The best baking sheets
- A top-quality baking sheet is easy to handle, cleans up effortlessly, and bakes food without warping or buckling.
- The Nordic Ware Aluminum Baker's Half Sheet is our top pick because it is cost-effective, won't warp, and produces evenly-baked goods.
A baking sheet is just one of those tools that you need in your kitchen. Whether you are baking cookies, roasting vegetables, reviving frozen foods, or making a fancy jelly roll, you need a baking sheet (also known as a cookie sheet).
All of the baking sheets in our guide are made of aluminum or aluminized steel. Aluminum is a popular material for cookware because it is durable, resistant to corrosion, inexpensive, and, most importantly, distributes heat evenly. When aluminum is paired with steel to make aluminized steel, you get even more heavy-duty cookware, which also tends to cost slightly more. Stainless steel is another popular material, but it does not conduct heat as well and requires more finesse when cleaning.
Pay special attention to the size of the baking sheet you are looking to buy. Though the standard half-sheet size is 18 by 13 inches, companies try to save on materials by shaving fractions of an inch off of this measurement. For most purposes, that's fine, but it's still important to be aware of a pan's dimensions.
You'll have to consider whether you want a rimmed or rimless baking sheet. There are benefits to each style. With a rimmed baking sheet, you can cook items that might release juices or roll around without making a mess in your oven. On the other hand, rimless sheets take up less storage space and baked goods slide off easily.
We also recommend buying a cooling rack that fits inside of your baking sheet. This will allow air to circulate around your food, which lends itself to more even baking and roasting.
While researching the best cookie sheets, we examined hundreds of buyer and expert reviews as well as the ratings of dozens of pans. The baking sheets included in our guide have a sturdy construction, bake foods evenly, and are simple to clean.
Here are the best baking sheets:
- Best overall: Nordic Ware Aluminum Baker's Half Sheet
- Best set: Wilton 3-Piece Cookie Pan Set
- Best rimless: AirBake Nonstick Cookie Sheet
- Best high-end: OXO Good Grips Pro Nonstick Cookie Sheet
- Best jelly roll pan: Chicago Metallic Professional Non-Stick Cookie/Jelly-Roll Pan
Updated on 7/2/2020. We updated prices and buying links for accuracy.
The best overall
Nordic WareThe Nordic Ware Aluminum Baker's Half Sheet is not only sturdy and cooks your goodies evenly, it is also very affordable.
The Nordic Ware Baker's Half Sheet is made of aluminum, which allows for excellent heat conductivity and makes the pan resistant to rust. The one-inch rim around the pan is reinforced with encapsulated steel to keep the pan from warping due to quick temperature changes or just normal wear and tear.
The overall interior dimensions of the pan are 16.5 by 11.4 inches, and the exterior is 17.9 by 12.9 inches. The sheet is made in the United States and is hand wash only, which may seem inconvenient, but your cookie sheet will last longer if you don't subject it to the dishwasher.
This cookie sheet allows for even baking and has high durability. The Wirecutter has been using the Nordic Ware baking sheet heavily for about five years, and the reviewer has found that it has maintained its shape and still produces golden brown cookies.
Pros: Produces evenly baked goodies, resistant to warping, affordable
Cons: Susceptible to scratching, hand wash only
The best set
WiltonThe Wilton 3-Piece Cookie Pan Set includes baking sheets for a variety of jobs at a low price point.
What sets the Wilton Cookie Pan Set apart from the other baking sheets in our guide is that you get three rimmed sheets for under $20. The largest pan is slightly smaller than the standard half-sheet at 17.25 by 11.5 by 1 inch. The other sheets are 10.25 by 15.25 by 0.75 inches and 13.25 by 9.25 by 0.63 inches (fairly close to a quarter-size sheet.)
The pans are made of aluminum and covered with a non-stick coating for effortless cookie removal. Each of the sheets has wide reinforced rims on the ends for a good grip. Because you get three pans in different sizes, you'll have a baking sheet for every job.
The pans stack well for easy storage and while most reviewers praise durability, a few have had issues with warping.
Pros: Affordable, store easily, durable, set of three
Cons: Some complaints of warping
The best rimless baking sheet
T-FalIf you are looking for a rimless baking sheet so your cookies slide right off when they're done, get the AirBake Nonstick Cookie Sheet.
The AirBake Nonstick Cookie Sheet is unique because it has two heavy-duty aluminum layers with air between them. T-fal, the manufacturer, calls this insulated effect "micro-dome technology." Basically, with this design, the temperature of the metal that comes in contact with the food is reduced, which leads to moister baked goods, no burning, and better browning.
The pan measures 16 by 14 inches, and though it doesn't have a rim, there is a lip on one side that makes it easy to remove from the oven. Before using the sheet for the first time, spread a teaspoon of cooking oil over the interior to condition it. This cookie sheet is backed by a 10-year warranty.
One downside is the sheet can be a pain to clean since you can't put it in the dishwasher or let it soak due to the air pockets. Several buyer reviews stressed the importance of handwashing the sheet and not letting it soak. If you do get water inside the air pockets, put it upside down in the oven at 250 degrees for about 30 minutes.
Pros: Bakes cookies evenly and burning is unlikely, 10-year warranty, nonstick
Cons: Have to clean it carefully
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See Also:
SEE ALSO: The best cooling rack you can buy