“When choosing a pan, try and choose one you love, or at least like, because the two of you will probably be spending a lot of time together,” Tangorra adds. You’ll want to consider size, material, budget, weight, portability, and how well it handles temperature highs and lows. Plus, versatility: A good lasagna pan can handle many other cooking jobs, like casseroles, roasted vegetables (or meat or poultry), meatloaf, au gratins, and even cake. We found the All Clad Lasagna Baker with Lid checks off many of those boxes—and then some—which is why it’s our top choice. Ultimately though, it will be a personal decision, says Anna Hezel, author of “Lasagna: A Baked Pasta Cookbook.” “It depends on what size of lasagna you’re making, and what vessel you’ll be happy to bring on over to the dinner table and use as a serving dish. Or, if you’re bringing the lasagna to a friend, it might be the dish that you’re most willing to part with for a few weeks,” she says. I sifted through dozens of lasagna pans and consulted our experts to determine the top options. Here, my picks for the best lasagna pans to hold your layered masterpiece. What We Don’t Love: Its large size might make it difficult to fit in certain cabinets, some reviewers have trouble getting the lid on and off This durable workhorse can be used for anything from lasagna to roasted veggies, and the heavy-gauge stainless steel is relatively lightweight. It also gives even heat retention and can handle extremely high oven temperatures. The rounded edges make it easy to slide a spatula under the lasagna, and the pan is extra-large at 15 inches long and 2 inches wide. The sturdy handles stick out a few inches, making it easy to grab hold of, and it comes with a BPA-free plastic lid for storing, even in the fridge (but the lid cannot go in the oven). “In my experience, metal pans get the best crust around the edges, which is a plus for me,” says Hezel. This lasagna pan is safe to put in the dishwasher, but it’s also easy to hand wash—soak in mild soap to remove crusted-on bits. Ideal for cooking in, its mirrored finish also makes it attractive enough to go from oven to table. Price at time of publish: $100 Material: Stainless steel, BPA-free plastic lid | Dimensions (LxWxH): 15 x 12 x 2.75 inches | Weight: 6 pounds | Heat Resistance: Up to 600 degrees F | Dishwasher-Safe? Yes What We Don’t Love: A bit shallow, glass is fragile Every kitchen should have one of these affordable Pyrex glass baking dishes in it, which can be used for everything from lasagna to cake to enchiladas. The lightweight tempered glass is non-reactive to acidic ingredients like tomatoes, not to mention it allows you to see your cooking’s progress. Metal utensils won’t harm it, and it’s dishwasher- and microwave-safe. While glass isn’t as good a conductor of heat as metal, it does retain heat well. The handy lid allows for easy storage and transport, and maybe this is a pan you won’t mind parting with for a few weeks if you bring a lasagna over to a friend. Note that the handles are short, which makes for easy storage but may be hard to grab onto with oven mitts. Also, tempered glass cannot handle thermal shock, meaning it cannot undergo extreme temperature changes (like going straight from a freezer to a very hot oven) because it might crack. Price at time of publish: $16 Material: Glass and BPA-free plastic lid | Dimensions (LxWxH): 16.6 x 9.8 x 2.5 inches | Weight: 3.1 pounds | Heat Resistance: Up to 425 degrees F | Dishwasher-Safe? Yes What We Don’t Love: The lid feels cheap and is not airtight If you like a lot of layers in your lasagna, this massive pan is 4 inches deep. The durable stainless steel doesn’t weigh a lot though, making it even more ideal for a large, heavy lasagna. “I like four layers because I find the filling-to-pasta ratio works best in a 4-inch deep pan, and it cooks evenly, avoiding a burnt bottom and a soggy, undercooked center,” says Tangorra. Plus, this extremely affordable pan comes with a plastic cover (it’s not airtight though), a spatula for serving, and a roasting rack—so you can also use it for roasting poultry, meat, and vegetables. The handles on the pan fold down, which is great for space-saving. It’s also dishwasher-safe and can handle fairly high oven temperatures. Price at time of publish: $25 Material: Stainless Steel | Dimensions (LxWxH): 14.25 x 10.5 x 4 inches | Weight: 1 pound | Heat Resistance: Up to 450 degrees F | Dishwasher-Safe? Yes What We Don’t Love: The nonstick coating means you shouldn’t use metal utensils with it; the narrow channels might not work with a lot of spatulas This ingenious pan is perfect for those dealing with different dietary needs or desires, or if you just feel like experimenting. The pan has three separate wells that allow you to make three different recipes at once, or you can use it to easily divide one recipe to share with various people. It also gives the most crispy edges possible, which is enhanced by the dark metal coating. Each well is sized to the measurements of a standard lasagna noodle, but you’ll want to check your noodles to make sure they fit. The nonstick coating allows for easy release and cleanup, which is great for all those browned edges. This pan also works well for meatloaf, loaf cakes, quick breads, and loaves of bread. Price at time of publish: $20 Material: Steel | Dimensions (LxWxH): 13 x 3 x 1.5 inches per row, three rows | Heat Resistance: Up to 450 degrees F | Dishwasher-Safe? Yes, but hand washing is recommended What We Don’t Love: Breakable, heavy This large and deep pan made of sturdy Burgundian clay from France can handle very high temperatures and is very resistant to thermal shock, so it can easily go from freezer to oven and back without getting damaged. It also retains heat very well, ensuring your lasagna will stay hot on the table. Which brings us to another great aspect of this pan—it’s definitely attractive enough to go from oven to table. Plus, the handles slope upward, making them easy to grip and they take up a little less room. However, this probably isn’t a pan you’ll want to take to someone’s house as it’s rather heavy and could break if dropped. Price at time of publish: $70 Material: Ceramic | Dimensions (LxWxH): 13 x 9 x 3 inches | Weight: 5.5 pounds | Heat Resistance: Up to 520 degrees F | Dishwasher-Safe? Yes What We Don’t Love: On the shallow side, breakable and can chip This all-white porcelain dish with handles will make your lasagna look good no matter what, and its elegant design will never go out of style. Best of all, the matching lid doubles as a trivet to use on the table when you remove the pan from the hot oven. This pan is also great for cooking vegetables, meats, and other casseroles. The smooth porcelain is dishwasher-safe and can handle temperatures of up to 450 degrees. Just note that it is breakable and on the heavier side, especially with the lid on. Price at time of publish: $75 Material: Porcelain | Dimensions (LxWxH): 13.25 x 9.5 x 2.5 inches | Weight: 7 pounds | Heat Resistance: Up to 450 degrees F | Dishwasher-Safe? Yes
What to Look for When Buying Lasagna Pans
Material
Lasagna pans come in a variety of materials, from stainless steel to ceramic to glass to cast iron, along with porcelain and aluminum. Consider durability, quality, how well the material retains and distributes heat, and how high a temperature it can handle. Be aware that some material scratches more easily from metal utensils. Consider weight, as well: A large lasagna can add upward of 10 pounds to your pan, so consider how easily you’ll be able to lift a heavy pan like cast iron or heavy-gauge stainless steel once the lasagna is inside. And while glass is lightweight and versatile, it can also shatter if dropped.
Size
Most lasagna pans are rectangular and measure 13 by 9 inches (although square can work if you want a smaller version). They should be at least 2.5 inches deep to ensure all the layers you get out of the average box of lasagna noodles can fit; a shallower pan won’t be able to hold all the necessary layers. If you like your lasagnas really thick, you may want a pan as deep as 4 or 5 inches. The width and length are also important because you’ll want to make sure the pan fits multiple rows of lasagna noodles.
Heat Resistance
Lasagna needs to be cooked at pretty high temperatures, especially if you like crispy edges and a brown, bubbly top that might call for a stint under the broiler. So make sure your pan can handle high heats. You’ll also want it to retain heat for as long as possible, so your dish remains hot for serving. If you plan on freezing your lasagna, you may want to make sure your pan can handle thermal shock so it can go directly from oven to freezer or vice versa without cracking.
Portability
You should also consider portability if you think you’ll be bringing your lasagna to lots of potlucks or other events. Some pans come with covers, which are great for storage and transport. You should also look at how large the handles are to determine how easy it will be to hold and move with oven mitts on.
Do I have to grease the bottom of my lasagna pan?
People are divided on whether or not you need to grease a lasagna pan. “I generally butter the bottom of the lasagna pan or brush some olive oil across the bottom,” says Hezel. On the other hand, Tangorra says, “I use a bit of whatever sauce I’m adding to the lasagna, and a bit of water or milk, if I’m making a white lasagna with béchamel.” Generally, if you put sauce on the bottom of the pan, you should be able to easily cut and remove slices from the pan, although cleaning might require soaking to get all the burned bits off the edges. That said, greasing the pan will probably help with cleanup, especially for stainless steel.
Is glass or metal better for baking lasagna?
Each material has pros and cons. Glass is lightweight, easy to clean, and good for transferring your lasagna from oven to freezer or fridge to microwave, but it is susceptible to thermal shock from quick temperature changes. And of course, glass is breakable and will shatter if dropped. Metal is also lighter weight and is virtually shatter-proof. It can also withstand very high temperatures so if you like to broil your lasagna, it is a good option. Darker metal can also help with browning and crispy edges. If you go with metal, look for a pan that is warp-resistant—stainless steel is usually the best option. Be aware that stainless steel pans can be harder to clean, even if they are dishwasher-safe, but soaking often helps.
Why Trust Simply Recipes?
Devorah Lev-Tov is a freelance journalist who specializes in food and beverage trends, recipes, and products. For this piece, she consulted third-party customer reviews, spoke to experts, and got in touch with the lasagna obsession she has enjoyed since childhood. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband, son, and dog—who also all love lasagna.
