Alexandra Ramirez
1. WearEver
Best Overall Cookie Sheet
5/5 Product Rating
The Non-stick feature prevents scratches on the exterior and interior of the Cookie Sheet. The top quality construction also provides for even heat distribution. It is heavy and will not warp even when baking at higher temperatures. The pan also does an excellent job of retaining heat which helps the food cook evenly.
One of the best features that customers are impressed with is that the WearEver 68201 Commercial Nonstick Bakeware 17-Inch by 11-Inch Large Non-stick Baking Sheet, Silver can be washed in the dishwasher. This allows even the messiest cooking incidents to be cleaned without any extra effort. However, you certainly do not have to worry about messes being hard to clean on this Cookie Sheet because the non-stick feature prevents food from sticking to the product without any additional prep work or cooking spray. This provides for easy clean up, generally with a soapy rag.
This Cookie Sheet is 17 x 11 x 0.9 inches in size allowing it to easily fit into your oven. The Cookie Sheet only weighs 2.8 pounds, which allows you to place the food products you want to bake into the oven without worrying about everything spilling upon its exit. The sides are high enough to catch foods and can be used when baking foods that need water in the cooking sheet, like soufflés.
Even after constant usage this cookie sheet will not buckle and warps likemost others on the market, due to its heavy duty construction. Customers have tried the WearEver 68201 Commercial Nonstick Bakeware Baking Sheet in temperatures up to 450 degrees without any warping or buckling because they are created to hold and withstand heat well.
Customers enjoy the nonstick feature that the WearEver 68201 Commercial Nonstick Bakeware offers. Instead of having to grease the cookie sheet, customers agree you can easily cook your food products without any sticking. Cleaning is also very simple and without the grease residue that would be left if a cooking spray was used.
The most common disappointment is that if the baking sheet is used at high temperatures like 500 degrees or with the broiler on high, over time it may begin to warp and buckle. However, if you use the product with lower temperatures, it will last longer.
Cookie Sheets usually range in price between five and thirty dollars. Commercial grade and top quality cooking sheets will be more expensive than those made of lower grade materials. In this market a higher price generally reflect a sturdier pan, and thicker materials that will stand up to higher levels of use. This Cookie Sheet is among the higher end options due to its design and the thickness of the pan and non-stick coating. The process of bonding the coating to the pan produces a higher quality product that resist scratching.
– Sarah Lytle
2. Nordic Ware
Best Overall Cookie Sheet – Runner Up
4.9/5 Product Rating
While you can only wash the Nordic Aluminum Commercial Baker’s Half Sheet by hand, this helps make the Cookie Sheet last longer without potential side effects that can occur when using in the dishwasher. Cleanup is very simple and it can usually be cleaned by wiping it down with a soapy rag. The aluminum construction resists sticking providing a product that cleans up in a snap. The baking sheet is made in the USA, and provides a top quality product that is both practical and durable.
This cookie sheet has rims that are constructed from steel that is encapsulated. This feature reduces warping and will help it to last longer. The product itself is made out of pure aluminum making it so the cookie sheet will never rust and will last you a lifetime. The pure aluminum material also allows any of your baked goods to rise and cook evenly due to the superior conductivity of heat throughout the entire cookie sheet.
The Nordic Ware Natural Aluminum Commercial Baker’s Half Sheet was designed for commercial use offering a durable product that is built to stand up to frequent use and higher temperatures. The ability to own a commercially built cookie sheet, will give you a top quality kitchen appliance, which if cared for, can last a lifetime. This cookie sheet will exceed all of your expectations due to its strong construction and rimmed edges that keep the product from warping over time. The aluminum material will also allow your food products to evenly bake and brown consistently without overbrowning the bottoms. This baking sheet is also lighter in color. Lighter color cookie sheets allow the cookie sheets to brown your cookies to perfection instead of cooking the bottoms faster than the top of your baked goods, which occurs with darker colored sheets.
Another great benefit of the Nordic Ware Natural Aluminum Commercial Baker’s Half Sheet is the edges. The edges of this cookie sheet are oversized allowing you to easily grasp the cookie sheet when putting it in or taking it out of the oven. This feature prevents burns, spills, and makes baking cookies and other baked goods easier than ever before.
Customers believe that the Nordic Ware Natural Aluminum Commercial Baker’s Half Sheet is a dream come true. This Cookie Sheet is available in a variety of sizes and combinations, allowing you to own the sizes that will meet your baking needs. Customers love that the product is made in America and customers agree this does impact the quality of the Cookie Sheet. The top quality material is built to last. Customers rave that the sheets will not rust, which is a major issue with lower quality products.
The main challenge customers have with the product are issues with shipping and receiving products that are damaged, some arriving with scratches or dents. The company, however, is very responsive to customer issues and customers find that the products are quickly replaced with a new undamaged product.
– Sarah Lytle
3. AirBake
Best Budget Cookie Sheet
4.7/5 Product Rating
The AirBake Natural 2 Pack Cookie Sheet provides an insulated sheet, making it unique in the industry. This modern cookie sheet provides technology that reduces cooking times. This cookie sheet has technology known as a micro-dome. The micro-dome will shorten your baking times up to 15%. While 15% may not seem like a big difference when it comes to cooking times, it will allow you to bake more cookies and larger projects faster. How the cookie sheet works is there are two heavy duty aluminum sheets. The aluminum sheets surround a thin layer of air that is sealed. With the additional layer of air, the cookie sheet temperature is prevented from getting too hot which reduces overcooking and burning of the bottom of your cookies or breads. By having two layers of aluminum, the bottom layer makes it so your baked goods are not getting the heat directly which often burns your baked goodies before the item is cooked all the way through. Not only will your baked goods turn that perfect color while baking, your goodies will also be moister.
Essentially the AirBake Natural 2 Pack Cookie Sheet Set allows you to bake your food products more efficiently and effectively by shortening your baking time and using technology and special features to perfect the art of baking food products every time. The AirBake Natural is available in three different sizes including: small, medium, and large based on your needs. This particular set measures 2 inches x 16 inches x 14 inches in size and will slide into your oven perfectly with plenty of room to place other food products in the oven that you need to bake. It weighs only 2.8 pounds, making is easy to lift even when food is on it.
The aluminum material provides non-stick properties making is easy to remove food from the pan and provides easy clean up. This material also provides even heat distribution and retains heat well, for an even cooking process and top quality results. The pan does not have a lip on all four sides, but provides a lip on one side that makes it easy to load and remove the pan from the oven. When you purchase the AirBake Natural 2 Pack Cookie Sheet Set, 16 x 14 in you will also receive a recipe book. The recipe book is great for getting started and provides kitchen tested recipes customers love.
Customers believe that the AirBake Natural 2 Pack Cookie Sheet, Set, 16 x 14 in is great for cooking cookies, pizza, biscuits and many other items. The product is light in weight making it easier for you to put your food in and out of the oven without worrying about dropping anything. Based on the construction, these Cookie Sheets are also very easy to clean and most customers find they can simply wipe them down between uses. There is no need for cooking sprays or other treatment before baking.
The main challenge with this Cookie Sheet set is that over time the Cookie Sheets will begin to change in color and will turn colors if you use cooking sprays on a regular basis. Cooking sprays tend to leave residue on the pan that is difficult to remove.
– Sarah Lytle
Cookie Sheet Buying Guide
What is a Cookie Sheet?
A cookie sheet is a flat baking sheet that allows the heat to radiate to all parts of your food. By being a flat product you are more likely to get your food products cooked evenly and more consistently. Cookie Sheets are made out of several different materials, finishes, and sizes. Commonly cooked items include cookies, breads like rolls and biscuits, pizza, pastries, sheet cakes and other items that will fit on a flat sheet. The design allows you to place a lot of items on a single tray and bake at the same time. The following guide will review popular features and help you determine which are the most important to you for your home and baking needs.
Types
There are four main types of cookie sheets, which include: metal, nonstick, finish, and insulated.
Metal Cookie Sheets: Metal cookie sheets can be constructed out of aluminized steel, tin, aluminum, along with many other metals. Based on the type of metal and further construction features such as thickness of the metal, sealing process and coatings, cookie sheets can range from light tin baking sheets to multiple layers that create a heavy duty sheet.
Nonstick Cookie Sheets: While Nonstick Cookie Sheets are a feature that are appealing, the nonstick feature is not necessary with some metals. Most recipes simply require you to grease the cookie sheet or use wax or parchment paper. Using parchment paper will create a non-stick surface and increase the life of your pan.The parchment paper also makes clean up easier. You can wipe down the pan and throw away the wax paper.
When you purchase a non-stick pan it is important to review and follow the care guide. This will educate you on how to preserve the non-stick coating and increase the life of the pan. Things like storage and the utensils used have an impact on how long the coating will last. If the instructions are not followed, you could void any available warranty for the cookie sheet.
Cleanup for non-stick pans is one of the key reasons customers like this feature. Food does not stick during the cooking process, and that makes clean up a breeze. Nonstick Cookie Sheets tend to last a shorter time due to damage to the non-stick coating.
Finish Cookie Sheets: Cookie Sheets with a lighter finish allow your food products to cook more evenly. The lighter and medium finishes on the cookie sheets are most common and tend to provide better results than those that are darker in color. Darker finish cookie sheets tend to make the bottom of your food products brown faster and can result in burning the bottom of the food.
You will notice many recipes call for different times for glass cookware and metal cookware. This is because the finish and material used in the bakeware will impact how the heat is absorbed and distributed. This impacts cooking time, cooking temperatures needed and the quality of the finished product. Baking sheets are generally constructed from metal with aluminum being the most popular. The finish and the weight of the aluminum will impact both cooking times and the temperature used, much like the differences in glass and aluminum.
Insulated Cookie Sheets: Cookie Sheets that are insulated make baking cookies easier and tend to leave your cookies and baked goods light in color with a center that is soft and moist. If you want crunchy cookies or food, the insulated sheets are not your best choice. One advantage to insulated sheets is that if you leave the food in the oven an extra minute, the food will still be soft and moist. Other cookie sheets could produce overcooked or hard cookies with an extra minute of cooking. You may also be able to cook items for a shorter period of time and even at a lower temperature with the insulated sheets.
Construction
In the past Cookie Sheets were made of light material and began with construction of single-ply tin. However, as time has passed, Cookie Sheets have become heavy duty as more cooks have found uses for them. Thankfully the heavier duty Cookie Sheets are better products overall and offer you a more consistent distribution of heat to your cookies and other food products. The heavier duty cookie sheets are more durable and will last much longer than the single-ply tin cookie sheets without warping. Today the least expensive models are made of lightweight thin construction that does not hold up to the high heats used in baking.
Size
Depending on what you are making and the quantity, most cooks find they use a number of different sizes. When you are baking cookies or any other product, it is important to leave space between multiple cookie sheets in the oven to allow proper air flow. With a few inches between multiple cookie sheets in the oven, you will be able to quickly cook your desired food product while getting the consistent and desired results. On the market there are small sheets that can be used when cooking for one or two or larger sheets that are the width of the oven. This can produce food for 4 or more people on a single tray. If you want to bake two or more different foods two smaller trays can be used on the same rack. This is also advantageous if the foods use the same cooking temperature but have different cooking times.
Conclusion
When you are selecting the perfect cookie sheets, rather than focusing on the fancy features that are available, it is more important to focus on the material, finish and construction of the cookie sheets. Having a few different sizes will allow you to meet your different cooking needs. If you love soft cookies consider adding an insulated sheet to your collection. Baking sheets are a very versatile product that you will use frequently. It is a good idea to buy a better quality sheet that will last for many years. Enjoy using your new cookie sheets.
Resources
- WearEver 68201 Commercial Nonstick Bakeware: http://www.wearever.com/
- Nordic Ware Natural Aluminum Commercial Baker’s Half Sheet:https://www.nordicware.com/
- AirBake Natural 2 Pack Cookie Sheet:http://www.t-falusa.com/
