If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. 8 Best Baking Sheets for All Your Cookies, Roasted Vegetables, and Sheet Pan Dinners Shop our picks for the best baking sheets to build your collection of these essential multitaskers. By Rebecca Morris Rebecca Morris Rebecca is a writer for MarthaStewart.com. Editorial Guidelines and Bridget Shirvell Bridget Shirvell Bridget Shirvell is an independent journalist specializing in food, climate crisis solutions, and parenting with over two decades of experience contributing to publications such as GoodHousekeeping, Martha Stewart Living, Food52, Yale School of Environment, Civil Eats, and more. Editorial Guidelines Updated on January 30, 2024 Often the busiest bee in the kitchen, a baking sheet will get you through countless batches of perfectly baked cookies, bunch after bunch of broiled asparagus, and plenty of sheet-pan dinners (like these chicken fajitas). Get a good baking sheet, and you'll both come out the other side of all that cooking (relatively) unscathed. Choosing the Right Baking Sheet When choosing a baking sheet, there are a couple of things to keep in mind: Color: Darker pans will absorb more heat and give off more heat in return, leading to food that browns faster. This is great for recipes where you want some crispness, like pizza crusts and roasted potatoes. It's less ideal for when you want to heat something gently and have even browning, like with cookies or sheet cakes. The bottom line: If you are an avid cook, buy a mix of light and dark-colored baking sheets; if you're an occasional cook, stick with lighter colors since they are more multi-purpose. Weight: A good baking sheet should have some heft to it. Too thin, and you're just inviting warping, which is where some parts of the pan expand or contract faster than other parts, causing it to literally get bent out of shape. A price tag of $15 or $20 may seem wildly expensive for a simple sheet of metal, but we promise that a slightly pricier pan will be made from heavier materials that will endure for years if not decades. It's worth spending a few extra bucks on one that you can count on to go the distance. Variety: It's also a good idea to have a mix of different baking sheets, ones that vary in size and material, so the right baking sheet will be there whatever you decide to make. Shop our picks for the best baking sheets, sheet pans, and cookie sheets to build your collection of these essential multitaskers that no kitchen should be without. The Difference Between Cookie Sheets and Baking Pans—and When to Use Each Best Aluminum Half-Sheet Pan: Nordic Ware Naturals Baker's Pan Courtesy of Nordic Ware This popular pan is nearly identical to the commercial-grade sheets used in our test kitchen and is sure to be a workhorse in your kitchen, too. It has heft, durability, and longevity—and won't warp. $14 at Target Best Cookie Sheet: Vollrath 68085 Wear-Ever Cookie Sheet Pan Courtesy of Vollrath A cookie sheet is almost completely flat to allow for increased air circulation between cookies, leading to a better, more evenly baked batch. This pick from Vollrath has a slanted lip at each edge for easy gripping. Its thick, aluminum-based material ensures even heat distribution and will be resistant to warping. Buy on for $33 Best Quarter-Sheet Pan: Sur La Table Platinum Pro Pan This USA-made mini sheet pan is perfect for everything from reheating leftovers to cooking an easy dinner for two. It's a commercial-quality pan made of thick aluminized steel that has even heat distribution and a textured surface that allows airflow under baking food, aiding in even results and easy release. $28 at Sur La Table Best Jumbo Cookie Sheet: Nordic Ware Naturals Courtesy of Nordic Ware Extra-large baking sheets are perfect for making large batches of cookies or for when you have an extra mouth or two to feed at dinnertime and need a little more space on the pan. Standard half-sheet pans are around 13-by-18 inches, whereas this big guy clocks in at 15-by-21 inches. $15 at Target Best Allergy ID Pan: USA Pan Allergy ID Sheet Pan, Purple Courtesy of USA Pan Not just a pretty pan, this striking sheet is also a hero at preventing cross-contamination. Keep a colorful baking sheet on hand for when you are cooking for someone with food allergies because having one pan out of a few that is this lavender color will help keep the gluten-free or nut-free batch separate from the others. Buy on for $21 Best Baking Sheet Set: NutriChef NC2TRBK1 Nonstick Courtesy of Nutrichef Made from durable carbon steel, this set of medium and large baking sheets also boasts a nonstick coating, meaning your food will brown beautifully, and cleanup will be a breeze. The heat retention capabilities of the carbon steel make it particularly adept at making deeply caramelized roasted vegetables like this cauliflower dish. $24 at Walmart Best Nonstick Sheet Pan: Great Jones Holy Sheet Pan Courtesy of Great Jones The sheet pans from cookware maker Great Jones are available in a variety of bold colors, are made from ceramic and aluminum, and are nonstick whether it's mahi mahi or carrots you're roasting. While it's recommended you hand-wash them, you can put them in the dishwasher on those days when you simply cannot stare at another piece of dirty cookware. $40 Buy on for $28 Best With a Lip: Artisan Professional Classic Aluminum Baking Courtesy of Amazon With a generous size of 18-by-13 inches and a deep lip, this pan is just right for baking a wide variety of items, especially sheet pan pizza with a crispy crust. Durable and easy to clean either by hand-washing or in the dishwasher, it's a versatile and valuable addition to your kitchen arsenal. $24 at Amazon Explore more: Food & Cooking Cooking How-Tos & Techniques Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit