Best roasting tins for perfectly cooked Sunday roast
From traybakes for the table to a succulent roast dinner with all the trimmings, a solid roasting tin is an essential piece of kitchen kit – discover our pick of the best to buy
A robust roasting tin is essential for cooking Sunday roasts and midweek traybakes. As such, it’s important not to purchase this indispensable kitchen staple without doing some homework. Buy right and it should give you years of faultless use and still be easy to clean. Most roasting tins come with lengthy guarantees to indicate their manufacturers' faith in the longevity and we guarantee you won’t regret buying a quality pan. To find the best, we tested a range of oven roasting tins, ranging from budget buys to those costing more than £150, and most performed adequately when cooking a set recipe of chicken thighs with garlic cloves, potatoes and onion rings. We picked out the tins that helped make an even roast, crisping veg and adding a crunchy edge to spuds without burning on the sides or warping when we carried the food from oven to counter. Every tin in our final selection also scored well for browning without sticking. Read on for our recommendations. View Affiliate Playlist on the source website Best roasting tins at a glance Best roasting tin set: Falcon Bake Set, £90 Best budget roasting tin: ProCook non-stick granite roasting tin, £14 Best roasting tin for families: Circulon non-stick roasting oven tray and rack, £31.99 Best roasting tin for entertaining: Zwilling Plus stainless-steel roaster, £159 Best value roasting tin: Salter Marblestone non-stick roasting pan, £9.99 Best roasting tin for eco credentials: Kuhn Rikon New Life Pro roasting tin, £49.95 Best non-stick roasting tin: Scoville Neverstick roaster, £17 Best classic roasting tin: Le Creuset Signature cast iron roaster, from £229 Best investment roasting tin: Staub 3.5l roasting dish, £139 Best roasting tin for Sunday roasts: Lakeland large roasting tin with pouring lip, £15.99 Best roasting tin for long-term quality: Samuel Groves Mermaid 12-inch hard-anodised roaster, £110 Jump to section: Best roasting tins to buy in 2025 How to clean a roasting tin How we tested roasting tins Best roasting tins to buy in 2025 Falcon bake set Available from Falcon (£90), Liberty London (£90) Best roasting tin set Pros: Stack together easily Good range of sizes Come in different colours Cons: Not microwave safe Star rating: 5/5 This is a versatile addition to any kitchen, offering a range of durable enamelware for baking, roasting and more. The set includes three bake pans (37cm, 34cm and 31cm) and two 20cm pie dishes, all designed to withstand oven temperatures up to 270C. This set practical for everyday cooking, with the enamel coating providing even heat distribution and a sturdy feel. The bake pans performed well with roasting and baking, though we did notice some food sticking when sauces and juices reduced. However, this wasn’t a major issue, as the surfaces cleaned up well with a soak and gentle scrub. Being dishwasher-safe, freezer-friendly and hob-safe (gas and electric), this set offers impressive versatility. At £90, it's an investment, but one that suits home bakers and cooks looking for a stylish, functional and durable set. Material: heavy-gauge steel Sizes: 2 x 20cm, 31cm, 34cm, 37cm Maximum temperature: 270C Dishwasher safe: Yes Hob-friendly: Yes – gas and electric only Guarantee: No Available from: Falcon (£90) Liberty London (£90) ProCook non-stick granite roasting tin Available from ProCook (£14) Best budget roasting tin Pros: Effective non-stick Fully recyclable packaging Four sizes available 10-year warranty Cons: A little heavy Not suitable for metal utensils Star rating: 4.5/5 We liked the practicality of this roasting tin from ProCook, which has deep recesses under the rims that were generous enough for oven-gloved hands to grip. It passed our drop test with flying colours, and there was no buckling when transporting the tray from oven to counter. Our finished dish scored highly too, with our chicken traybake cooked to perfection. Potatoes crisped nicely and the thighs were evenly roasted. There’s a generous ProCook guarantee of 10 years on this tin, and at such a low price, this is a quality buy if you want a no-frills, functional roaster. Material: Carbon steel Sizes: 26 x 19.5cm, 31 x 23cm, 36 x 27cm, 41 x 31cm Maximum temperature: 260C Dishwasher-safe: Yes Hob-friendly: No Guarantee: 10 years Available from: ProCook (£14) Circulon non-stick roasting oven tray and rack Available from Amazon (£24.95), Circulon (£31.99) Best roasting tin for families Pros: Roasting rack allows hot air to circulate Easy to clean by hand Cons: Grooves could harbour food debris Non-stick may scratch over time Star rating: 4.5/5 Circulon’s non-stick family roasting oven tray and rack uses the same non-stick system as the rest of the Ultimum range, consisting of a triple layer of non-stick coating combined with a grooved interior to prevent food from sticking. In testing, any traybake residue wiped away easily by hand, though the black surface doesn’t make it easy to spot residue, and we had to pay attention to the grooves to make sure nothing was left behind. This is fortunate, as while the roasting tin is dishwasher-safe, handwashing is recommended. What we liked most about the tin, besides the simple clean, was that it came with a rack: meaning that it could be handy for roasting fatty meats, such as duck, as well as elevating any food that has the potential to burn on the base. We felt it was good value for money. Material: Non-stick coated carbon steel Sizes available: 39.4cm x 30.7cm x 6.5cm Maximum temperature: 230C Dishwasher-safe: Yes, but handwashing recommended Hob-friendly: No Guarantee: Limited lifetime Available from: Amazon (£24.95) Circulon (£31.99) Zwilling Plus 41cm Stainless-Steel Roaster Available from Zwilling (£159) Best roasting tin for entertaining Pros: Grill insert for cooking fish Scratch-resistant, high-gloss surface Easy to clean Cons: Expensive Heavy Star rating: 4.5/5 Zwilling’s Plus 41cm 18/10 stainless steel roaster is an investment buy, squarely aimed at those who enjoy cooking for themselves and others. Indeed, the claims that you can fit in large poultry, such as a goose, as well as use the lid for frying, speak to its multitasking cooking capabilities. It’s a large and heavy tin (3.94kg) with a capacity of 8.5 litres, which should be enough to satisfy any keen entertainer. In testing, it performed brilliantly – food roasted well and was removed with ease, and it was simple to wash afterwards – debris just slid off. The only downside we found is that, even with two generous handles, its size and weight meant we found it awkward to get in and out of the oven. Filled with food, we imagine this could be more of a challenge. Material: 18/10 stainless steel construction with aluminium core and magnetic chromium steel base exterior Sizes available: 40.8cm x 25cm x 13cm Maximum temperature: 240C Dishwasher-safe: Yes Hob-friendly: Yes Guarantee: Lifetime Available from: Zwilling (£159) Salter Marblestone Non-Stick Roasting Pan, Carbon Steel, 36 cm Available from Salter (£9.99), Amazon (£9.99) Best value roasting tin Pros: Slim Non-stick coated Cons: Not suitable for metal utensils Handwash only Star rating: 4.5/5 Huge roasting tins can hog space in the oven, but Salter’s slim Marblestone non-stick roasting pan allows you to cook other food at the same time. It’s still big enough to be practical, with high sides and a brilliant non-stick coating that, in testing, made removing food and cleaning it afterwards effortless. The speckled grey finish makes it easy to spot any debris, too. It’s affordable for the size compared with many we tested, and we liked that it came only packaged with a card label. However, you won’t be able to use metal utensils on its non-stick surface. The maximum temperature it can withstand is only 220C, and it’s not suitable for cleaning in the dishwasher. Material: Non-stick coated carbon steel Sizes available: 36 x 24 x 5.5cm Maximum temperature: 220C Dishwasher-safe: No Hob-friendly: No Guarantee: 10 years Available from: Salter (£9.99) Amazon (£9.99) Kuhn Rikon New Life Pro Roasting Tin with lid Available from Kuhn Rikon (£49.95), Amazon (£79.95) Best roasting tin for eco credentials Pros: Vacuum lid for storage Freezer-safe Eco-friendly 3-layer ceramic non-stick coating Cons: Lid not leakproof Can't use metal utensils Star rating: 4.5/5 The Kuhn Rikon New Life Pro Roasting Tin is a good sustainable option. It’s made from recycled aluminium from Europe, and its makers claim that it’s produced with up to 95% less energy than conventional aluminium ovenware. The different alloys of aluminium also make it stronger, and it has a lid so you can cut back on cling film use. In tests, the non-stick aspect performed well – food released easily and clean-up by hand was quick. We liked the ease of getting it out of the oven and how light it was, and felt that its versatility made it ideal for a busy kitchen. However, the price in relation to its size and potential lifespan (it only has a five-year guarantee) made it poor value compared to the others we tested. Material: Polypropylene lid and aluminium tin Sizes available: 6 x 20 x 32cm, plus two others – small 1.1 litre and large 4.7 litre Maximum temperature: 240C Dishwasher-safe: Dishwasher-safe, but cleaning by hand is recommended Hob-friendly: No Guarantee: 5 years Available from: Kuhn Rikon (£49.95) Amazon (£79.95) undefined Scoville Neverstick Roaster Available from Amazon (£17) Best non-stick roasting tin Pros: Flake and peel free, PFOA-free non stick Effortless to clean Cons: Heavy for the size Can only withstand up to 230C Star rating: 4.5/5 If you hate cleaning up after a roast, Scoville’s Neverstick Roaster could just be your perfect pan. The non-stick coating was by far one of the easiest to clean during testing, and it should go the distance, with its makers claiming that it’s five times as durable as other roasting tins. The coating can withstand slightly higher temperatures than some non-stick pans we tested, though it’s still a maximum of 230C. It has a lifetime guarantee and it's affordable too, making this a great-value buy. We liked its wide handles for getting it in and out of the oven, but there were a couple of downsides. One is its weight: when empty it’s 1.158kg, so filling it with food can make it heavy, and the other is that our traybake sauce burnt a little, suggesting that it might be prone to hotspots. Material: Non-stick aluminium Sizes available: 32 x 25 x 5.3cm Maximum temperature: 260C Dishwasher-safe: Yes Hob-friendly: No Guarantee: Lifetime Available from: Amazon (£17) undefined Le Creuset Signature cast iron roaster Available from Amazon (£161.99), Harts of Stur (£206.29), Le Creuset (£229) Best classic roaster Pros: Selection of colours Good heat retention for keeping food warm at the table Lifetime warranty Cons: Heavy A colourful oven-to-table dish, this cast-iron roaster is a kitchen classic. But does it still rank amongst the best ways to crisp, roast and bake? Short answer – yes. The form and function combo of these dishes is hard to beat. In a choice of standard and modern colours, they look great on the table, and available in a range of sizes too. You’ll undoubtedly curse the weight of them at some point (even a 33cm roaster comes in at nearly 4kg), but it’s the heft that gives them an even bake and the ability to retain heat at the table, making them the perfect choice for traybakes. Cast iron with enamelled coating, the pans can be used on all types of hob and come with a lifetime warranty. Material: Enamelled cast iron Size: 29, 33 or 27cm Maximum temperature: 250C Dishwasher-safe: Yes Hob-friendly: Yes, induction included Guarantee: Lifetime Available from: Amazon (£161.99) Harts of Stur (£206.29) Le Creuset (£229) Staub 3.5-litre roasting dish Available from Amazon (£102.43), Staub (£139) Best investment roasting tin Pros: Keeps dishes hot at the table Lifetime warranty Cons: Heavy Hefty investment Staub pans are made of cast iron that has been poured into a sand mould – hence the slightly rough feeling of the interior surface. Although this pan is not a non-stick roaster, we found that chicken, garlic and potatoes crisped nicely to its enamelled interior, with great heat distribution and no hotspots. This one of the heaviest we chose for our final selection (although still a kilo lighter than the Le Creuset cast iron). This one scores extra for keeping dishes hot for far longer than thinner, metal tins, so it’s ideal for moussaka, lasagne or oven-to-table dishes. That goes for chilled dishes too, of course. There’s a lifetime guarantee from Staub if it’s properly looked after. Never heat the pan dry (without oil) in the oven and never pour cold water directly onto it when hot as that could cause damage. Hefty pan, hefty investment, but this one is going to be in use for ages. Material: Cast iron Size: 38 x 20 x 7cm Maximum heat: 260C Dishwasher-safe: Yes Hob-friendly: Yes, induction included Guarantee: Lifetime Available from: Amazon (£102.43) Staub (£139) Lakeland large roasting tin with pouring lip Available from Amazon (£15.99) Best roasting for Sunday roasts Pros: Practical depth for layered roasting Integrated pouring spout Cons: Not hob-friendly For a budget tin, this one has good features – a generous capacity, easy-to-clean and a non-stick surface. The raised bumps on the bottom of this roaster make heat circulation more efficient, and ‘roughed up’ roast potatoes as we tossed them around in hot oil, helping to give them a crunchy finish. With deep edges, this would be a good choice if you decide to roast meat on a bed of potatoes or other veg, though it’s not hob-friendly, so you need to transfer to another pan to make sauce or gravy. That's easy, though, thanks to the wide lip in one corner, which made pouring juices into a saucepan easy. Great quality for the money. Material: Carbon steel Size: 42 x 27.5 x 8.5cm (including handles) Maximum heat: 240C Dishwasher-safe: Yes Hob-friendly: No Guarantee: 3 years Available from: Amazon (£15.99) Samuel Groves Mermaid 12-inch hard anodised roaster with classic handles Available from Harts of Stur (£112.50) Best roasting tin for long-term quality Pros: Safe for use with metal utensils Lifetime guarantee Cons: Not suitable for dishwasher Quite tall in the oven From a classic range of British bakeware favoured by chefs and professionals, this Samuel Groves Mermaid roaster will become a staple in your kitchen. It’s made of tough stuff, with the hardened aluminium outer coating more rugged than stainless steel, and it’s fine to use metal utensils as they won’t score or scratch. When you first use this tin, give it a wash and then apply a fine coating of oil with some kitchen paper before baking for ten minutes at high heat. Seasoning bakeware this way will improve its non-stick qualities and make a quality pan like this improve as it ages. Your roast potatoes will be a dream for years to come! For that reason, this is not one for the dishwasher, but the extra effort is well worth it. The high, wide handles on this roaster meant it was another that demanded space in the oven – we removed the higher shelf to accommodate it. There was room for a leg of lamb and potatoes for four, however, and our one-tray roast was easy to remove from the oven for basting. Material: Hard-anodised aluminium Size: 32 x 22 x 7cm / 11.5cm (including handles) Maximum temperature: 240C Dishwasher-safe: No Hob-friendly: Yes Guarantee: Lifetime Available from: Harts of Stur (£112.50) Other roasting tins, tried and tested Le Creuset non-stick toughened rectangular roaster, £169 Nordic Ware oven crisp baking tray, £55.30 How to clean a roasting tin Roasting tins are prone to becoming caked in baked-on grease, so a thorough clean after every use is a must. Your first stop is a soak: fill it with boiling water, add some washing up liquid and leave for an hour to soften the debris before giving it a scrub: a non-scratch sponge is best for pans with non-stick coating. You can speed this process up by filling and popping it back in the oven on a low heat for up to 30 minutes before washing. If burnt-on bits remain, sprinkle over bicarbonate of soda and white vinegar in equal amounts, followed by hot water. Soak for half an hour. If the tin doesn’t have a non-stick coating, you can use a scourer with some salt added (as an extra abrasive) to help shift stubborn mess. If you don’t have bicarb and vinegar to hand, try substituting a dishwasher tablet or even biological laundry detergent. Add them to the roasting tin, fill with water, pop on the hob, simmer for 10 minutes or so, then any debris should be easily wiped away. Most manufacturers prefer you to hand-wash roasting pans, always allowing them to cool before immersing in water to avoid metal buckling or cast iron cracking. Many of our selection can be placed in the dishwasher when you don’t have time to don washing-up gloves. How we tested roasting tins We tested using an all-in-one roast combination of chicken thighs, potatoes, garlic (the high sugar content of which makes the unpeeled cloves prone to sticking), lemon wedges and herbs. We looked for an even finish and crispy skin. We judged each roasting tin on several criteria: Non-stick ability: Our most important criteria – whether the tin stood up to is non-stick claims. Handle: Handles or a lip can make moving the tin in and out of the oven easier, but handles that are too high use up valuable oven space. We discounted handles that were either too small, too high or seemingly pointless. Flameproof: Ideally the tin could be used over a gas flame to reduce juices to a gravy or sauce. Maximum temperature: The tin needs to be able to handle high heats over and over again, otherwise it’ll buckle and render itself useless. Durability: As ever, we subjected tins to the Good Food 'drop test' to mimic the effects of long-term kitchen wear and tear. Anything that dented didn’t cut the mustard. Some of the pans we considered were not recommended to be used on direct heat – so, no gravy making on the hob for those – but others could happily warm on induction and even be placed directly under grills or into the freezer once cooled. What to cook in your roasting tin Our best-ever roast recipes Summer roast recipes Vegetarian roast recipes Video: How to make gravy More reviews Best meat thermometers Best casserole dishes Best oven thermometers Best griddle pans Best sauté pans Best cast iron skillet pans Best non-stick frying pans Best dishwashers How to season cast iron More product reviews If you have any questions, suggestions for future reviews or spot anything that has changed in price or availability please get in touch at goodfoodwebsite@immediate.co.uk. Lead image by kajakiki/Getty.
Baking trays are a kitchen staple for making cookies, biscuits, pastries and cakes. Discover our top recommended buys from brands such as Le Creuset, ProCook, Circulon and more
Whether you occasionally whip up a batch of biscuits or an ornate pastry is part of your standard repertoire, a baking tray or cookie sheet is a kitchen basic that can’t really be replaced by anything else. The flat surface is ideal for spreading out your bakes – and because you don't need to spend a lot and it doesn't take up much storage space, this piece of kit is a worthwhile addition to your equipment list. Oven trays can take a bashing as oil residue and charred remains build up over time. So, if you're a regular baker, we'd advise having a baking tray or sheet that you keep especially for those more delicate tasks, to ensure you get the perfect batch every time. That said, we've also included a multi-purpose category for the minimalists out there. Although it's tempting to get a cheap baking tray, we didn’t want to fall foul of false economy. Buying a tray that will last for years saves money and hassle in the long run, but we were keen to try both cheaper brands and more high-end products to find a product to suit everyone's needs. Read on to discover which baking trays came on top when tested by our experts. Best baking trays at a glance Best baking tray: ProCook Non-Stick Granite Baking Tray, £12 Best large baking tray: Circulon Ultimum Insulated Cookie Sheet, £24.99 Best baking tray for cooking frozen food: Circulon Ultimum Large Oven Tray, £19.99 Best non-stick baking tray: Greenpan Bistro Cookie Sheet, £21 Best baking tray for cookies and biscuits: Dexam Non-Stick Cookie Sheet, £13.60 Best budget baking tray set: Habitat Non-Stick 2 Piece Oven Baking Trays, £3.50 Best UK-made baking tray: Lakeland Standard Baking Tray, £4.99 Best investment baking tray: Le Creuset insulated cookie sheet, £40 Best glass baking tray: Pyrex multi-purpose glass cooking sheet, £14.39 Jump to section: Best baking trays to buy in 2025 How to clean a baking tray How we test baking trays Best baking trays to buy in 2025 ProCook non-stick granite baking tray Available from ProCook (£12) Best baking tray Pros: Medium-sized, ideal for a range of tasks Ceramic reinforced non-stick Rest of range stacks inside for storage Cons: Heavy Star rating: 5/5 If you’re looking for a good all-rounder, ProCook’s Non-Stick Granite Baking Tray might just tick everything on your wish list. Not too big that it’s tricky to take in and out of your oven and store, and not so small you can’t fit much on it, it’s weighty enough not to warp with temperature changes, came with minimal packaging, and its non-stick coating performed brilliantly. In testing, our cookies slid off the surface effortlessly and only left a tiny amount of chocolate chip residue behind. Cleaning by hand only needed a quick wipe and we were done. The tray felt sturdy and looked attractive too, thanks to its glossy ceramic-reinforced coating. The only possible issue could be its 835g weight – if you’re loading it with food, it would be a two-hand carry. Material: 1mm heavy-gauge carbon steel Sizes available: 36 x 27cm (reviewed), 41 x 31cm, 31 x 23cm, 26 x 19.5cm Dishwasher-safe: Yes, on a gentle cycle Guarantee: 10 years Available from: ProCook (£12) Circulon Ultimum insulated cookie sheet Available from Circulon (£24.99) Best large baking tray Pros: Insulated for even browning Grooved non-stick surface Large Cons: Grooves can be tricky to clean by hand Not suitable for non-stick spray Star rating: 5/5 While most baking trays offer a flat surface, Circulon’s Ultimum Insulated Cookie Sheet features grooves, rather like a vinyl record, that aim to prevent your baked goods taking hold and never letting go. The same surface pops up on the rest of the range, such as the large baking tray we also reviewed. In practice, we found that the grooves worked quite well – cookies detached easily and, while their underside was slightly ridged, as you might expect, they were beautifully browned. This may also be due to the fact that the cookie sheet is insulated with an air pocket that prevents intense heat burning your biscuits. The only thing we didn’t like was that after the sheet had dried after hand-washing, we discovered a small amount of chocolate chip residue down the side of the grooves, which had escaped our sponge the first time, and needed a minor re-wash. Material: Carbon steel Sizes available: 40.5cm x 35.5cm x 2.5cm Dishwasher-safe: Yes, but hand-washing recommended Guarantee: Limited lifetime Available from: Circulon (£24.99) undefined Circulon Ultimum large oven tray Available from Circulon (£19.99) Best baking tray for cooking frozen food Pros: Baked foods release with ease Grooved surface Good-sized lip Cons: Grooves can be a little hard to clean Star rating: 5/5 If you like the sound of Circulon’s cookie sheet (above) but don’t have the space for it, or need a good-sized lip to prevent liquids escaping, the brand’s large oven tray may be a better fit. It still features the same grooved system, with its plus point of food detaching easily, but also has the potential to require thorough cleaning to remove any debris. What we especially liked about this one is that it’s brilliant for more than just baking. For example, if you’re cooking food from frozen, its weighty form resists any warping from temperature changes – something we discovered by placing the hot tray on a cold worktop, which had caused others to buckle. This means the tray is perfect for regular use, making it a great-value buy for the price. Material: Carbon steel Sizes available: 33cm x 37.5cm x 1cm, 28cm x 44.5cm x 2.5cm (reviewed), 29.5cm x 20cm x 2.5cm Dishwasher-safe: Yes Guarantee: Limited lifetime Available from: Circulon (£19.99) undefined Greenpan Bistro cookie sheet Available from Harts of Stur (£21) Best non-stick baking tray Pros: PFAS-free two-layer non stick Chunky twin handles Cons: Needs to be greased before use Short guarantee Star rating: 5/5 Greenpan’s Bistro Cookie Sheet is less of a sheet and more of a medium-sized baking tray, but despite the misleading name, it has some practical features that are sure to make it a favourite in your kitchen. The first is that it feels robust and durable. Next is its good-sized handles either side, which made getting it out of the oven and carrying around the kitchen easier than some others that we tested. But it was the non-stick coating that wowed us the most, and was one of the best we tested: our cookies came off perfectly, leaving only butter residue to show that they had ever been there at all. Our only quibble is that it’s on the pricey side for its size. Material: Carbon Steel Sizes available: 38cm x 24cm Dishwasher-safe: Yes Guarantee: 2 years Available from: Harts of Stur (£21) undefined Dexam non-stick cookie sheet Available from Amazon (£13.60) Best baking tray for cookies and biscuits Pros: PFOA-free Excellent non-stick coating Cons: Not dishwasher suitable Only for up to 230C Star rating: 4.5/5 Cookies can have a habit of spreading, so if you need as much surface area as possible, Dexam’s Non-Stick Cookie Sheet is a great choice. That’s because, thanks to its slim lips, there’s plenty of area for cookies galore – even the ones that like to go far and wide. The lips are on three sides, so whichever way the tray goes in, it’s easy to retrieve from the oven, with one flat side so your goodies can slide right off. And slide off they do – this is another one of the trays we tested that left barely any residue behind – just a smear of butter. Our cookies were pleasingly browned at the edges and baked underneath, and clean up was quick. Our only bugbear is that this is very much a tray for baking – the lips don’t join at the corners, so any liquid could create a mess – and is less suitable for everyday use. Material: Steel Sizes available: 42cm x 31.5cm x 1.2cm Dishwasher-safe: No Guarantee: 25 years Available from: Amazon (£13.60) undefined Habitat non-stick 2-piece baking trays Available from Argos (£3.50) Best budget baking tray set Pros: Affordable Compact Cons: Short guarantee Star rating: 4/5 Heating up and running an oven for a while can be expensive, meaning that in order to maximise the cost, it’s advisable to use up spare space when you can. Small oven trays are a gift for this: squeezing in besides the roast or at the bottom of the cavity to cook other foods. These twin trays by Habitat are an affordable price too, and while they might not fit much on, for a basic buy they performed well. Our cookies released easily, only leaving a little chocolate chip residue behind, and browned evenly, and while the trays can only withstand up to 230°C and only have a year’s guarantee, we felt that for the price and versatility they offered, they were still good value. Material: Carbon steel Sizes available: 24.1cm x 17.8cm x 2cm Dishwasher-safe: Yes Guarantee: 1 year undefined Lakeland standard baking tray Available from Lakeland (£4.99) Best UK-made baking tray Pros: Made in the UK Affordable Coil-coated PFOA-free non-stick Cons: Thinner tray can temporarily buckle Greasing or baking paper advisable Star rating: 4/5 Slimmer than most, Lakeland’s Standard Baking Tray has much to offer. This includes UK manufacture (it’s made in Accrington and coated in Birmingham), meaning a lower carbon footprint than all the other trays we tested, which were made in China. It’s also priced affordably and is dishwasher-safe. While it doesn’t have a huge amount of surface space, it’s enough for a small batch of biscuits, some chips, or whipping up some emergency nibbles. Because it’s shallow, you could even pop it alongside a roast dinner to maximise your oven space. In testing, the performance was respectable – our cookies baked well, but some of the chocolate chips adhered to the surface and were removed from the bases, meaning that this is one you’ll want to grease well or use with baking parchment. We also noticed that it buckled when taken out of the oven and placed on a cold worktop, though it did return to its shape when cool. Material: High-grade 0.6mm carbon steel Sizes available: 30cm x 21.5cm x 1.5cm Dishwasher-safe: Yes but hand-washing recommend Guarantee: 3 years undefined Le Creuset insulated cookie sheet Available from Le Creuset (£40) Best investment baking tray Pros: Practical grip and ridges Even heat conductivity Resistant up to 240C lifetime warranty Cons: High price point If you don't plan on buying another baking sheet for a while, look this way. This one feels like an ultra-durable piece of kit which will keep you right for years of frequent baking. It comes with a large square surface area for maximum baking capacity, and has both a grip and ridges on the handle, ensuring you won't send your food flying. Heat conduction was superb too, producing biscuits that were beautifully brown and crisp on the bottom but not too hard in the middle. This is described as a ‘cookie sheet’ but will work for all your baking needs as well as shallow roasting (without oil). Material: non-stick coated carbon steel Sizes available: 38 x 35 x 2cm Dishwasher-safe: not recommended Guarantee: Lifetime warranty undefined Pyrex multi-purpose glass cooking sheet Available from Harts of Stur (£14.39) Best glass baking tray Pros: Scratch resistent Tough and long-lasting Suitable up to 300C Shock resistant from cold to hot temperatures Cons: No non-stick surface Hefty to lift Many of today’s non-stick materials have been made PFOA-free but may still contain similar compounds in small amounts. For people who want to minimise their exposure to chemicals in the home, glass makes a great alternative. Despite the lack of non-stick surface, cookies were still easy to remove and cleaning wasn’t a problem. This is a heavier tray than the metal alternatives, but glass is tough and long-lasting, can be put in the dishwasher without compromise and is microwave-safe too. Heat conduction is slower, so expect your biscuits to take longer – which works out great anyway if you prefer a soft bake. Material: Pressed borosilicate glass Sizes available: 32 x 26 x 2cm Dishwasher-safe: yes Guarantee: Lifetime warranty undefined How to clean a baking tray For many of us, cleaning up is the least exciting part of baking. If you have a dishwasher, it’s tempting to pop your dirty non-stick baking trays in with everything else, especially if they’re labelled dishwasher safe. However, it’s better to clean them by hand: not only does this preserve the coating, if they’re sufficiently non-stick to start with, cleaning trays should take seconds, and won’t fill up your dishwasher with their bulk. Always use products that are gentle on the surface: a non-scratch sponge scourer is ideal, along with washing-up liquid. Trays with stubborn debris may need half an hour’s soak in very hot water with washing-up liquid to loosen it beforehand. If the tray is still grubby, try a soak for around an hour in hot water with a handful of bicarbonate of soda. For more stubborn grime, sprinkle over bicarbonate of soda followed by white vinegar. Leave for 30 minutes then clean away with a non-scratch sponge scourer. How we test baking trays Sturdiness: We looked for a tray that was sturdy enough to withstand high heats and frequent use. Weight: Too light and it was a little too easy to send the contents flying – overly heavy and a laden tray proved difficult to wield. The sweet spot rested in between the two. Non-stickability: We wanted trays with a good-quality non-stick surface to stand the test of time, minimising the need for additional single-use liners like baking parchment and foil. Ease of use/practicality: A lip to hold on to is a bonus, but thick ridges round the edges reduce the cooking space. Effective non-stick surfaces were given extra points because we like an easy clean-up operation. Dishwasher or hand-wash: We chose both, because even dishwasher-safe non-stick surfaces tend to dull and deteriorate in the machine over time. We recommend hand-washing regardless to keep your trays at their best. How we tested: We put all the trays through their paces using our classic vintage chocolate chip cookie recipe, dolloping the biscuit mix straight on the tray. With plenty of butter in the mixture, we ruled that the biscuits should come off easily with no additional greasing or parchment. More bakeware product reviews Best spatulas Best flour shakers Best pastry brushes Best icing turntables Best marble rolling pins Best rolling pins Best piping bags Best cooling racks Best baking sheets Best stand mixers Best jelly moulds Do you have a trusty baking sheet you couldn’t live without? We’d like to hear your product recommendations...