please help me buy a roasting pan!

[kbucky]

I really need to buy my own roasting pan, and I would love to hear some recommendations. Deep in the recesses of my brain, I seem to remember that CL reviewed some a while ago, but since my back issues are scattered throughout the house, I don't want to look through every one to try and find the article that may actually exist. Anyone know which issue that might have been?

I don't want to spend alot (who ever says they WANT to spend alot?) but I do want something high-quality and easy to clean. Do folks like the V-shaped roast holder? Seems that would be a nice option for tenderloin...

Thanks for your help!

[funnybone]

Your timing is great. I was sent this the other day from Cooks Illustrated (e-mail sign up)

RATING RACKS AND ROASTERS

Best Roasting Rack

Our top-rated roasting racks combine stability with a design that allows for moist meat and evenly browned, crisp skin. For a rack that stays put when rotating the chicken and that exposes the entire chicken for even browning, we prefer nonadjustable racks to vertical or adjustable models. We recommend the Cradle Rack by Amco, available at Kitchenetc for $19.99 (SKU #790147; 800-232-4070; ww.kitchenetc.com) or the Nonadjustable V-Rack by Mauviel, available at Williams-Sonoma stores nationwide for $18 (item #81-45179;877-812-6235; www.williams-sonoma.com).

Best Roasting Pans

A roasting pan is not a critical piece of equipment for roasting a chicken (any shallow, heatproof pan will work), but with the holidays around the corner it may be something you want to invest in for cooking turkeys or large roasts. Our top-rated roasting pan, the All-Clad Stainless Steel Roti Pan, costs more than $200, but if you do a lot of roasting, you can't ask for better performance. With sturdy handles and a heavy feel, this pan will suit all your roasting needs for a lifetime. You can order it at Amazon.com (www.amazon.com) for $219 and receive free shipping for a limited time. If you roast only occasionally, try our best buy: Columbian Home Product's Granite Ware Extra large Capacity Oval Roaster #0510-4, which you can find in local hardware stores or at Lehman's, where the cost is $22.95 (888-438-5346; www.Lehmans.com).

[ElinorC]

Thanks Funnybone for the timely reviews. I need a new rack and this is very helpful.

[Kjente2]

I actually won a roasting pan...I saw it at Macy's "Tools of the Trade" when a friend wanted one like mine. The only thing that I don't like about it is that its nonstick. I'd look for one that fits your oven first (it fit mine, but when I joined DH, it didn't fit the oven), I'd look for good solid heavy rivits in the handles..I wouldn't want the handles to be too shallow. This one came with a nice perk of a roasting rack. The regular price on it at that time was about 100 dollars, she ended up getting it for I believe 25 at a preholiday sale. Heavy duty is good, but not so much so that you can't pick it up when you have a good sized turkey in it. I use this to brown everything for soup stocks (I roast it all for both chicken and beef stock). Happy shopping!

[CindyWeightWatcher]

Wow, you guys are quick! I read the question
and was going to post the Cooks Illustrated
review and then saw that Funnybone did. I
think that is great. The wonder of collective minds. Such a great thing!

[kbucky]

Thanks everyone! I must admit I am now more conflicted about what I should actually buy...the Cook's Illustrated article makes me think maybe I shouldn't actually purchase a 'roasting pan', maybe just a rack sitting on my jelly-roll pan will do, since I don't roast so often...

I would think that the enclosure of the roasting pan would make for a juicier roast, but maybe it's just my imagination...

[Kjente2]

evening! you may want to rethink the jelly roll pan..the sides are low, you'd end up with some nasty spatters and it may not be deep enough if you wanted to make gravy or sauce from the juices...something else with higher sides though..I do like like having one.

[Laura B]

If you don't want to invest in a roasting pan, maybe you could try a metal lasagna type pan with a rack in it. By that I mean one of those 9 x 13 pans that you use for brownies, lasagna, etc. I have one that cost about 5 dollars by Ecko. I agree with kjente2 that a jelly roll pan would not be good, but trying a pan with higher sides may work in a pinch.

[kbucky]

Yeah, I guess I was saying jelly roll without thinking about the splattering and such. It's just a nice size...just seems like my 9X13 pans would be small for the big bird. See, I've been using those cooking bags with our turkeys for as long as I've done Thanksgiving, so the escaping juices have not been an issue...

[Laura B]

True. I had not thought about the size. Honestly, I think that you can get a great roasting pan for under one hundred dollars, and it is a great investment. So, my real advice would be to just buy a real roasting pan at whatever price you feel comfortable. Even ifyou don't use it all the time, you will be glad you have it when you need it (at the very least, every Thanksgiving). Williams-Sonoma sells one by Mauviel that I want. They have three sizes, and I think all three are under one hundred. The largest may be just over 100.

[funnybone]

If you really don't want to buy one, you can buy a disposable aluminum one and sit it on your jelly roll pan for support. That way you don't even have to wash it out.

By the way, I was channel surfing last night and HSN had a nice non-stick Ultrex with a lid, a stainless baster, and a rack for under $70. I think you could make 2 payments too. It looked nice. The lid was non stick too, so it could be used as well. I think they mentioned it was selling out though. I couldn't find it on their site.

[kbucky]

funnybone--you are so sweet...you keep running across things of interest to me! (toddler black tights :) ) Fortunately for our bank account, we don't get the HSN...

I think I saw the Granite Ware roasting pan referenced in the CI article at Wegman's this week...I may go back and grab it, as it is so cheap.

Thanks!

[Vanessa]

Hi. DH got me a Calphalon roasting pan It has a rack not so much v shape since it is a bit flatter on the bottom but great. I also have another roasting pan (cheaper one) & got a v shape roasting holder which works well. I thought Dh's roasting pan was huge but one Xmas he came home with a 17 pound fresh ham and it surely came in handy!
IMO before buying one decide how big you need one how many times you will use it etc. There are many brands in the market which are very good

[Kismet]

Hi all!

Just reviving an old thread to get some new thoughts. I am hosting Thanksgiving this year and would really, really like to get an actual roasting pan. I've been looking around a bit and found this one on cooking.com:

http://www.cooking.com/products/shprodde.asp?SKU=167803

It seems like it might be a good deal. Any thoughts? I have Calphalon non-stick cookware that I love, so I think I would like this one, too.

Thanks in advance! :D

[jphilg]

I have the Calphalon non-non-stick pan, and I love it. But I wouldn't get a non-stick roasting pan. The whole point of roasting (in my mind) is the great caramelization that you get, and non-stick inhibits caramelization. Also, you need to scrape up the goo to make gravy, and you'd gouge the heck out of your pan the very first year.

Consider the "stick" one. I know that Crate and Barrel carries it open-stock; I think it is about 60 dollars.

[Kismet]

Thanks for the input, Jen. Then, how about this one?

http://www.cooking.com/products/shprodde.asp?SKU=167796

[jphilg]

That is the one I have, and I love it. It is quite heavy, especially when loaded with The Bird, but I like that...I have seen my mom's old pans buckle and sag with heavy stuff, so I love the fact that this is so sturdy.

It is great for turkey, roast chickens, roasted veggies for a crowd, or the world's largest lasagne (which I made for 20 one weekend).

The only downside is that it is so big that I have to store it in the basement. But that is more a downside of my house than of the pan.

I think that is a good price....I know that this pan gets carried by a lot of stores this time of year, and if you have time, you could save a couple of bucks by picking it up in person rather than having it shipped.

Jen