Boring thread klaxon! Baking trays that aren't shit

[Vinvertebrate]

I am elderly fifty and my days of using cheap cookware are over. I have replaced my pans, casseroles etc with Le Creuset, bought a Peugeot grinder and a Kitchen Aid to replace my ancient Argos stand mixer, but I seem to be stuck with nasty (metal) baking trays with teflon coating that dissolves in the dishwasher and then goes rusty, presumably leaking toxins throughout our food! Yum.

I always used to buy bakeware from Tesco, then I "upgraded" to Lakeland, but they were equally terrible. Is there an indestructible baking tray set available anywhere? The ones my DM uses are the same ones DB and I used to take sledging in the 80's! Failing that, can anyone recommend a brand that at least lasts more than about 5 minutes with normal household use, before giving up the ghost?

Thanks in advance and apologies for such a scintillating thread! 😁

Agree with this. DH had some for his business that eventually made their way to our home. They are properly indestructible.

Thanks all. I have bitten the bullet and ordered a set of 5 Mermaid tins/trays. I was sucked in by their “the only baking tray you will ever need” slogan - they had better be, at this price!

MN is brilliant for random kitchen queries (amongst many other things!) I shall report back. 🤗

I have a great one from Scoville that I think came from a giant Sainsburys with a homeware section in the next town over.

It has slightly higher sides than normal, so it is more of a long metal oven dish IYSWIM, but it does the job, is dishwasher proof and is exactly the right size to fit in the small oven.

Always happy to expound on kitchen equipment @Vinvertebrate , and I love your username!

I’ve had my Mermaid ones for 25 years. Still pristine!

I love that you posted this thread. It is not boring. At the end of a Narnia-like winter, it is very soothing and reminded me of all the things I like about Mumsnet. Sort of the way nothing bad can happen in a John Lewis bedlinen department.

Bless you and your baking sheets forevermore Vinvertebrate. May they be eternally flat and pristine.

We have Mermaid hard anodised bakeware and it is brilliant but it doesn't go in the dishwasher.

Thanks @CarlaH - I have resigned myself to hand washing them, as with Le Creuset! (Although tbh I stick my “vintage” LC in the washer occasionally - never the new stuff though).

I had a look at my tin at home and I think it's not Mermaid but probably Stellar hard anodised which is similar. I don't normally put baking trays in the dishwasher because they're an awkward size anyway, but I do sometimes put this one in and it's always fine.

Despite needing to be handwashed they are actually quite easy to clean.

I hope you get many years of happy baking from them.

Good housekeeping enamel ones from Asda. Cheap and chips and indestructible and don’t warp.

The dishwasher is your problem

And my problem

I find it ruins most things, even the glaze off mugs if you keep your mugs long enough

I hate it.

Decent baking trays have turned into a holy grail for me! Can I ask if you could share a like to the set you bought please @Vinvertebrate ?

I always like the Masterclass ones too : here is one of them , they are sold a at lots of different places but this is the one that came up when googled , mine are still going ….

https://direct.asda.com/george/home/ovenware-bakeware/masterclass-non-stick-baking-tray/060142419,default,pd.html?cmpid=ppc--geor-------_-dskwid-_dm&utm_campaign=pla:Home_BAU-_Performance_Max&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=18864434298&gbraid=0AAAAADwhMoAEciLmIj6Nrz-ItN-X7wExR&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI8oXv0_O4kgMVLqJQBh3WKzYzEAQYCiABEgJ7hPD_BwE

We use glass Pyrex ones. They are great, go in the dishwasher. They were on offer in Tesco once and we bought 3. Way better than metal ones!

I just use cheapo shite ones and put baking paper on…easy to wash up then too!

While OP has already ordered her Mermaid trays, this may help others gravitating to this boring/functional thread in future! (and @ToooTicky)

We got a Miele over 10 years ago on special/ex display from the kitchen company. I wouldn't have contemplated paying full price, but it has been bloody brilliant. Including 2 baking trays which are full size & go straight onto the runners, so you max out how much you can get in the oven. I looked at buying a 3rd one at some point, decided I couldn't stump up 65 quid, and have been enduring a slightly annoying stainless tray which has to go onto the wire shelf instead.

The ceramic non-stick is absolutely invincible & going strong after plenty of burnt on bits which have needed wire wool to clear.

If it would fit your oven, on balance, I think this is actually exceptional value for money given the life span!

www.miele.co.uk/product/6949690/genuine-miele-baking-tray-hbb-60

Of course @ToooTicky - it’s these ones:

https://www.samuelgroves.com/Products/mermaidsets/HA-SET2

I’m hoping the pud tray will work magic on my dismal Yorkies! The Samuel Groves website said it would take 8-10 weeks, but they’ve been dispatched, so I’ll update when they arrive…

Thank you ☺️

The trays youve ordered look good.

I had some scoville trays and, while they were fab for being nonstick - honey would slide straight off after being in the oven for 45 minutes, the coating started to come off.

I'm moving over to stainless steel. I have le creuset roasting pans, pro cook frying pans, all clad pots, and nordicware trays. Ive had the all clad pans and le creuset roasting pans for over 15 years and they're still absolutely perfect.

What's wrong with your yorkshires? Im not a yorkshire woman, but ill try to help if I can. What temp/fat and ratio of ingredients do you use?

The very best baking trays I've ever used are Mermaid. They are expensive, but worth every penny.

FIL bought me some as a gift years ago. A decade later they still look new.

For any other trays I line with greaseproof paper. I'm now converted to precut sheets - total gamechanger for me.

I was about to recommend the Lakeland enamel ones - unwarpable, safe for metal utensils, go through the dishwasher with no problems at all. But of course they've been discontinued.

John Lewis Eaziglide. They are heavy for their size, solid and wear well. Not cheap but they last.