Recommendations for decent baking trays

[mrsmmajeika]

Hi
Not sure if this is the correct place to post!

I am after some decent hardwearing old fashioned heavy baking trays...The kind you see chefs use on the tv! Does anyone have any suggestions where such things might exist?!
For some reason our baking trays don't seem to last for whatever reason..(probably my cooking) so I am prepared to invest if needs be!

Thank you

I’ve had too many over the years finally bought a fairly inexpensive 4 pack of stainless steel ones from Amazon and they’ve been amazing. Easy to clean different sizes very useful.

Great thank you, didn't even think to look on Amazon!

Ocado do some lovely M & S ones, I bought them for my mum & they are brilliant.

Sainsburys do a heavyweight range, quality is amazing

To a great extent the life of Roasting dishes, like everything else, depends on how you care for it. It is also true to say that 'You pay for what you get'.

I have no experience of Stainless Steel roasting dishes but a really good quality one, heavy and with meaty handles should last well provided it is thoroughly well washed. Best to wash by hand rather than in the dishwasher as you can chip off the stubborn bits that are burned on with a fingernail (dishwashers only work with jets of water). Also, repeated washing in the dishwasher has eaten through the blade of a stainless steel knife of ours. Stainless steel is not, though, a good conductor of heat. Also remember that poorly attached handles could be very dangerous if they were to work loose when you have a roast with hot fat in your hands.

Enamel are good, and expensive, heavy, enamel roasters should last for years. We still use one that is 30 yrs old (+). But, if you drop an enamel one on a hard floor you could chip off some of the enamel (enamel is glass) and what is underneath is steel and will rust.
Non-Stick coated ones won't stay non-stick for ever. They are really good to start with but they will deteriorate with age/use. Furthermore, they may not be any good for making gravy on the hob as the surface may blister and peel with the direct heat from the hob and, as with the enamel ones, what is underneath is, almost certainly, steel and will rust.

Aluminium ones won't go in the dishwasher as the detergent will eat in to the anodised surface, but will conduct heat extremely efficiently. As they are not coated with anything there is nothing to blister or peel and, being aluminium, won't ever rust, this means that you can, if necessary, use a scourer to remove stubborn bits. They can easily be used for making gravy and will go on any hob except induction. More often than not, they have integral handles, so no risk of a handle working loose. Many have long guarantees.

So, benefits and drawbacks to all of them. But remember, "Buy cheap, buy twice". If you buy an expensive one you are likely to look after it better anyway and it will reward you with years of use.

Mermaid are the best, expensive but very long-lasting. I think I got mine from John Lewis.

However, they cannot go in the DW because they warp.

I splashed out on some le Creuset ones when John Lewis had 20% off. They are good. Agree with the Sainsbo's really heavy ones too.

Over the years I have realised that I am not sensible enough to look after expensive baking trays. Now I buy basic ones and always use a reusable liner. Me and the baking trays are both happy.

Georgyporky - Mermaid ones won't warp if you put them in the dishwasher at all. Whoever told you that is talking out of their @r$&. The oven is much hotter than the dishwasher. The reason for not putting them in the dishwasher is that the caustic detergent will strip the anodised surface and make it look as if it has powdery mildew. What might make them, warp is a sudden heating or cooling such as putting a cold tin on the hob, or a hot tin into a sink of water, as can happen with any metal tin.

No matter what I do my enamel ones, no matter what the quality, end up sticky and with baked on gunk. I only ever cook veggies in them and only ever use olive oil. It’s a mystery.

Procook stainless steel.. baking trays and roasting tins.. used daily for over 2 years.. in dishwasher no problems.. look like new.

Scoville neverstick are so good. Reasonable price, dishwasher safe and nothing ever sticks.

I used to use way too much foil but don't use any now

Mine always end up pissing out rusty water when I take them out of the dishwasher.

Definitely interested in some that don't do that!

I've switched to Lakeland blue range. I've just got to keep them out of my clumsy partner's way. He's forever ruining or breaking my stuff which I've had for years and are careful with so it lasts. My next option is to chop his hands off.

I second the Sainsbury's ones. There Yorkshire pudding trays are amazing and never stick even when using no fat.

Lakeland for me too. I bought some without the rolled edges so they shouldn't go rusty.

Thanks to everyone for the suggestions/advice!

YetAnotherSpartacus, Olive Oil goes sticky at high temperatures. That is another reason for not using the dishwasher as you can actually add washing up liquid and rub it off when washing by hand.

Olive Oil goes sticky at high temperatures. That is another reason for not using the dishwasher

Ah. Thank you! Can you tell me what oils don't go sticky? I have a lovely tray of my mother's that has gone icky and I'd like to save it and then keep it nice.

It's never been in a dishwasher and it's washed with Fairy in the sink.

I think mine are Tala (bought on Amazon). They’re thick and fairly heavy, and don’t warp in the oven or dishwasher.

@succession

Scoville neverstick are so good. Reasonable price, dishwasher safe and nothing ever sticks.

I used to use way too much foil but don't use any now

I second these. I bought a roasting tray first, and then as other things needed replacing, I've bought saucepans and baking trays from the same range, they're fab.

YetAnotherSpartacus Groundnut Oil is good. I understand (but wouldn't swear it in a court of law) that refined groundnut oil does not contain the allergens that peanut (groundnut) allergy sufferers need to avoid. We use anodised aluminium roasting dishes at home (because I work for a company that makes them) and do roast Mediterranean Veg in them, and they do go sticky, but it just takes a bit of washing up liquid and elbow grease to clean them .... but worth it. If you generally use block butter/margarine (not spreadables as they often contain olive oil, or something else that may cause sticking, to make them sopreadable), lard or groundnut oil, that will serve to season the pan, filling in the pores in the metal, then the occasional use of Olive Oil will be OK. I have also heard, today, of someone who found extra virgin rapeseed oil went sticky, but she had it on too high a temperature. It is all to do with the 'smoke-point'.

What about Pyrex baking trays, do you rate them? I am tempted, I'd love to be able to bung it in the dishwasher and not have to worry about it. But obviously Pyrex doesn't conduct heat like metal. Any thoughts?

I’m really happy with our current set of baking trays. All have lasted really well over 3ish years.

We have a Proware tri ply stainless steel roaster which goes straight into the dishwasher. I also have a nonstick Prestige heavy duty oven tray and a Circulon nonstick oven tray which are lasting well.

I’ve also got a couple of Pyrex glass roasting pans which I use more often than the roasting tin. Cauliflower cheese, lasagna, apple crumble etc - all go in these & again straight into the dishwasher afterwards.

Sorry Pro Cook not Pro Ware.