Aluminum Vs Steel Baking Sheets

Aluminum heats quickly and cools quickly.

Aluminum vs steel baking sheets.

Some bakers prefer baking sheets with nonstick coating for faster cleanup. How do you decide between stainless steel copper aluminum cast iron and glass baking pans. Heavy gauge aluminum or aluminized steel baking sheets provide even heat distribution. Although sheets also come in aluminized steel and even tri ply construction an aluminum core sandwiched by stainless steel bare aluminum conducts heat more efficiently especially for baking.

Most baking sheets also called cookie sheets are either uncoated aluminum or nonstick coated steel. Thicker sheets are durable and made to last without warping that can occur in thinner pans. So while the reviews generally tend to point as nordic ware as one of the best i won t buy it as it aluminum still reacts to food unless stainless steel and more importantly it is not dishwasher safe. These pans cost between 11 and 15 and are ideal for everything from baking cookies pastries and breads to roasting cuts of meats and vegetables typically half sheets measure 13 by 18 inches the perfect size since most ovens have an interior rack that measures 22 inches wide for optimal results several inches are needed around.

When it comes to pan sizes the most common size for home ovens is the half sheet pan. Double thick aluminum half sheet pans with rolled edges. Aluminium actually has a higher heat capacity than steel but because it is so light it does not hold it. After all durability versatility and beauty are impressive traits to possess.

From my own research the best baking sheets are not aluminum but stainless steel. Because these pans tend to be darker than plain aluminum sheets they cook food faster as well. Aluminized steel cookie sheets can be more durable i e less likely to get warped dented or corroded but also heat up faster than aluminum and could cause a burned batch if not careful. On most cooking shows you ll see the chefs using stainless steel.

Stainless steel is not a great conductor of heat and so will take a lot longer heat up evenly then say aluminum will but because of the difference in weight it will hold heat for longer. While some aluminum cookie sheets do a great job many bakers agree that stainless steel cookie sheets are the way to go and a top piece of kitchenware to have to hand. Steel cookie sheets take longer to heat up but they retain heat.