Straight to the Level
Our favourite loaf pan is the Williams Sonoma Goldtouch Pro Nonstick Loaf Pan, although the USA Pan Nonstick Loaf Pan and Great Jones Breadwinner are different nice square-edged picks. We additionally actually preferred the round-edged OXO Good Grips Nonstick Pro Loaf Pan, and the Nordic Ware Treat Nonstick Loaf Pan should you’re searching for a pan with handles.
Loaf pans give form and construction to yeasted and batter breads (like banana bread), and pound truffles—and help you lower neat, uniform slices. Metallic loaf pans additionally conduct warmth properly, immediately browning the perimeters and backside of no matter you’re baking within them. Most are nonstick, too, so your baked items launch from the pan with out ripping or sticking.
We have not formally reviewed loaf pans, so it was time to alter that. To search out one of the best ones, we examined 10 loaf pans to see which of them browned evenly, baked tall and neat loaves that launched simply, and had been a cinch to scrub.Â
The Winners, at a Look
![Williams Sonoma Goldtouch Pro Nonstick Loaf Pan](https://www.seriouseats.com/thmb/1_3Y-52dqQB1Xmc8UVcWFK66L18=/fit-in/1500x1000/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/williams-sonoma--goldtouch-pro-nonstick-loaf-pan-9bd0c4fa50354e6380d2ed11a2344980.jpg)
Williams Sonoma
For neat-shaped and evenly browned loaves, the Williams Sonoma loaf pan took the cake (er, banana bread?). The squared-off corners gave loaves straight edges and peak whereas baking. The pan’s nonstick coating launched loaves instantly when turned over, and made it simple to scrub, too.Â
![USA Pan 1-Pound Loaf Pan](https://www.seriouseats.com/thmb/f38_Evn6agpItJw3HyXjnzW050I=/fit-in/1500x1000/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/USA-Pan-1-Pound-Loaf-Pan-6711978a31fb453989c49030f166eeae.jpg)
Amazon
This square-cornered pan additionally evenly browned loaves and saved breads tidy. The ridged sides and bottoms precipitated the breads to drag away from the pan whereas baking for a really simple launch, although some folks won’t just like the patterns they go away on the bread.Â
![Great Jones Breadwinner](https://www.seriouseats.com/thmb/gVFgkaZ5WpxleaQcorg7oNoVmqM=/fit-in/1500x1000/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Great-Jones-Breadwinne-1884b57042af4912ae9d236dcb14020d.jpg)
Nice Jones Items
One other nice performer, the Nice Jones loaf pan baked enticing, tall loaves that had been evenly browned. It was probably the most nonstick out of the squared-corner pans we examined and is available in three daring colours. Â
![OXO Good Grips Nonstick Pro Loaf Pan](https://www.seriouseats.com/thmb/oAlkzrZR66IdereCIJwC_sezrzc=/fit-in/1500x1000/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/oxo-good-grips-non-stick-pro-1-lb-loaf-pan--814c0be1f1d644b883855627b25651c9.jpg)
Amazon
Even with rounded corners, this pan produced tall loaves that had been virtually as neat because the square-cornered competitors. It’s additionally barely wider across the prime edge which left extra room on your thumb to seize onto, and the bronze metallic browned breads evenly. The rounded corners had been additionally simpler to scrub than the folded, square-cornered pans.Â
![Nordic Ware Treat Nonstick Loaf Pan](https://www.seriouseats.com/thmb/Mi6rp7DiJgjsQSr4kFKrOolyFS0=/fit-in/1500x1000/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/nordic-ware-treat-nonstick-loaf-pan--9e1ddc09df034b06a31a8639910465aa.jpg)
Amazon
Although it was barely wider than the opposite winners, the Nordic Ware pan had looped handles that had been simpler to seize onto. Paired with its light-weight physique, this made it very easy to place it in and take it out of the oven. The metallic was additionally a champagne colour that browned loaves evenly.Â
The Exams
Severe Eats / Jesse Raub
- White Bread Check: We baked white bread loaves in every pan and checked for even browning, ease of bread removing, how snug they had been to seize, and the general peak and form of the bread.Â
- Banana Bread Check (Winners-Solely): We picked 5 winners from the primary take a look at and baked banana bread in every of them to check for even browning, loaf launch, and the way snug the pans had been to seize. We additionally examined the general peak and form of the bread.
- Sourdough Check (Winners-Solely): We baked maple complete wheat sourdough bread within the profitable square-loaf pans to check for even browning, study the general peak and form of the loaves, and to gauge ease of cleanup.
- Usability, Sturdiness, and Cleanup Exams: We examined how snug every pan was to carry and transfer out and in of the oven, in addition to how simple they had been to scrub. We additionally ran a butter knife alongside the sting of every pan 3 times to simulate eradicating a stuck-on loaf and checked for any scratching or denting.Â
What We Realized
Edge Fashion Made a Distinction
Severe Eats / Jesse Raub
The commonest type of loaf pan options sharp, squared-off corners made by folding the metallic like an envelope on every pan’s back and front. This gave loaves tall sides with clear edges, which made for neater slices. Nevertheless, extra flour and baked-on bits tended to get caught in these nooks. We additionally examined pans with rounded corners, which had been simpler to scrub however didn’t bake loaves that had been as tall and enticing. When choosing which pan is best for you, take into account whether or not you respect taller, extra enticing loaves, or ease of cleanup.
Acknowledged Capability Shouldn’t Be Taken Actually
Severe Eats / Jesse Raub
Each pan we examined said a capability of 1 pound, however in our testing, we discovered that each pan baked higher with extra dough. To verify on capability, we portioned every white bread loaf out to precisely 453 grams by weight (the equal of 1 pound), and all the loaves solely crammed about two-thirds of every pan when proofed, and solely barely greater when baked. Per the banana bread recipe’s steering, we crammed every loaf pan with 650 grams (about 1.4 kilos) of batter, however even these loaves solely got here as much as the identical peak. Lastly, we pushed for 650 grams (once more, about 1.4 kilos) for our maple complete wheat sourdough loaves, and achieved the ultra-tall, domed sandwich loaves we wished.
Sq.-Cornered Pans Had been Almost Similar
Severe Eats / Jesse Raub
Outcomes between the Williams Sonoma, USA Pan, Nice Jones, and Chicago Metallic Commercial II Nonstick Loaf Pan had been all very comparable. All 4 pans had nonstick coating, had been virtually equivalent in dimension and form, and baked nice-looking loaves that had a fantastic oven spring and rose to tall heights. The one predominant distinction between them was the consistency of browning, and a few gentle sticking—the darker Chicago Metallic pan appeared to brown the bottoms and sides of loaves faster than the opposite three, and after a number of rounds of baking, a sourdough loaf caught to its corners and edges.Â
Pan Form Dictated Bread Top
Severe Eats / Jesse Raub
Whereas all 4 square-sided pans (together with the OXO Good Grips Nonstick Pro Loaf Pan) baked tall and slender loaves, wider loaf pans, just like the Nordic Ware Treat Nonstick Loaf Pan and Pyrex Easy Grab Glass Loaf Dish With Lid, baked brief, stout loaves that weren’t very best for sandwich bread. We didn’t thoughts shorter banana bread as a lot, so should you’re largely searching for a loaf pan to deal with fast breads and pound truffles, pan form shouldn’t be a dealbreaker. Should you’ve bought eyes on baking bread for sandwiches, nonetheless, go for a slender, tall pan.
Materials and Colour Affected Browning and Baking Occasions
Severe Eats / Jesse Raub
Pans manufactured from darker metallic (like Chicago Metallic, All-Clad, and Wilton) tended to brown loaves barely sooner than lighter pans. Nevertheless, it did not make an enormous distinction by way of style or crust texture. We really seen extra of a distinction in baking occasions with fast bread, like banana bread. Throughout our assessments, we took the temperature of the banana bread in every pan (the goal temp is 206ºF), and located that darker pans reached our goal temperature near 55 minutes whereas lighter pans took round 60 minutes. Our one glass pan lagged in the back of the pack, taking whopping 70 minutes to complete baking, on account of glass being a poor warmth conductor.Â
Pans With out Handles Are Arduous to Seize
Severe Eats / Jesse Raub
Not one of the square-cornered pans had handles, and neither did the OXO or Caraway Nonstick Loaf Pan. This made it exhausting to seize any of them with a towel or potholder, although we didn’t have as a lot hassle once we switched to heat-resistant gloves. And whereas the All-Clad Loaf Pan and Wilton Advanced Select Loaf Pan had handles, they had been slender, rectangular tabs that had been exhausting to know. With large, looped handles, the Nordic Ware was simple to maneuver out and in of the oven. It was additionally one of many lightest pans we examined at 13 ounces, making it a sensible choice for folks with restricted mobility.Â
Pans with Folded Lips Can Lure Water
Severe Eats / Jesse Raub
Virtually each pan we examined had a rolled lip the place the metallic was folded over onto itself, which traps water simply and might trigger rusting. The identical goes for the folds on the perimeters of the square-edged pans. It’s vital to let these pans dry the other way up and proper aspect up to verify all of the water can drain out earlier than being put away.Â
Nonstick Coatings Are Susceptible to Scratching
Severe Eats / Jesse Raub
To simulate eradicating a sticky loaf, we labored a butter knife across the inside edges of every pan 3 times and famous the place the tooth left scratch marks. Each metallic pan we examined had a scratch-prone nonstick coating, however on the similar time, all of those pans launched their loaves instantly while not having to pry something out. Extra time, nonetheless, nonstick coating can put on away so it’s greatest to retailer your pans the place they received’t get dinged. The one pan that precipitated important sticking was the glass Pyrex pan. It held up properly to our scratch take a look at, which was good as a result of we needed to pry the bread out of it with appreciable pressure.Â
The Standards: What to Search for in a Loaf Pan
Severe Eats / Jesse Raub
A fantastic loaf pan bakes evenly browned, neatly-shaped loaves. It ought to be produced from aluminized metal for optimized browning and have a nonstick coating that releases loaves instantly when turned over, and is straightforward to scrub up, too. Lastly, a superb loaf pan is flexible and might deal with yeasted breads, batter breads, and sourdough.Â
![Williams Sonoma Goldtouch Pro Nonstick Loaf Pan](https://www.seriouseats.com/thmb/1_3Y-52dqQB1Xmc8UVcWFK66L18=/fit-in/1500x1000/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/williams-sonoma--goldtouch-pro-nonstick-loaf-pan-9bd0c4fa50354e6380d2ed11a2344980.jpg)
Williams Sonoma
What we preferred: The Williams Sonoma loaf pan was the one one which evenly browned white bread, banana bread, and complete wheat sourdough bread throughout testing. It baked tall and neatly-shaped loaves that simply launched from the pan, due to its nonstick coating, and general it was simple to scrub. Its heavier weight additionally made it really feel sturdy.Â
What we didn’t like: Its folded corners can entice extra flour and bits of dough, so that you might need to spend a number of additional minutes cleansing its nooks and crannies. It additionally has a good quantity of folds that may entice water, so ensure that it spends time face up and face down within the drying rack. Lastly, it was one of many dearer choices we examined.Â
Value at time of publish: $30.
Key Specs
- Weight: 1.25 kilos
- Supplies: Aluminized metal
- Product dimensions: 9 x 5 x 3 inches
- Inside dimensions: 8 x 3.75 x 3 inches
- Max temperature: 450ºF
- Care directions: Dishwasher-safe, hand washing is really helpful to protect nonstick coating
Severe Eats / Jesse Raub
![USA Pan 1-Pound Loaf Pan](https://www.seriouseats.com/thmb/f38_Evn6agpItJw3HyXjnzW050I=/fit-in/1500x1000/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/USA-Pan-1-Pound-Loaf-Pan-6711978a31fb453989c49030f166eeae.jpg)
Amazon
What we preferred: Just like the Williams Sonoma, the USA Pan baked tall loaves and was simple to scrub up afterward. It additionally browned every loaf pretty evenly in all three assessments. It has ridges that run the size of the perimeters and backside of the pan that trigger the bread to drag away throughout baking, which additionally helped the loaves launch simply when eradicating the bread. It’s a fantastic all-around loaf pan that carried out properly in each take a look at.Â
What we didn’t like: The ridged texture on pan leaves strains working down the perimeters and bottoms of every loaf that some folks would possibly dislike. For the reason that pan is a lightweight silver colour, generally this meant the perimeters and bottoms of loaves had been barely much less browned than the highest. Some folks may additionally dislike the lined sample that the pan’s ridges go away on bread. It additionally options folds within the metallic, that are tough to scrub.
Value at time of publish: $19.
Key Specs
- Weight: 1 pound
- Supplies: Aluminized metal
- Product dimensions: 9 x 5 x 3 inches
- Inside dimensions: 8 x 3.75 x 3 inches
- Max temperature: 450ºFÂ
- Care directions: Hand-wash with heat, soapy water
Severe Eats / Jesse Raub
![Great Jones Breadwinner](https://www.seriouseats.com/thmb/gVFgkaZ5WpxleaQcorg7oNoVmqM=/fit-in/1500x1000/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Great-Jones-Breadwinne-1884b57042af4912ae9d236dcb14020d.jpg)
Nice Jones Items
What we preferred: We actually appreciated the added aptitude of Nice Jones’ a number of colour choices on prime of being a well-performing pan. It baked stunning, tall loaves that fell proper out when the pan was tipped on its aspect. All three loaves had been evenly browned throughout testing,Â
What we didn’t like: The darker pink colour of the pan we examined browned loaves barely faster than our different prime square-sided pans, leading to barely darker bottoms and sides and a lighter prime. It nonetheless browned pretty evenly general. It additionally has the identical cleansing points as the opposite two square-cornered pans.
Value at time of publish: $28.
Key Specs
- Weight: 1 pound
- Supplies: Aluminized metal
- Product dimensions: 9 x 5 x 3 inches
- Inside dimensions: 8 x 3.75 x 3 inches
- Max temperature: 450ºF
- Care directions: Dishwasher-safe, handwashing really helpful to protect nonstick coating
Severe Eats / Jesse Raub
![OXO Good Grips Nonstick Pro Loaf Pan](https://www.seriouseats.com/thmb/oAlkzrZR66IdereCIJwC_sezrzc=/fit-in/1500x1000/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/oxo-good-grips-non-stick-pro-1-lb-loaf-pan--814c0be1f1d644b883855627b25651c9.jpg)
Amazon
What we preferred: If you’d like an easier-to-clean pan that provides you neatly formed loaves, the OXO possibility suits the invoice. It browned white bread and banana bread evenly, and though it has rounded corners, they sloped upward fairly aggressively to provide a reasonably tall loaf in comparison with different round-cornered choices.Â
What we didn’t like: The ensuing loaves weren’t as good trying because the square-sided winners, which additionally meant the slices weren’t as even, both.Â
Value at time of publish: $21.
Key Specs
- Weight: 15 ounces
- Supplies: Aluminized metal
- Product dimensions: 9 x 5 x 3 inches
- Inside dimensions: 8 x 4 x 3 inches
- Max temperature: 450ºF
- Care directions: Dishwasher-safe
Severe Eats / Jesse Raub
![Nordic Ware Treat Nonstick Loaf Pan](https://www.seriouseats.com/thmb/Mi6rp7DiJgjsQSr4kFKrOolyFS0=/fit-in/1500x1000/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/nordic-ware-treat-nonstick-loaf-pan--9e1ddc09df034b06a31a8639910465aa.jpg)
Amazon
What we preferred: One of many lightest pans we examined, the Nordic Ware additionally had huge, easy-to-grab looped handles, making it a superb possibility for folks  who’ve struggled to drag a loaf pan out of the oven up to now. Its champagne colour helped brown breads evenly, and it baked banana bread a full 10 minutes sooner than the competitors. Its rounded corners additionally made it very easy to scrub.Â
What we didn’t like: The largest points with this pan was the general dimension and form. It’s a large pan with gently sloping rounded corners, and each bread examined got here out shorter than we’d like. Nonetheless, it carried out simply advantageous in any other case, and if you need a loaf pan with handles, this was the best choice we examined.
Value at time of publish: $19.
Key Specs
- Weight: 13 ounces
- Supplies: Aluminized metal
- Product dimensions: 12 x 6.25 x 2.75 inches
- Inside dimensions: 8 x 4.25 x 2.5 inches
- Max temperature: 450ºF
- Care directions: Hand-washing really helpful
Severe Eats / Jesse Raub
The Competitors
- Chicago Metallic Commercial II Nonstick Loaf Pan: The darker colour of this pan led to extra uneven browning than the opposite square-sided pans. It additionally had points with the sourdough loaves sticking, too.Â
- Caraway Nonstick Loaf Pan: This pan baked a large and flat loaf of white bread and was additionally the most costly pan examined.Â
- Pyrex Easy Grab Glass Loaf Dish With Lid: This was the one pan that bread caught to throughout testing and bread took longer to bake as a result of glass isn’t as conductive as metallic. It’s additionally too large and shallow to bake neat-looking loaves. We did just like the included lid.Â
- All-Clad Loaf Pan: The darkish colour of this pan browned the perimeters and bottoms of the white bread too aggressively.Â
- Wilton Advanced Select Loaf Pan: This pan was additionally too darkish, resulting in uneven browning, and it was additionally too large to bake neat, tall loaves.Â
FAQs
What’s a loaf pan?
A loaf pan is an oblong pan that’s designed for baking loaves of bread and might be produced from metallic, glass, and stoneware. They’re usually used to make yeasted sandwich bread, they usually’re key for desserts like banana bread or pound cake. Most loaf pans taper barely outward from the bottom, giving area for the bread to increase upwards and outwards whereas baking.Â
What dimension is a normal loaf pan?
There are a selection of loaf pan sizes which can be thought-about customary, however the commonest dimension is a one-pound loaf pan, which regularly measures nine-by-five inches on the lip and tapers to eight-by-four inches on the base. There are additionally pullman-style loaf pans, which include a lid and have excessive, straight sides for completely rectangular loaves.
Do you have to grease a loaf pan?
Most loaf pans are nonstick and don’t should be greased for breads to launch. Some bread recipes name for dusting cornmeal or semolina flour to make them launch simpler, too. You may grease a loaf pan for truffles and fast breads, however some recipes for stickier truffles and batter breads will generally counsel a parchment paper sling, as a substitute.Â
How lengthy ought to bread rise in a loaf pan?
This will depend on the recipe—some breads have a protracted in a single day fermentation within the fridge adopted by a full degassing and shaping earlier than being positioned within the pan to proof. Different breads might need a faster baking cycle and wish much less time to show. Then there’s additionally the kitchen temperature—the warmer the kitchen, the sooner the proving. Ideally, your bread ought to show till it’s a few half-inch beneath the lip of the loaf pan, which ought to give it loads of area to increase throughout baking with out spilling over the perimeters of the pan.Â