Best Bread Pan
Are you a baking fan or are you thinking of learning something new? Baking bread can be a rewarding thing to do when you are at home. You get to follow or tweak a new recipe, and watch your creation rise in the oven.
People who bake bread at home know the importance of having a good baking pan. They come in all types of materials, from carbon steel to cast iron to glass to silicone, and even disposable aluminum. Let’s check out some of the most popular bread pans available on the market today.
Amazon Basics Non-Stick Carbon Steel Baking Bread Pan, Set of 2
This affordable bread pan set is made of carbon steel, which is an ideal material for baking bread or meatloaf. Its heavy duty construction makes this pan durable and quick. It will provide rapid, even heating and uniform browning.
These pans measure 4.3 inches wide x 8.5 inches long x 2.3 inches tall. They are meant to hold about one pound of raw white yeast bread dough. Although they are heavy duty, they are still lightweight, at 11 ounces.
They are safe in the oven up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit.
The pans have a non-stick coating, and will release your baked goods effortlessly after cooking. The non-stick coating works better if you add some oil to the pans before baking. The sides of the pans are slightly angled outwards toward the top, to make it easier to remove your baked goods.
You should wash these pans by hand, as they are not recommended for the dishwasher.
Pros
- Affordable set of two baking pans
- Made of non-stick carbon steel, ideal material for baking bread
- Durable heavy duty construction
- Provide rapid, even heating and uniform browning
- Safe in the oven up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit
- Sides slightly angled outwards toward the top, for easy removal of baked goods
Cons
- Non-stick coating works better if you oil the pans first
- Not dishwasher safe
Camp Chef Home Seasoned Cast Iron Bread Pan
This cast iron bread pan arrives at your door pre-seasoned. The seasoning gives it a natural cooking surface that is ready to use. Your bread will bake evenly and look great coming out of the oven, with a golden brown crust. If you keep your pan seasoned properly, your bread will fall out easily with no tapping required.
The pan measures approximately 5 inches wide by 9 inches long by 2.5 inches tall. It tapers at the top so you can easily remove your baked goods.
It has decorative molded cast iron handles that make it easy to hold.
It is lightweight at 3 pounds 9 ounces.
The interior surface is very rough, which poses a challenge when cleaning. Also, make sure to coat the pan with some oil after thoroughly drying. The oil will help smooth out the texture and maintain the surface so it doesn’t stick.
Pros
- Cast iron pan is pre-seasoned, which gives it a ready-to-use cooking surface
- Bread will bake evenly and have a golden brown crust
- Bread falls out easily with no tapping required
- Tapered at the top so you can easily take out baked goods
- Has decorative molded cast iron handles
Cons
- Interior surface is rough and may be a challenge to clean
- Surface requires oiling after cleaning to maintain surface texture
Pyrex Clear Basics Glass Loaf Pan (Set of 2)
These two bread pans are made of clear, non-porous glass. They bake a professional-looking loaf of bread, golden brown and evenly cooked. You can also make a nice meatloaf, pound cake, and other savory and sweet baked goods.
The pans measure 4 inches wide by 7 inches long by 3 inches tall, and they are lightweight at 2 pounds 4 ounces. They have large glass handles that are ergonomic and easy to hold, for improved handling.
The glass is safe in a pre-heated oven, microwave, fridge, and freezer. The glass will not stain, warp, or absorb odors. It is dishwasher safe, which makes it super easy to clean.
The pans come with lids that are made of BPA-free plastic.
One drawback is the pans are expensive and you will need to spray the glass with a baking spray to stop the bread from sticking.
Pros
- Set of two clear, non-porous glass bread pans with BPA-free lids
- Bakes bread to golden brown perfection
- Large, ergonomic glass handles that are easy to hold
- Safe in pre-heated oven, microwave, fridge, and freezer
- Glass will not stain, warp, or absorb odors
- Dishwasher-safe
Cons
- Expensive
- Requires spraying to stop bread from sticking to the pan
Silicone Designs Silicone Bread and Loaf Pan, Set of 2
These two bread pans are made of BPA-free, latex-free, food grade silicone. They are multi-purpose, and can be used to bake bread, meatloaf, pot pies, quiche, lasagna, and so much more. They measure 10.75 inches long by 5 inches wide by 2.5 inches tall. They come in a cute red color.
Baking bread in a silicone pan tends to be easier than using a bread machine. Your bread will keep its shape better and have a softer crust when baked in this pan compared to the bread machine. Also, the bread machine blades may make holes in the bottom of your bread while the silicone pan will not.
These pans are oven safe to 450 degrees Fahrenheit, as well as microwave- and freezer-safe. After baking, they will cool very quickly. They are also non-stick, and your bread will easily pop out.
They have a waved inside design which ensures thorough cooking. They also have a wide bottom for improved stability, and a wide rim that is easy to hold.
These pans meet and exceed the FDA standards for safety. They have stabilizer bars built in for added strength. They are lightweight at only six ounces.
They are also dishwasher safe and easy to clean.
One drawback is they arrive with a strong chemical odor but this goes away in time.
Pros
- Set of two cute, bright red bread pans
- Made of BPA-free, latex-free, food grade, non-stick silicone
- Oven safe to 450 degrees Fahrenheit; microwave- and freezer-safe
- Waved inside design ensures thorough cooking
- Cools very quickly after baking
- Dishwasher-safe
Cons
- Arrives with a chemical odor that goes away over time
Stock Your Home Aluminum Loaf Pans for Bread Baking (50 Pack)
If you like baking but hate cleaning, this 50-pack of disposable bread pans might be perfect for you. They are the least expensive pans you will probably find. They are great for baking bread of course, and also meatloaf, lasagna, and cakes. They are silver and sturdy, and look great.
These pans are made of premium quality aluminum. Each pan measures four inches wide by 8.5 inches long by 2.3 inches tall, and weighs just 0.5 ounces.
You can use these pans in the oven of course, and also in a portable stove on the bottom rack. They have high thermal conductivity and, as a result, they can tolerate very high oven temperatures. They are also freezer-safe.
They don’t stick, either. Simply use a minimum amount of non-stick spray before baking, and your baked goods will pop out easily.
The aluminum is recyclable and eco-friendly, so you can feel guilt-free tossing the pans out when you’re done. If you choose to reuse them instead, they are safe in the dishwasher, for easy clean-up.
Pros
- Very affordable pack of 50 disposable bread pans
- Silver and sturdy; made of premium quality non-stick aluminum
- High thermal conductivity and can tolerate very high oven temperatures
- Freezer-safe
- Reusable and dishwasher-safe
- Recyclable and eco-friendly
Cons
- None mentioned by users
How to choose a bread pan
Material
Bread pans come in all different materials, including carbon steel, cast iron, glass, silicone, and disposable aluminum. The choice of material affects the thickness of the pan, as well as how easy it is to clean up after baking.
Glass pans last a long time and are usually safe in the oven, microwave, freezer, and dishwasher. This makes them very versatile, convenient, and easy to clean. Glass pans insulate heat, so they take longer to bake your bread.
Metal pans get scratched easily and should not be put in the dishwasher. If they have a non-stick coating, they will be easy to clean, but that coating can wear off over time. Metal pans conduct heat, so a pan made of cast iron, carbon steel, or aluminum will heat faster than glass. Keep in mind that a dark metal pan will conduct heat better than a light metal pan, and if you bake in a darker pan you will end up with a darker crust.
Silicone pans are lightweight and easy to store and clean. However, they tend to eventually absorb odors.
Size
It is handy to have bread pans in a variety of different sizes, just in case.
If you don’t know what size bread pan to choose, there are a few ways you can determine this. You can determine the volume of a bread pan by filling it with water and pouring the water into a measuring cup. Then, measure the volume of your batter by pouring it into a measuring cup. If you are using yeast in your bread, you will want the batter volume to be about two-thirds the volume of the bread pan.
Shape
Think about corners versus rounded edges. Corners with right angles will make your bread look professional. However, they are hard to clean. Pans with rounded edges are easier to keep clean.
By reviewing the various brands available on the market, and evaluating the materials, sizes, and shapes, you will be sure to find the bread pan that most suits your needs. Enjoy and happy baking!