A Baker’s Information to Sheet Pans

Be taught all about totally different sheet pans, cookie sheets, and jelly roll pans on this easy information for house bakers!

Baking Sheet Sizes and Variations

Whether or not you’re new to baking or you could have years of baking expertise below your apron belt, the totally different sheet pans accessible is usually a bit complicated at first look. What’s the distinction between a sheet pan and a cookie sheet? Is a jelly roll pan totally different from a sheet pan? We’ll cowl all of that and extra, and also you’ll be a sheet pan professional!

Earlier than we get into the specifics of pan sizes, I need to provide you with a not-so-gentle nudge to learn my suggestions for selecting baking pans. There you’ll study how one can choose bakeware based mostly on materials, thickness, coloration, and extra.

Now, let’s speak about sheet pans!

Full Sheet Pans

For house cooks and bakers, full-size sheet pans should not prone to be one thing that you just’ll be capable of use. Measuring 26″ x 18″ with a couple of 1-inch rim across the exterior, it simply received’t slot in most house ovens. These are designed for bigger ovens in industrial kitchens like eating places and bakeries.

Half Sheet Pans

As you would possibly guess from the identify, half sheet pans are half the dimensions of a full sheet pan. They normally measure 18″ x 13″ with a couple of 1-inch rim across the exterior, though you’ll see some slight variances in these dimensions.

The workhorse of many house bakers, half sheet pans are nice for baking cookies and sheet truffles. For many bakers, having two of those pans will suffice. I like the flexibleness of getting three of those in my kitchen for these occasions I’m on a cookie baking spree.

A few of my favorites:

Quarter Sheet Pans

For those who’re enjoying alongside right here, you’ve doubtless guessed {that a} quarter sheet pan is 1 / 4 of the dimensions of a full sheet pan and half the dimensions of a half sheet pan. These small pans measure 13″ x 9″ with a couple of 1-inch rim across the exterior. (Don’t confuse this pan with a 13″ x 9″ pan you would possibly use for one thing like blondies or a cake. These have sides at the least 2-inches tall.)

These pans are nice for small batch cookie baking. I additionally use them after I portion cookie dough for freezing, as you possibly can put a number of cookies on the pan, and it received’t take up numerous room in your freezer when you wait on them to be able to bag for long-term freezer storage.

You’ll doubtless discover that these small pans are extra helpful than you first would possibly assume. Use them for gathering elements, toasting small quantities of nuts, or for small cooking jobs like roasting greens.

A few of my favorites:

Jelly Roll Pans

Because the identify implies, jelly roll pans are sometimes used to make (you guessed it!) jelly rolls in addition to Swiss rolls, that are skinny truffles which might be crammed and rolled. They’re a bit smaller than half sheet pans, however the actual dimensions can range. For those who do a fast seek for a jelly roll pan, you’ll discover a couple of totally different sizes. Mostly, they’re both 10″ x 15″ or 12″ x 17″. For those who keep in mind how one can measure space out of your geometry courses, you’ll understand fairly shortly that that’s a fairly large distinction in sizes. In reality, the latter dimension is pretty near the dimensions of a half sheet pan.

If the recipe you’re utilizing doesn’t specify dimensions, you could have to make use of your greatest judgment about what dimension you want. I don’t typically use a jelly roll pan, however one can find one utilized in a couple of recipes right here at BoB, like Toasted Pecan Roulade and Butterscotch Cream Cheese Swirl Bars.

You may as well use these pans for baking cookies and for some cooking functions. You’ll doubtless discover, nonetheless, that attempting to scale a recipe that fills a distinct dimension pan to be lower than simple.

A few of my favorites:

Cookie Sheets

Cookie sheets are designed for baking cookies and different issues that don’t want a rim across the exterior to stop spilling or sliding. You undoubtedly wouldn’t need to bake a cake or one other batter on these. Persist with cookies, biscuits, scones, and different portioned doughs.

In contrast to rimmed baking sheets, these pans have one or two barely elevated sides to make it simpler to get them out and in of the oven. Theoretically, the dearth of a rim additionally permits warmth to flow into across the cookies extra simply.

Until you could have a specific affinity for cookie sheets, you possibly can completely make use of your half sheet pans for baking cookies. I’ll let you know somewhat secret. I don’t assume I’ve ever owned a cookie sheet, and I bake quite a bit of cookies.

Two-Thirds Sheet Pans

You probably have a big oven, you could possibly make use of a two-thirds sheet pan. At two-thirds the dimensions of a full-size sheet pan, these pans measure roughly 16″ x 22″. These are nice for big batches of cookies.

Eighth Sheet Pans

Whereas it’s not fairly as helpful as its bigger counterparts, an eighth sheet pan might show useful to you in sure conditions. These small pans measure roughly 6.5″ x 9″, which is half the dimensions of 1 / 4 sheet pan.

Use these little pans for small jobs like toasting a small quantity of nuts or baking a couple of cookies from the freezer. Some small-batch baking recipes might use this dimension pan as nicely. These pans are additionally nice for organizing your baking elements while you’re on the point of bake.

Selecting Pans for Your Baking Fashion

For those who’re changing some or your whole baking pans, then you definitely doubtless know which pans you employ most frequently. For those who’re new to baking, it may be robust to know what you might want to get a primary baking setup. In both case, my greatest recommendation is to take the time to consider the forms of baked items you need to make. That ought to make it easier to determine what sheet pan dimension you want.

For those who’re a cookie baker, then I like to recommend beginning with a few half sheet pans. They’ll do a fantastic job of baking cookies, whereas additionally opening up the potential of baking sheet truffles, scones, and different baked items that require a sheet pan.

Taking Care of Your Sheet Pans

Relying on the fabric and high quality of your pans, they’ll take various levels of care to take care of.

• Cleansing – Most will must be hand-washed as a substitute of going into the dishwasher.
• Lining – For those who’re utilizing parchment paper or a silicone mat to line your pans, then maintaining them clear must be pretty easy. For those who choose to bake instantly on the pan, then you definitely’ll must do a extra thorough cleansing, and the pans might not final as lengthy.
• Avoiding scratches – Take care to not scratch your pans with knives or different sharp instruments. A cookie spatula is helpful for eradicating cookies with out scratching the pan. Lining pans will assist with this as nicely.
• Longevity – If nicely cared for, high quality baking sheet must be sturdy sufficient to final a number of years. You probably have nonstick baking sheets, take note of any injury to the coating as that can have an effect on how issues bake.
• Warping – For those who weren’t already conscious of it, the telltale popping sound when your baking sheet is within the oven lets you realize that your pan has warped. A warped pan is not a flat floor, so it might probably have an effect on the tip results of your baking.

Ideas for Selecting Baking Pans

Aluminum, chrome steel, shiny, darkish, gentle, non-stick…. There are numerous choices in terms of baking pans. For additional studying about what to contemplate when selecting pans based mostly on materials, coloration, and extra, see my suggestions for The way to Select Baking Pans.

Be taught Extra

Take your baking information a step additional with these associated subjects.

Often Requested Questions

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