Preparation
While you may not use a roasting pan on a regular basis (although we think you should as it can do everything from sear meats to roast vegetables), when the holiday season arrives the piece of cookware is essential. Don’t underestimate how much easier it is to cook your Thanksgiving turkey or Christmas ham using a quality roasting pan over the disposable aluminum ones you’ll find at your local grocery store. For starters, they’re much sturdier, meaning they can accommodate big, heavy pieces of meat and the included racks lift whatever you’re roasting from the bottom of the pan, ensuring even cooking.
The right roasting pan will last you for years, so it’s important to choose one that can stand the test of time. “It should have the space and depth to hold the full protein and any aromatics or vegetables you’re adding,” says Christopher Arturo, chef-instructor at the Institute of Culinary Education. “The pan should be made of a heavy, thick material which helps retain heat, and have straight sides, which encourage steam to stay inside the cooking vessel and perfume the food from the bottom up (whereas a sloped side encourages evaporation).” He added that the tall sides also keep the pan from overflowing and making a mess in your oven.
When shopping for a roasting pan, LaMara Davidson, chef and founder of Cornbread + Kimchi, recommends looking for one made of stainless steel as it can be used on both regular and induction stoves—plus, they’re easy to clean. She loves using roasting pans for making one-pot meals. “You can brown your meat directly on the stove, deglaze it, and then add any vegetables or starch before you finish cooking the dish in the oven,” she says. “The best part is, it’s all in the same pan so you’re never sacrificing any flavor and it makes cleanup easy.”
Cuisinart Chef’s Classic Rectangular Roaster with RackMauviel Copper Roaster with RackChicago Metallic Roasting Pan with RackAll-Clad Large Stainless Steel Roasting Pan with RackLe Creuset Signature Enameled Cast Iron Rectangular Roasting PanFood52 Five Two Essential Roasting Pan & RackGranite Ware 19-Inch Covered Oval RoasterAll-Clad Stainless-Steel Flared Roasting Pan
