The Best Lasagna Pan

Buying Guide

Whether you’re serving a family dinner or preparing a special party dish, lasagna is a classic Italian dish sure to please many. While traditionally containing noodles, pasta sauce, cheese, meat, egg, herbs and spices, this dish is very versatile since you can always substitute ingredients for creative flavors. You’ll just need to make sure you get an appropriate lasagna pan to make this tasty dish at home.

Many lasagna pans look similar in shape and design. They’re most often rectangular or square for versatility and easy scooping, but round pans do exist. Many pans have deep sides so that you can make many layers without having to worry about ingredients spilling over. Plus, they usually have ergonomic handles that make it easy to move and carry a heavy pan of food.

As you look at pans in different sizes, think about how many people you’ll serve and how you’ll bake the lasagna. The most popular size for a traditional home oven measures around 13 inches long. You can find longer pans, but they’re often for oversized or commercial ovens. If you’d like to make small portions or use a toaster oven, look for mini pans measuring 10 inches or less long. 

While many lasagna pans have nonstick surfaces, they’re made from various materials. If you don’t mind less durability and potential variations in cooking performance, ceramic and glass pans look nice and allow for easy cleaning. Iron pans offer durability but can rust, while stainless steel pans are sturdy, heat up well, don’t rust and prevent flavor absorption. Less common, silicone lasagna pans are lightweight and hard to break, but their flexible design offers little support.

When deciding between lasagna pan materials, weigh the pros and cons and consider your cooking needs and preferences. For example, ceramic pans help prevent issues with flavor if that’s your concern, while you’d probably want a metal or silicone pan if you’re focusing on durability. You might also check whether the manufacturer says the particular pan material is safe for using in the dishwasher or cooking at a certain temperature.

• Since you’ll be putting food in the lasagna pan, make sure it doesn’t contain any dangerous chemicals such lead, cadmium or perfluorooctanoic acid. The product’s description will often disclose this.
• It’s a good idea to wash your lasagna pan before you first use it. You’ll also want to thoroughly clean it after you finish serving the lasagna. While manufacturers often recommend that you wash a ceramic pan, you can usually put other types in the dishwasher as long as you avoid harsh chemicals. Dish soap and water work fine for hand washing, but you’ll probably want to get a sponge or small brush to scrub off food residues more easily.
• If you usually line your pans with parchment paper to prevent sticking, you should avoid doing this when cooking lasagna. Instead, use sauce on the bottom or grease up the pan. The non-stick surface typical of these pans will also help prevent your lasagna from getting stuck.
• You should use a lid or put some aluminum foil over the lasagna pan for cooking. Otherwise, you could end up with dried-out lasagna. Some recipes may call for removing the foil after a certain time.
• While recipe instructions vary, it usually takes up to an hour to bake lasagna at 375 degrees Fahrenheit. If you use a lower temperature of 350 degrees, this might add 15 minutes to the cooking time. Note that starting with cold or frozen lasagna extends the cooking time slightly. 
• A filled lasagna pan can be very heavy, so be careful putting it in and taking it out of your oven. You don’t want to risk getting burned, dropping the lasagna or breaking the pan.
• Put your remaining lasagna in the freezer or fridge to enjoy later. Leftovers should stay good for up to five days if refrigerated or three months if frozen.
• Reheating the lasagna in a microwave is possible, but avoid cooking it for too long or you can end up with a mess from the lasagna popping. To prevent issues, set short cooking increments such as 75 seconds and check the lasagna before heating it further.