EarlThere are some essential items you need in your kitchen. A roasting pan is important cookware that ensures you enjoy hassle-free cooking for events and home dining. Therefore, there is a need to get the right model. These are some of the things to look for when buying a roasting pan.
Consider Material of a Roasting Pan
Roasting pans are made of different materials. The common materials include stainless steel, carbon steel, anodized aluminum, ceramic, and cast iron. Each material has its pros and cons.
Stainless Steel
A lot of cookware is made of stainless steel because it is highly durable. Ideally, it can last a lifetime. Although it a poor conductor of heat, most roasting pans feature conductive materials that are sandwiched inside. Another good thing about stainless steel is that it does not react with acidic foods, and it does not rust.
Carbon Steel
This is made of 1% carbon and 99% iron. You should note that roasting pans made of carbon steel have similar characteristics as cast iron. However, they are lighter, and you can easily put them in an oven. The major issue is that its lightweight design means that it retains less heat. It also corrodes easily.
Cast Iron
Cast iron roasting pans are heavy, highly durable, and solid. It conducts heat better as compared to stainless steel. Moreover, it is great for retaining heat. That explains why it is a perfect choice for keeping your roast warm. However, it is prone to acids and rusting.
Other Materials
You can also find roasting pans made of ceramic or anodized aluminum. The good thing about anodized aluminum is that it is extremely strong, non-toxic, and resistant to high temperatures. Ceramic roasting pans are meant for baking as they transfer heat uniformly.
Roasting Pan Size
After choosing the roasting pan material, you ought to choose the perfect size model. Remember that roasting time can be affected by the pan’s depth. That is because deeper models prevent hot air from circulating under the roast. Ensure you consider the pan’s dimensions and pay attention to factors such as meal types and the number of servings. If you are using it to roast meats, it should be two inches wider than the size of the meat you want to roast. That is necessary to minimize the likelihood of juices evaporating.
Roasting Pan Features
You need to consider extra features that make your roasting pan effective. These are the features to consider:
Rack
The trivet or rack is meant to hold the roast above the juices. Thus, you can cook easily.
Dishwasher-safe
You want to save time when it comes to cleaning up your roasting pan. With dishwasher-safe pan, you do not have to worry even if you host family get-togethers.
Handles
You know how difficult it is to remove the hot pan from an oven. With handles, you do not have to worry about it. However, it is quite tricky to store a pan with handles.
Cover
Ensure you buy a roasting pan with the right cover. This will help speed up your cooking time.