If you’re fond of the traditional roast dinner, be it beef, chicken, pork or lamb, you’ve probably already got a roasting pan that you use for your weekly roast dinner.
But, if you’re hosting Thanksgiving or Christmas this year, you might be looking to add to your collection of baking pans and get yourself a shiny new roasting pan with a lid.
A good roasting pan needs to be strong and sturdy and distribute heat well. Most usually come with a rack inside them to hold your turkey or chicken up out of the pan. Obviously, being a website about stainless steel cookware, we’re going to recommend that you choose a stainless steel roasting pan as we think that cooking with stainless steel is the best.
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Things To Consider When Choosing A Stainless Steel Roasting Pan
Before recommending our favorite options for roasting pans with lids, here are a few things you’ll need to consider when choosing which one to buy.
Size
When it comes to roasting pans, size really does matter! You’ll need a roasting pan that will be big enough to accommodate the biggest sized roast you’re likely to cook (don’t forget to factor in holidays and events when you might be cooking for more people than usual).
Ideally the pan will be large enough that food won’t be touching the sides of the pan so that it allows for adequate air circulation for proper roasting and browning.
On the flip side, if your roasting pan is too big, too much of the bottom of the pan will be unoccupied and exposed. This can cause the juices released from the meat to burn!
One tip to keep in mind is, if your pan is too big, add some vegetables or herbs to cover the base of the roasting pan as this should stop the pan juices from burning.
When choosing the correct size roasting pan for your needs consider the number of people you’re likely to be feeding (the amount of food you’ll be cooking) as well as the size of your oven. Some pans are quite large, so if you’ve got a relatively small oven, it may take some juggling to get the pan to fit!
Also keep in mind that some measurements included by manufacturers may or may not include any handles the pan might have. Obviously your oven needs to be able to accommodate the whole pan, handles included!
As far as roasting pan size goes, let’s talk turkey sizes. To give you a rough idea of the size of pan you might need:
- A small roaster of around 14 x 10 x 3” will suit a turkey up to about 12 pounds.
- A medium size roasting pan measuring around 16 x 12 x 3” will comfortably hold a turkey up to 16 pounds.
- A large roasting pan of 18 x 13 x 4” should be able to accommodate turkeys up to about 20 pounds.
Shape
A typical roasting pan will come in one of two shapes: rectangle or oval. As we’ve been asked to look for the best stainless steel roasting pan with a lid, we’re pretty much just looking at the oval shaped roasting pans as these are the ones that seem to come with lids.
Oval roasting pans work well for roasting more oval shaped foods such as chicken, turkey, ham and prime rib, so they’re pretty much perfect for Thanksgiving, Christmas and other holidays and special occasions. Their rounded shape makes whisking gravies and sauces easy as there are no corners to stop the flow of the whisk.
Weight
When it comes to cookware, generally speaking, the heavier the better. Heavy, well constructed pans help to prevent warping and twisting in the oven. However, keep in mind when choosing a roasting pan, you need to be able to lift it!
Once you add a fairly sizeable piece of meat to your pan it’s going to be heavy, so if you’re a smaller person or someone who suffers from pain or arthritis in hands and arms, make sure your roasting pan isn’t going to be so heavy that, once you add food to it, you find it difficult to manoeuvre.
The Best Stainless Steel Roasting Pan
Image | Brand | Size | Our Rating | Price Range | Buy On Amazon |
  | Viking | 8.5 Quart 19 x 11.25 x 7.25 inches | $$$ | ||
  | Precise-Heat | 20 x 12 x 8 3/4 inches | $$ | ||
  | All-Clad E7879664 | 19 x 12 x 11 inches | $$$ | ||
  | Mr Rudolf | 8.5 + 4.2 Quart | $$ | ||
  | WMF 788016040 | 16 x 11 x 8.5 inches | $$$ | ||
  | Norpro Krona | 12 Quart | $$$ | ||
  | LavoHome | 9.5 Quart | $$$ | ||
  | Ovente | 16 x 12 x 3.5 inches | $ | ||
  | Mr Captain | 8.5 Quart | $$ |
Stainless Steel Roasting Pans With Lids Reviews
Viking 3-Ply Stainless Steel Oval Roaster with Metal Induction Lid and Rack, 8.5 Quart Review
Made from 18/8 stainless steel, this Viking roasting pan is easy to clean and looks great too. With a usable capacity of 8.5 quarts, it’s large enough to cook up to a 14 pound turkey. Included is a stainless wire rack which elevates food for even cooking and suspends from the rim of the pan for easy draining.
Considered a “3-in-1 roasting pan”, it can be used as an open or covered roaster, Dutch Oven or Stockpot. The lid can be used separately for cooking and serving.
Due to its 3-ply construction this roasting pan works on all cooktops including induction, stove top, oven, grill and broiler and is safe up to temperatures of 600°F/315°C.
What People Like About This Roasting Pan:
- Very well made
- Easy to clean
- Heavy duty
- Love that you can cook in the lid
- Worth every penny!
Precise-Heat Multi-Use Stainless Steel Baking and Roasting Pan with Easy Lift Wire Rack Review
Constructed from T304 stainless steel, the Precise Heat Roasting Pan will serve you well for years to come as you serve the family, loved ones and your guest’s delicious meals. It comes with a handy, stainless steel, wire rack to elevate your meat from the pan and allow good air circulation.
The rack has large, collapsible handles which make it easy to lift even the heaviest roast from the pan, allowing you to use all those drippings for making gravy, right in the pan.
Of course, being stainless steel, clean up is easy as the pan is dishwasher safe, so you’ll be able to spend more time with your friends and family and less time doing the dishes!
What People Like About This Roasting Pan:
- Well made
- High quality
- Easy to clean
- Can use the lid for serving and cooking
- It’s heavy – but not too heavy.
All-Clad E7879664 Stainless Steel Oven Safe Covered Oval Roaster Review
If you’ve got a large crowd to feed or just a huge turkey or giant piece of meat to roast, you’ll want to consider this roasting pan from All-Clad. Its 20-lbs size is ideal for roasting large cuts of meat or making large meals when entertaining.
Made from heavy gauge, polished stainless steel, this roaster is both oven safe as well as compatible with stovetop use, including induction cooktops.
It comes with a stainless steel rack with lifting handles to make it easy to remove large foods from the pan.
This is a good quality roaster, just as you’d expect from a brand such as All-Clad, but, it is the most expensive of the roasting pans we’re comparing here.
If money is no object and/or you already own some All-Clad cookware and want to add to your collection, then you can’t go wrong with this option. However, if you’re looking for a more budget friendly option, there are more affordable ones to consider on our list.
What People Like About This Roasting Pan:
- Better than anything I ever saw in a store
- Better than the cheap coated versions of oven roasters
- Best quality
- Highly recommend
- Best quality cookware you can buy
Mr Rudolf Roasting Pan with Lid and Rack Stainless Steel Oval Medium Roaster 8.5 Quart + 4.2 Quart Review
The Mr Rudolf roasting pan is made from 18/10, mirror finish stainless steel so it does not discolor, react with food, or alter the flavors of your food. Built with triple-ply construction, the aluminum encapsulated base heats quickly and spreads heat evenly to effectively eliminate hot spots.
The cleverly designed rim of the pan is smoothly tapered to eliminate drips and spills while pouring and, like most stainless steel cookware, it’s dishwasher safe!
The roasting pan comes equipped with a solid, stainless steel rack which allows heat to circulate and lets your meat or poultry drain as it cooks.
Not only oven safe, this pan is designed for use on ALL conventional cooktops including electric, gas, induction stoves, ceramic and glass.
What People Like About This Roasting Pan:
- Easy to clean
- Good quality
- Very nice
- Highly recommend
- Very happy with this product
WMF 788016040 Cocotte Intérieur Anti-adhésive Review
A German brand, WMF is known for its versatile stylish range of products and reliability in quality and finish. WMF has been making cookware for 150 years so they seem to know what they’re doing when it comes to producing top quality cookware.
Designed in Germany and constructed from 18/10 stainless steel, this roasting pan is dishwasher safe, easy to clean, ovenproof, tasteless and acid resistant.
Suitable for all stove tops, including induction, the patented base construction provides steady heat distribution and long heat storage for energy-saving cooking. The lid from this roasting pan set can also be used as an induction safe stainless steel frying pan.
What People Like About This Roasting Pan:
- Cooks really well
- Great that you can use the lid as well
- Wonderful product
- Well built
- Works flawlessly on induction cooker
Norpro KRONA Stainless Steel 12-Quart Multi Roaster Review
Both the base and the lid of this roasting pan from Norpro are built with a tri-ply encapsulated base, which means that lid can be flipped over and used as a saute pan.
A heavy duty rack is included which can be placed on the base of either the roaster or the lid, which allows the juices to drain and the hot air to circulate your meat. Meanwhile the handles on this roaster are “offset” to give you more room to manoeuvre it to fit in your oven.
Able to hold 18 to 24 pounds of meat or poultry, this is a serious roasting pan perfect for entertaining.
What People Like About This Roasting Pan:
- Heavy duty
- Easy to clean
- Perfect size
- Great pan for making brisket or turkey
- Love this roasting pan
LavoHome Stainless Steel Oval Lidded Roaster Pan Extra Large 9.5 Quart Capacity Review
This roasting pan from LavoHome comes with a rack and a domed lid for induction cooking. The high domed lid prevents heat and moisture from escaping to provide a tender, tasty and juicy roast.
One of the more affordable roasting pans on our recommended list, this pan is still constructed well given the price. Built with heavy gauge stainless steel to ensure it lasts well, with a polished stainless steel exterior and handles, this pan is oven safe up to 600 degrees and, as always, is dishwasher safe.
If it’s your first time hosting a holiday meal or you’re just looking for a roasting pan to suit your budget, then this one is definitely worth a look.
What People Like About This Roasting Pan:
- Easy to clean
- Perfect for Thanksgiving
- Very nice
- Light weight
- Very happy
Ovente Kitchen Oval Roasting Pan 16 Inch Stainless Steel Nonstick Baking Tray with Lid & Rack Review
This 16-inch stainless steel roasting pan from Ovente is designed to hold large pot roasts, making it ideal for roasting Thanksgiving turkeys and holiday roast chicken! It has enough room for the meat to rest comfortably on the pan’s center as well as enough space at the sides for herbs or vegetables.
The pan comes with a rack to elevate your meat from the bottom of the pan, allowing good air circulation.
The cheapest option in our list of recommended roasting pans, this pan is constructed from stainless steel so it won’t easily bend, warp, rust or corrode.
Interestingly though, the manufacturers of this roasting pan do not recommend washing in the dishwasher, instead they suggest it is easy to clean by handwashing with a soft cloth.
This pan would be a good starter roasting pan if you’re just dipping your toe into cooking and hosting, but you’d probably want to upgrade to a more heavy duty pan after a while.
What People Like About This Roasting Pan:
- Good value for money
- Comes with a rack
- Lightweight
- Good quality
- Perfect size for turkey, whole chicken or a ham
Mr Captain Roasting Pan with Rack And Lid 8.5 Quart,18/10 Stainless Steel Multi-Use Oval Roaster Review
With an interior made from 18/10 stainless steel, an aluminum alloy core for even heat distribution and a base made from magnetic (18/0) stainless steel to make it induction compatible, this roasting pan from Mr Captain covers every base.
Its 8.5 quart capacity gives you space to comfortably cook 16 to 20 pounds of turkey or meat.
A stainless steel rack is included which can be used in either the base or the lid depending on what you are cooking.
Oven safe and compatible with all cooktop/stove types, there’s a lot to like about this roasting pan.
Reasonably priced, the only reason this roasting pan didn’t make it higher up our recommended list of roasting pans is because it doesn’t seem to have been around for long enough yet. At the time of writing, this pan only had 6 reviews on Amazon – all of them positive, but we didn’t feel that 6 people was a big enough cross section of the community to give us an idea of the merits of this pan.
Watch this space though, if this roasting pan continues to get positive or 5 star reviews, we’ll probably move it higher up the list. At this stage, we’d say it’s definitely worth taking a chance on this roasting pan.
What People Like About This Roasting Pan:
- Happy with the quality
- Easy to clean
- Can use it to steam as well as roast
- Stainless steel thicker than pot bought at Walmart
- Bigger than I thought
So, there you have it, our extensive reviews on the best stainless steel roasting pan with a lid. Any of these options meet our criteria for heavy duty stainless steel construction as well as having a lid.
If you’re hosting Thanksgiving or Christmas or another holiday event or occasion this year and need to get yourself a roaster with a lid, start at the top of our list and work your way down until you find one that suits your size and requirements.
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