple of half sheet pans from the restaurant supply store. I store the Silpat right on the sheet pan, I use it so much. They have rolled rims and are made of a heavy gauge metal. (I think it's aluminum. :/) One pan is only just beginning to warp - but after 10 years? I think - so it was a good investment. I'll have to double check the brand - it was a recommendation from a caterer.

I also have a pair of cookie sheets with two flat, unrimmed sides. They make taking cookies off the sheet easy, but I can't use the pan with out parchment because it's a lower gauge metal and burns much more easily.

I've gone through SO many pans - the air-insulated pans, shiny pans, non-stick pans - nothing has lasted as well or performed as well as the sheet pans.

I just checked Cook's Illustrated's recommendations and they Highly Recommend the Wear-ever Sheet Pan by Vollrath. (I think that's what I have.) It's only $15 at Amazon.

2sunshines · 06-10-2014, 05:11 AM

thank you!

Tell me more about this silpat. I read about it the first time yesterday, had never even heard of it previously. Do you use it regularly?

The Tickle Momster · 06-10-2014, 06:40 AM

I LOVE my stoneware bar pan from Pampered Chef! I use it for everything. Roasting veggies, bar cookies, bacon, chicken nuggets. I use it more than my glass 9x13 pan. LOVE it.

cheri · 06-10-2014, 07:17 AM

I really like stoneware from Pampered Chef. I have a nice baking sheet from Williams Sonoma, but I prefer the PC stoneware one.

I bake most everything in either PC or glass.

mommylove · 06-10-2014, 08:37 AM

I would also choose the PC stoneware.

The Tickle Momster · 06-10-2014, 08:37 AM

Here is a link to my bar pan. Totally worth the $.

RealLifeMama · 06-10-2014, 09:04 AM

I use my stoneware bar pan for most everything. It is so versatile.
It is perfect for roasted veggies. And bacon. And cookies of course.

Mine has not been that color in ages, LOL. It is almost black, it is so seasoned. I use it several times a week. It rarely even gets put away.

The Tickle Momster · 06-10-2014, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RealLifeMama

I use my stoneware bar pan for most everything. It is so versatile.
It is perfect for roasted veggies. And bacon. And cookies of course.

Mine has not been that color in ages, LOL. It is almost black, it is so seasoned. I use it several times a week. It rarely even gets put away.

Same here.

ViolaMum · 06-10-2014, 09:30 AM

Pampered Chef makes pretty great stuff! Stoneware retains heat evenly and for a looong time. It's just not as durable IME as metal pans. And certain baked goods don't brown as well on it. (They aren't quite as finicky to clean as cast iron, but almost as heavy.)

My favorite PC baker just cracked last week. It's only 7 or 8 years old. I was roasting veggies in it - not anything unusual or risky. I didn't drop it, just took it out of the oven and there was a crack all the way across the bottom. (Gotta see if they'll replace it.) That's the second of my PC pans that have cracked. My mom has a huge collection of the stuff and half of it has broken over the years, just from consistent use. If cost is an issue, I'd start with a metal baking pan and expand from there.

Oh, and SILPAT! Love, love, love the things.

They are silicon baking mats and nothing - and I mean NOTHING! - sticks to it! Not caramel, coconut macaroons, not burned sugary stuff, nothing! I use it under roasting meat, veggies, cookies, anything that could potentially stick. It makes cleaning up SO much easier.

RealLifeMama · 06-10-2014, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ViolaMum

Pampered Chef makes pretty great stuff! Stoneware retains heat evenly and for a looong time. It's just not as durable IME as metal pans.

My favorite PC baker just cracked last week. It's only 7 or 8 years old. I was roasting veggies in it - not anything unusual or risky. I didn't drop it, just took it out of the oven and there was a crack all the way across the bottom. (Gotta see if they'll replace it.) That's the second of my PC pans that have cracked. My mom has a huge collection of the stuff and half of it has broken over the years, just from consistent use. If cost is an issue, I'd start with a metal baking pan and expand from there.
.

I am not doubting you, because I do know I have heard others talk about their stones cracking, but I have had my round deep dish baker 20 years, and my bar pan for 15 years. I have several others of various sizes and ages because it is all I use unless I am baking layer cakes or roasting a large turkey. I have never had one break. If one did, I think I'd cry because they are so old, it would take me years to get their glorious patina on a new one.

I think everyone I know that has a silpat swears by them, also. I have never needed one, so I can't comment by on my own experience, but that might be good to try first.

2sunshines · 06-10-2014, 10:35 AM

Stonewear looks appealing.

Is Pampered Chef the only or main one that makes it? I prefer to buy things like that in store (for simplicity) but maybe that's not an option???

What about when you bake cookies? It doesn't seem like they'd work well on that. ???

The Tickle Momster · 06-10-2014, 10:39 AM

I don't know where else to get it. I'm sure you can find it though. You can probably find it on ebay or amazon so you don't need a distributor.

Works great for cookies. You can fit a dozen on there. Or, you can cheat, like I do and spread the chocolate chip cookie dough over the pan and make bars.

mommylove · 06-10-2014, 10:43 AM

I use my PC pizza stone for baking cookies & it works like a charm.

(Actually, I use it for nearly everything I bake.)

I don't remember the deets, but there's something about the quality of PC that is superior . . . I think some clays contain heavy metal

. . . don't remember. Maybe Google?

HuggaBuggaMommy · 06-10-2014, 10:56 AM

Another vote for stoneware. I don't have anything by Pampered Chef. My stoneware I bought at the local kitchen store (on clearance). I honestly don't remember the brand. I do use my baking stone for cookies, too.

I have also found pieces at stoneware bakeware the thrift store on rare occasions.

06-10-2014, 04:04 AM	#1
2sunshines Moderator in Celebrations, Cloth Diapering & EC, Empty Arms, Prayer & Praise, and Swap n' Shop Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 27,027	Baking pan recommendation - materials? My baking pan/cookie sheet needs to be replaced. I'm leaning more towards a baking pan, because I do use it primarily for roasting veggies, BUT I also want to be able to use it as a cookie sheet for when I do bake cookies. I think I do not want the non-stick coating. I also am ok with paying up a little for a good quality product, but do not want to invest my life savings in a pan. I want it large -- like probably half sheet size... What material do I want? Most are made with aluminum, right? Which isn't ideal I would think health wise.... ??? Options? Recommendations? Brands? Features? Etc? __________________ married 25 years mom to two young adults (23 and 20) and two teens (17 and 15)

06-10-2014, 04:47 AM	#2
ViolaMum Rose Garden Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 5,542	Re: Baking pan recommendation - materials? I have a couple of half sheet pans from the restaurant supply store. I store the Silpat right on the sheet pan, I use it so much. They have rolled rims and are made of a heavy gauge metal. (I think it's aluminum. :/) One pan is only just beginning to warp - but after 10 years? I think - so it was a good investment. I'll have to double check the brand - it was a recommendation from a caterer. I also have a pair of cookie sheets with two flat, unrimmed sides. They make taking cookies off the sheet easy, but I can't use the pan with out parchment because it's a lower gauge metal and burns much more easily. I've gone through SO many pans - the air-insulated pans, shiny pans, non-stick pans - nothing has lasted as well or performed as well as the sheet pans. I just checked Cook's Illustrated's recommendations and they Highly Recommend the Wear-ever Sheet Pan by Vollrath. (I think that's what I have.) It's only $15 at Amazon. __________________ Darcy married to my Photographic Genius (1/00) Mom to: Prima, Secunda, Tertia, and Quarta Youth and Beauty are fleeting, but the ability to bake a great chocolate cake lasts forever!

06-10-2014, 05:11 AM	#3
2sunshines Moderator in Celebrations, Cloth Diapering & EC, Empty Arms, Prayer & Praise, and Swap n' Shop Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 27,027	Re: Baking pan recommendation - materials? thank you! Tell me more about this silpat. I read about it the first time yesterday, had never even heard of it previously. Do you use it regularly? __________________ married 25 years mom to two young adults (23 and 20) and two teens (17 and 15)

06-10-2014, 06:40 AM	#4
The Tickle Momster Rose Garden previously mlrowley Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: NW WA Posts: 17,952	Re: Baking pan recommendation - materials? I LOVE my stoneware bar pan from Pampered Chef! I use it for everything. Roasting veggies, bar cookies, bacon, chicken nuggets. I use it more than my glass 9x13 pan. LOVE it. __________________ Michelle wife to Tom ('95) Momma to: DD (A) 21 and her DH (YM) 21 DS (T) 19 DD (C) 17 '07 DS (N) 14 Save Save

06-10-2014, 07:17 AM	#5
cheri Rose Garden Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 7,643	Re: Baking pan recommendation - materials? I really like stoneware from Pampered Chef. I have a nice baking sheet from Williams Sonoma, but I prefer the PC stoneware one. I bake most everything in either PC or glass. __________________

06-10-2014, 08:37 AM	#6
mommylove Rose Garden Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 9,120	Re: Baking pan recommendation - materials? I would also choose the PC stoneware. __________________

06-10-2014, 09:04 AM	#8
RealLifeMama Rose Garden Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 18,256	Re: Baking pan recommendation - materials? I use my stoneware bar pan for most everything. It is so versatile. It is perfect for roasted veggies. And bacon. And cookies of course. Mine has not been that color in ages, LOL. It is almost black, it is so seasoned. I use it several times a week. It rarely even gets put away. __________________ A, Mother of Dancing Diva, 21 Boy Wonder 19, Mr. Cool 15, and Ninja 13 Sunshine, 11, and 8 year old Joy

06-10-2014, 09:30 AM	#10
ViolaMum Rose Garden Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 5,542	Re: Baking pan recommendation - materials? Pampered Chef makes pretty great stuff! Stoneware retains heat evenly and for a looong time. It's just not as durable IME as metal pans. And certain baked goods don't brown as well on it. (They aren't quite as finicky to clean as cast iron, but almost as heavy.) My favorite PC baker just cracked last week. It's only 7 or 8 years old. I was roasting veggies in it - not anything unusual or risky. I didn't drop it, just took it out of the oven and there was a crack all the way across the bottom. (Gotta see if they'll replace it.) That's the second of my PC pans that have cracked. My mom has a huge collection of the stuff and half of it has broken over the years, just from consistent use. If cost is an issue, I'd start with a metal baking pan and expand from there. Oh, and SILPAT! Love, love, love the things. They are silicon baking mats and nothing - and I mean NOTHING! - sticks to it! Not caramel, coconut macaroons, not burned sugary stuff, nothing! I use it under roasting meat, veggies, cookies, anything that could potentially stick. It makes cleaning up SO much easier. __________________ Darcy married to my Photographic Genius (1/00) Mom to: Prima, Secunda, Tertia, and Quarta Youth and Beauty are fleeting, but the ability to bake a great chocolate cake lasts forever! Last edited by ViolaMum; 06-10-2014 at 09:36 AM.

06-10-2014, 10:35 AM	#12
2sunshines Moderator in Celebrations, Cloth Diapering & EC, Empty Arms, Prayer & Praise, and Swap n' Shop Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 27,027	Re: Baking pan recommendation - materials? Stonewear looks appealing. Is Pampered Chef the only or main one that makes it? I prefer to buy things like that in store (for simplicity) but maybe that's not an option??? What about when you bake cookies? It doesn't seem like they'd work well on that. ??? __________________ married 25 years mom to two young adults (23 and 20) and two teens (17 and 15)

06-10-2014, 10:39 AM	#13
The Tickle Momster Rose Garden previously mlrowley Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: NW WA Posts: 17,952	Re: Baking pan recommendation - materials? I don't know where else to get it. I'm sure you can find it though. You can probably find it on ebay or amazon so you don't need a distributor. Works great for cookies. You can fit a dozen on there. Or, you can cheat, like I do and spread the chocolate chip cookie dough over the pan and make bars. __________________ Michelle wife to Tom ('95) Momma to: DD (A) 21 and her DH (YM) 21 DS (T) 19 DD (C) 17 '07 DS (N) 14 Save Save

06-10-2014, 10:43 AM	#14
mommylove Rose Garden Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 9,120	Re: Baking pan recommendation - materials? I use my PC pizza stone for baking cookies & it works like a charm. (Actually, I use it for nearly everything I bake.) I don't remember the deets, but there's something about the quality of PC that is superior . . . I think some clays contain heavy metal . . . don't remember. Maybe Google? __________________

06-10-2014, 10:56 AM	#15
HuggaBuggaMommy Administrator Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 12,270	Re: Baking pan recommendation - materials? Another vote for stoneware. I don't have anything by Pampered Chef. My stoneware I bought at the local kitchen store (on clearance). I honestly don't remember the brand. I do use my baking stone for cookies, too. I have also found pieces at stoneware bakeware the thrift store on rare occasions. __________________ Christa Oldest, 22 Middlest, 13 Youngest, 10

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