Welcome to the kitchen, the number location in the home where your taste buds get blessed with the taste of savory foods. In this guide, you would be learning how to select the best roasting pans.
Without a doubt, the roasting pan is vital in making your thanksgiving turkey the center of attraction during thanksgiving dinner. But it’s a pity that many people still limit the roasting pan to a once or twice in a year kitchen utensil. They easily forget that these pans that come in different shapes and sizes can create the best gravy sauce, summer barbeques, and briquettes.
The remainder of this article will support our product picks in the review section above and will also try to make you see the reason why getting the best roasting pan is not to be contended with.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Roasting Pan
Weight and Thickness of the Pan
When it comes to roasting pans, weight and thickness are two factors that should never be toyed with. These factors affect how evenly the food on the pan is cooked.
While we generally do not recommend that you opt for light and thin pans since they encourage uneven heat distribution, extremely heavy pans can also make cooking more tedious than it should be. These pans will be difficult to lift.
All the same, thick but not heavy roasting pans are the best choice, they save your gravy source from becoming burnt offerings.
Metal Used in the Making the Roasting Pan
Roasting pans can be made from different types of metals, like the enameled carbon steel used by our grandmothers, aluminum, stainless steel, copper, cast iron, and nonstick.
We recommend that you go for roasting pans made of stainless steel or copper materials. These materials strike the perfect balance between usability and equality in heat distribution. Copper, however, is more expensive than stainless steel.
The Size of the Pan and the Size of your Oven
It's crucial that you remember not to forget the size of the pan and the size of your oven when shopping for a roasting pan. If possible, try to get as many pan sizes as possible, but if not, choose the one that is just the right size for your oven. The perfect pan for your oven will have just enough space to allow air circulation.
In addition to the point stated above, the roasting pan should also be large enough to accommodate the food you plan on cooking without touching the sides of the pan. Too big roasting pans should be avoided as they favor the burning of gravy juice since the extra space leaves the bottom of the pan empty.
The Pans Handles
The handle of the pan is a feature that should also not be overlooked when choosing a roasting pan. The handles should be sturdy and able to support both the weight of the pan and the roasted food inside it without wobbling or shaking. We generally advise that you opt for thick riveted handles.
Many people forget how important the shape of the roasting pan can be to the roasting process. We recommend you go for rectangular pans with round edges. Roasting pans that come in this shape capitalize on the advantages of oval and square roasting pans while discarding their disadvantages.
How to Much Does a Roasting Pan Cost?
Roasting pans cost between $10 to $150. Below is a detailed breakdown of the cost.
Roasting Pans Below $10
These types of roasting pans are mainly made of aluminum foils. They come in packs of 3s or 4s and can be recycled. Other pans that fall in this price range include 8”x10” aluminum-coated, nonstick roasters and enamel-looking roasting pans made of carbon steel with a porcelain roasting surface.
Roasting Pans $10-$50
This category of roasting pans is made of materials like glass and borosilicate. In this price range, you will be able to get brand names like Cuisinart roasting pans.
$50-$150 Roasting Pans
Here, we have roasting pans made of high-quality stainless steel that are sturdy and great conductors of heat. These pans are perfect for regular use.
How to Use a Roasting Pan?
Here is a quick explanation of how to effectively use a roasting pan
1. Get a rack and place it rack right in the center of the pan; this way, the food is a safe distance away from the hot pan surface.
2. Cut the meat; while doing this, preheat your oven to the required heat level.
3. Place the cut meat in the center of the roasting pan. This will ensure that the proper amount of air circulates over the food to give it the perfect taste and texture.
4. Cover the food with aluminum foil. This way, the food won’t lose its flavor. Also, heat will be more evenly distributed. This foil will also prevent early browning, and it can be removed close to the end to enable browning.
5. Once wholly cooked, allow the food to stay for 5-10minuites before you dig in and start eating. This is because the food cooking process continues for those few minutes, even after the recommended cooking time.
FAQs
What size roasting pan is the best?
The best-sized roasting pan would be large enough to roast your food but not so large that it burns the juices; medium-sized roasting pans are the best. For turkeys, the best size for 12 pounds birds is a small 14 inches roasting pan. Medium-sized roasting pans work well for 16 pounds birds, while large 18 inches roasting pans are perfect for 20 pounds birds.
What can I use if I don't have a roasting rack?
For those of you who don’t have a roasting rack but need to roast asap, get two light-gauge stovetop grates and wrap them in foil. Once wrapped in foil, poke holes into the foil with the help of a paring knife. After this is done, put the grates inside the roasting pan and make sure they relax on the sides of the pan. Lastly, ensure that the bottom of the grates create a V-shape.
What kind of pan is best for roasting vegetables?
If you need to roast vegetables, the best type of pan to go for are rimmed baking sheets whose rims prevent the vegetables from sliding off the edge. These pans also provide heat that is low enough to circulate in the vegetables.