Best Lasagna Pan
Ooey-gooey, rich and delicious, lasagna is probably one of the most comforting foods we love to eat. Just the aroma of garlic, oregano, basil and other spices entwined with pasta sauce and cheese bubbling away in the oven is enough to make our mouths water in anticipation.
Lasagna is one of those foods that is pretty versatile when it comes to ingredients: you can use pasta for layers, or eggplant or zucchini; you can have tomato or meat sauce; include spinach, mushrooms and other vegetables or not; and make it with one cheese, a mixture of a few different cheeses like mozzarella, cheddar, ricotta and parmesan, or no cheese at all.
That being said, without the right pan, the recipe and ingredients you choose won’t matter if you can’t compile and layer them to create that special blend of lasagna goodness.
We feature a few lasagna pans you can purchase online. Read on to find the one that best suits your needs.
1. Editor’s Choice: Cuisinart CI1136-24CR Chef’s Classic Enameled Cast Iron 14-Inch Roasting/Lasagna Pan
You are a true a fan of lasagna. It’s one of your go-to weekly meals to feed your growing family. Easy to compile, you love your recipe that produces a rich, aromatic layered sauce, cheese and pasta dish. As you’re gearing up for the holidays, you’d like to add another lasagna pan to your collection. If you are looking for a family-sized lasagna pan that will do the job and look great on the table, then this model may be for you.
This cool-looking cardinal-red enameled cast iron lasagna pan from Cuisinart will make a great addition to your cookware arsenal. The porcelain enamel exterior is strong and durable, and the porcelain enamel interior is ideal for its superior heat retention and even heat distribution, plus the surface does not impart flavors or absorb odors.
The wide cast-iron handles provide a comfortable and secure grip, whether you are putting the lasagna into the oven or on the table for serving. This pan is safe to use on an induction stovetop, in the oven and under a broiler, and since you can put it into the dishwasher when you’re done, cleanup is really easy.
Pros:
- Enamel cast iron exterior
- Large 14-inch lasagna pan
- Wide cast-iron handles for a secure grip
Cons:
- More expensive than other models
- Heavy at 11 pounds
2. Runner Up: Chicago Metallic Professional Lasagna Trio Pan
Yours is a home filled with different food preferences and food sensitivities: one person can’t have dairy, another doesn’t eat meat, one is gluten-free and two others eat everything. But here’s the catch; you all love lasagna. Sadly, it seems impossible to make that favorite food for everyone to enjoy at the same time without using almost half a dozen pans. If you are looking to make three different kinds of lasagnas separately in the same pan, then this is the product for you.
This awesome Trio Pan has three separate compartments of the same length and width so you can prepare three different recipes in the same pan. With the width of each section sized to fit standard lasagna noodles, you can prepare vegan, vegetarian and meat-lovers lasagna and make everyone happy, including yourself since you will only have to clean one pan. And with the pan’s non-stick coating, food releases easily and cleanup is a breeze.
Made from heavy-weight carbon steel for superior heat conduction, the pan measure 13 inches long x 9 inches wide x 1-1/2-inches high, with each section measuring 3-1/2 inches wide by 1-1/2-inch high and is safe in the oven up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. This unique and practical pan is not just for lasagna – you can use it to make loaf breads, cakes and a variety of other foods. Really, the possibilities are only limited by your imagination. Would make an ideal housewarming or bridal gift.
Pros:
- Divided into three compartments to make three different foods
- Non-stick surface for easy food release
- Safe in the oven up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit
Cons:
- Dishwasher safe but handwashing is recommended to extend product life
- Can’t make one large lasagna
- Won’t work well with over-sized lasagna noodles
3. Best Versatile: Cook Pro 4-Piece All-in-1 Lasagna and Roasting Pan
Being the practical person that you are, you feel there’s no sense buying one pan, when you can get two for a good price. When it comes to a lasagna pan, you prefer to get a set that is versatile enough to use to make other foods, too.
We recommend this must-have for your kitchen, two pans and two chrome cooling racks made from durable stainless steel that are two convenient sizes to meet a variety of cooking needs, especially multi-layered lasagna.
The stainless steel foldable handles make placing lasagna into the oven and then lifting it out, safe and easy. They then fold down for easy storage. With a stylish mirror polished finished exterior, these lovely pans make an attractive all-in-one-piece oven-to-table serving dish.
With one pan measuring 12.5 inches x 9.5 inches x 2.25 inches and the other one measuring 12.5 inches x 9.5 inches x 2.25 inches, use both at the same time and you’ll be able to make enough to serve a large crowd with leftovers, or use the smaller one for a more intimate and cozy dinner.
Pros:
- Two pans of different sizes
- Comes with cooling racks
- Foldable handles
- Dishwasher safe
Cons:
- Handles can fold down in the oven and it can be tricky to lift pan from oven wearing oven mitts
4. Best Set: Wisenvoy Baking Dish Ceramic Lasagna Pan Casserole Dish 3-Piece Bakeware Set
You have a large family and do a lot of cooking. Lasagna is one of your favorite comfort foods and you’d like to ramp it up a bit by preparing a few different-sized ones on the weekend to freeze that can be microwaved or popped into the oven during the week.
This three-piece lasagna pan set is the perfect solution for anyone who likes to plan ahead for the week, and prepare food to freeze that can be easily reheated later. These pans are made of durable porcelain with a unique rose pattern design that makes them attractive to bring to the table to serve.
Three different sizes mean the ultimate flexibility in figuring out portion sizes and making the right-sized lasagna, casserole or other recipe. The large pan measures 13 inches long x 9 inches wide x 3 inches high; the medium sized pan measures 11.5 inches long x 8 inches wide x 3 inches high; and the small pan measures 8.5 inches long x 6.5 inches wide x 3 inches high. And when you’re all done, the three pans nest nicely into each other for easy storage.
Pros:
- 3 different sized pans
- Constructed from high quality, durable porcelain ceramic
- Attractive flower design
- Suitable for microwave, freezer and oven
- Dishwasher safe
Cons:
- Larger pan is heavy
5. Best Basic: OXO Good Grips Freezer-to-Oven Safe 3 Qt. Glass Baking Dish with Lid
If you are just setting up your kitchen, there are a lot of essential items you will need. One of them is a good baking dish to make delicious, multi-layered lasagna. If you’re on a budget, then it’s also important to find a product that is versatile and can be used for many recipes.
We like this glass baking dish for making lasagna because of its size and because it is made from borosilicate glass to withstand extreme temperature changes without the risk of cracking or shattering, making it freezer-to-oven safe.
The generous handles provide a safe and secure grip for when you take it out of the freezer or put into the oven. This lasagna pan comes with a convenient BPA-free lid that is slosh-proof to prevent spilling leftovers while storing or on the go, and is sturdy enough to be able to stack other things on top.
Finally, this glass lasagna pan is safe for the microwave, oven, dishwasher and freezer. What more could you ask for?
Pros:
- Affordable
- Made from borosilicate glass
- Generous handles for a sturdy grip
- BPA-free lid
- Safe for the microwave, dishwasher, freezer and oven
Cons:
- Not intended for use under the broiler or on stovetop
- Lid is plastic and not oven safe
Things to look out for:
Consider these things when looking for a lasagna pan so you will choose one that best suits your needs:
Size: Lasagna pans usually come in a rectangular shape since you would need the right length to suit most lasagna noodles, plus you want an even heat distribution to cook the sauce, pasta and cheese. However, there is nothing wrong with a square-shaped lasagna pan, although you may have to cut the noodles to fit.
You also need to look at the depth of the pan. A good rule of thumb is 2 inches, although that can vary a quarter inch or so in either direction, but you want to make sure the pan is deep enough to accommodate the amount of layers and sauce you like to use. The last thing you want is it to all overflow and bubble over during the cooking process.
Use: Before choosing a lasagna pan, consider how you will use it. If you are just one or two people in your family, then you don’t need a large-sized pan, unless you like to have lots of leftovers. If you cook for many people, or entertain frequently, then you will need a larger size to accommodate your guests. If you really do a lot of cooking and make a lot of lasagna, then consider purchasing two or three of different sizes so you won’t be disappointed. Finally, many lasagna pans are pretty versatile and can be used to make casseroles, roasted vegetables, chicken and other foods. Consider what you would like to cook in the pan before purchasing one.
Material: Lasagna pans are made from different materials. The most commonly found are stainless steel, aluminum, ceramic, enamel-coated cast iron, and glass. These materials have different attributes that can affect how the food is cooked. For example, stainless steel is a good conductor of heat, but can have hot spots. Glass is elegant and it’s pretty to see the layers of lasagna, but you have to make sure it is strong enough to resist cracking or breaking from the oven’s heat. It’s also a good material for freezer-to-oven use and can be warmed up in the microwave. Some materials have non-stick coatings, which makes food release and cleaning easier, but it’s important to make sure the non-stick coating is non-toxic.
Handles: These are really important, since a full-sized prepared multi-layered lasagna can be heavy. Make sure the handles are large enough for a secure grip so the pan can be put into, and taken out of the oven easily and safely. Some pans have foldable handles, which is great for storage, but make sure they are easy to grip with oven mitts once the pan needs to be taken out of the oven.
Design: Lasagna pans come in a multitude of designs. Some come in bright colors that you could coordinate with your kitchen or dining room décor while others have attractive patterns, a shiny, polished finished exterior or elegant accents so you can bring it to the table for serving.