- 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:
- Best overall: Calphalon Stainless Steel Roasting Pan with Rack
- Best budget: Cuisinart MultiClad Pro Stainless Rectangular Roaster with Rack
- Best for turkey: All-Clad Stainless Steel Roaster with Nonstick Rack
- Best oval roasting pan: Granite Ware Covered Oval Roaster
- Best high-end pan: All-Clad Stainless-Steel Flared Roasting Pans
Updated on 6/5/2020 by Emily Hochberg: Updated prices, links, and formatting.
The best overall
If you are looking for an attractive, heavy-duty roasting pan with large handles for easy maneuverability, the Calphalon Stainless Steel Roasting Pan with Rack is your best bet.
One of the main reasons you should consider the Calphalon Stainless Steel Roasting Pan is its full aluminum core. The tri-ply pan has three layers of metal: an aluminum core sandwiched by two layers of 18/10 stainless steel. This provides an excellent balance of durability, beauty, and heat conductivity.
The overall size of the pan is 16 inches by 13.5 inches and it weighs nearly 6 pounds. The pan is large enough for a 25-pound turkey. One of the great features of Calphalon cookware is the company's full lifetime warranty.
I only use Calphalon stainless-steel cookware in my kitchen. I love how evenly the tri-ply pots and pans cook, and when used correctly, they are also easy to clean. Although I prefer to wash by hand, it's nice that they are dishwasher safe for those times when I'm feeling lazy.
The large handles also make it easy to maneuver around the kitchen.
Pros: Attractive design, curved interior helps with heat circulation and deglazing, tri-ply construction, large handles, full lifetime warranty
Cons: The rack is fairly loose in the pan
The best budget
If you are looking for an affordable triple-ply roaster that performs well, the Cuisinart MultiClad Pro Stainless Rectangular Roaster is a cost-effective solution.
The Cuisinart MultiClad Pro Stainless Rectangular Roaster has the all-important triple-ply design for durability, even heating, and easy cleaning.
The rack is made entirely of stainless steel. The roasting area is about 16 inches long by 13 inches wide. The handles are large enough to grab with oven mitts on and are "Cool Grip," so you can move the roaster around on the stove with your bare hands. Cuisinart backs this pan with a limited lifetime warranty.
It's also much cheaper than our best overall pick, which makes it an ideal for choice for those sticking to a budget.
Pros: Affordable, heats evenly, flat bottom, lifetime warranty, large Cool Grip handles, triple-ply construction
Cons: Rack handles line up with the panhandles, some durability complaints
The best for turkey
The All-Clad Stainless Steel Roaster with Nonstick Rack is all you need to make delicious turkey and gravy.
All-Clad is known for its top-quality cookware, and the Stainless Steel Roaster with Nonstick Rack is a terrific example of the company's commitment to performance and durability.
Another tri-ply roaster made of 18/10 stainless steel with an aluminum core, this pan comes in two sizes: 11 inches by 14 inches and 13 inches by 16 inches. There's also a version of the larger roaster with a nonstick coating, which aids in clean-up and releasing foodstuffs.
The handles are large enough to hold when wearing oven mitts, and the tall, straight edges keep splatters and spills to a minimum. This model also handles temperatures up to 600 degrees Fahrenheit and fits a 20-pound turkey.
Pros: Large handles, oven-safe to 600 degrees Fahrenheit, nonstick rack, steep sides, tri-ply construction
Cons: Not for use on induction stoves, concerns about the nonstick coating wearing off of the rack
The best oval roasting pan
The Granite Ware Covered Oval Roaster is not only inexpensive, but it has a track record of quality manufacturing in the United States.
Since 1906, Granite Ware has manufactured enamel-coated cookware in its Terra Haute, Indiana factory. The Granite Ware Covered Oval Roaster is made by fusing porcelain to a steel core at extremely high temperatures.
The porcelain provides a natural nonporous, nonstick surface while the steel helps with heat distribution and provides strength. The pan comes in 15-inch, 18-inch, and 19-inch sizes. The 19-inch pan is about 13.5 inches wide and 8.5 inches high with the lid on.
The pan works well for cooking a 15-pound turkey with the lid on and 20-pound turkey with the lid off. However, the pan can't be used on the stove.
In addition to turkey, the pan may also be easily used to roast vegetables and other meats and dishes.
Pros: Affordable, made in the USA, can hold a 20-pound turkey, comes with a lid, nonstick surface, dishwasher safe
Cons: Can't be used on glass cooktops, no rack
The best high-end roasting pan
The All-Clad Stainless-Steel Flared Roasting Pan is expensive, but it's made of top-quality materials that are designed to last and will help you make delicious and picturesque roasts.
Williams Sonoma and All-Clad partnered to develop the USA-made Stainless-Steel Flared Roasting Pans.
It's constructed of - what is considered by many - the best cookware material: easy-to-clean stainless-steel, sandwiching a heat-responsive aluminum core. This combination ensures quick and even heating. Even cooking is also facilitated by the low flared sides. Large, four-inch-wide handles help you to maneuver the pan.
There are two sizes available. The large is 16.75 inches by 13.75 inches by 2.5 inches, weighs a little over 5 pounds, and can hold a 20-pound turkey. The extra-large is 18.75 inches by 14.75 inches by 3 inches, weighs 7 pounds, and holds a 25-pound turkey. The dimensions don't include the handles, which add a few extra inches to the overall length of the roasters.
The design, shape, quality, size, and durability are all highlights, but consider measuring the interior of your oven before purchasing the extra large-sized pan since it's more than 21 inches long with the handles, which may not fit some ovens.
Pros: Even browning, durable construction, attractive appearance, excellent for making stovetop gravy, made in the USA
Cons: Expensive, extra-large pan doesn't fit all ovens
What else we considered
We considered dozens of models while researching this guide. There were a few that barely missed the cut. We also looked at these excellent options:
- Calphalon Hard-Anodized 16-inch Roasting Pan with Nonstick Rack ($79.99): This Calphalon pan is made from medium-gauge hard-anodized aluminum, which is easy to clean and heats evenly. Unfortunately, it isn't dishwasher-safe and is only oven-safe up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
- KitchenAid 16-inch Tri-Ply Stainless Steel Roaster with Rack ($165.25): With a versatile rack and large cooking area, the KitchenAid roaster is great because of its tri-ply design and flat surface for easy searing and sauce-making. However, it's expensive, heavy, and doesn't appear to distribute heat as well as other options in our guide.
- Anolon Tri-Ply Clad Stainless Steel Rectangular Roaster with Nonstick Rack ($99.99): This roaster also has a triple-ply construction, comes with a handy nonstick rack, and is backed by a lifetime warranty. Yet, there are complaints that the raised center of the pan makes it hard to use on a stovetop.
- Circulon Nonstick Bakeware Roaster with U-Rack ($37.99): The Circulon 56539 is a good low-cost pan featuring large handles on the U-shaped rack and the pan itself. It's made of heavy-duty carbon steel. But, it isn't tri-ply, so it doesn't heat as evenly as other options and is only oven-safe up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Viking 3-Ply Stainless Steel Roasting Pan with Nonstick Rack ($213.34): This excellent roasting pan is made of tri-ply 18/8 stainless steel with an aluminum core. It's safe for all stovetops, including induction, and is oven-safe to 600 degrees Fahrenheit. Unfortunately, it's expensive, and the inward-facing handles could put your hands in harm's way.
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