The Best Sheet Pan Is Cheap, Sturdy, and Easy to Clean

There are a lot of kitchen tools out there that get more glory, but a sheet pan is one of the cheapest, most versatile part of any home cook’s arsenal. You can use it to:

• Roast veggies
• Cook bacon without getting grease everywhere
• Make super-simple one-pan dinners
• Make your own granola
• Bake cookies and sheet cakes

Pro tip: A cookie sheet is not technically the same as a sheet pan. The main difference is that the former has one raised edge and the latter is rimmed on all sides. If you are being practical, and you have limited space in your kitchen, a sheet pan is what you want.

But which sheet pan do you want? We’re glad you asked.

Design by Zoe Burnett

Why Nordic Ware Naturals Baker’s Half Sheet Is the Best Sheet Pan

If you are in the market for a cheap upgrade that will definitely, ahem, pan out, we recommend the Nordic Ware Naturals Baker’s Half Sheet.

It’s made from aluminum, which means it heats quickly and evenly. It’s lightweight, but not flimsy, and its rolled rims are reinforced with steel so it won’t warp. Also: Even though it’s not non-stick, it’s easy to clean (especially if you line it with parchment paper). It’s even durable enough that you can throw it in the dishwasher.

Finally, it’s cheap. A single pan will cost you somewhere between $11 and $17 depending on where you buy it. We recommend getting a set of 2 (at least), which means you can use one for roasting and one for baking. And if you do something like, say, set fire to your pan (which has obviously never happened to any of us), you can easily replace it.

Buy It: Nordic Ware Naturals Baker’s Half Sheet, $28 for 2

3 More Sheet Pans Clean Plates Editors Love

Clean Plates editors fully endorse Nordic Ware Naturals Baker’s Half Sheet, but some of them had other favorites, which we’ve have included below.

• Webstaurant Store Non-Stick Aluminum Sheet Pan: We all know that restaurant supply stores are a great place to get cheap cookware that’s designed to last. The main difference between this sheet pan and the Nordic Ware one is that it has a non-stick surface. Note that the slightly darker surface may cause your cookies to be a bit browner on the bottom.
• Calphalon Classic Bakeware Non-Stick Jelly Roll Pan: If you believe using the same pan for cooking and baking is not okay, and are looking for a sheet pan to use exclusively for cooking (as opposed to cooking and baking), this is the one to get. It heats evenly, never warps, and cleans like a dream.
• Great Jones Holy Sheet: Admittedly a bit pricier than the rest on the list, this sheet pan is so pretty you might not mind. (In fact, we recommended it in last year’s gift guide.) It also gets the thumbs up from plenty of professional cooks for being super-sturdy — and it’s dishwasher-friendly.