When it comes to the best bakeware sets, I like ones that feature a variety of sizes so I can use them for multiple recipes, but are also a breeze to clean. I’m all about easy, practical recipes in the kitchen—such as my Copycat Starbucks Egg Bites (so you can skip the morning drive-thru) or quick-prep meals like Crack Chicken Casserole, which I just pop in the oven in my favorite 9×13-inch baking dish.
After researching the best bakeware sets, including the best ceramic, non-stick, silicone, and even a super-cute kit for kids to tinker in the kitchen with, I put together this list of my favorites. I’m also a big fan of supporting small businesses, so I included some of those options for you, too! Two of these products, the Staub Baking Dish Set and the Nordic Ware baking sheets are in my kitchen and I use them on nearly a daily basis.
My Top Picks:
- My Favorite Baking Set: Staub 3-Piece Ceramic Baking Dish Set – $99.95 at Amazon
- My Go-To Baking Sheets: Nordic Ware 3-Piece Baker’s Delight Set – $26.98 at Amazon
- Best Ceramic Bakeware Set: Mora Ceramics 2-Piece Baking Dish Set – $32.99 at Amazon
- Best Silicone Bakeware Set: Classic Cuisine 18-Piece Silicone Bakeware Set – $48.08 at Amazon
- Best Budget Bakeware Set: Fat Daddio’s Anodized Aluminum Round Cake Pan Set – $21.99 at Amazon
- Best Splurge Bakeware Set: Caraway 11-Piece Non-stick Ceramic Bakeware Set – $395 at Amazon
- Best Bakeware Set for Kids: Handstand Kitchen 20-Piece Cupcake Baking Set – $19.99 at Amazon
Reviews of The Best Bakeware Sets
1. In My Kitchen: Staub 3-Piece Ceramic Baking Dish Set
What I like about this three-piece set, which is available in a chic cherry red, along with a sleek navy blue, are the easy-to-grip handles. It’s simply one of the best ceramic bakeware sets you can find (not surprising since Staub is made in France and has been around since 1974!).
And you can’t beat a piece of bakeware that looks great on the table—ooh, la la! I love bake-and-serve baking sets such as this for making dishes like my Stuffed Pepper Casserole.
My Tips:
I would use the two smaller sizes (the 7.5” x 6” and 10.5” x 7.5”, not the 13” x 9”) for smaller casseroles and use a Staub 8” x 8” for my 5-Ingredient Corn Casserole.
The Specs:
- Material: Ceramic
- Shape: Rectangular
- Sizes: 7.5” x 6”, 10.5” x 7.5”, and 13” x 9”
- Max Temp: 572 degrees F
The Pros:
- Microwave safe
- Dishwasher safe
- Sturdy handles
The Cons:
- No lids
- Expensive
What Others Are Saying
Curated recently named the Staub bakeware set as among the top five must-have Staub products.
Buy the Staub 3-Piece Ceramic Baking Dish Set:
2. In My Kitchen: Best Cookie Pans: Nordic Ware 3-Piece Baker’s Delight Set
Everyone needs a good set of baking sheets! These cookie pans are on my all-time favorites list for kitchen gear and I use mine regularly for making cookies, sheet-pan cakes, roasting veggies, and sheet-pan dinners.
The set includes a jelly-roll pan, quarter sheet, and a half-sheet pan. If you’re limited on space in your kitchen or want a set of pans that (almost) does it all, this is the ideal set. I like how these pans have rims that can keep olive oil or other liquids from dripping into the bottom of your stove, which creates a mess.
My Tips:
Crumbl stores are popping up all over the country and if you use my simple, and straightforward Crumbl Cookies recipe, you don’t have to fight the crowds and lines.
The Specs:
- Material: Aluminum
- Shape: Rectangular
- Set includes: Quarter sheet, half sheet, and jelly roll pan
- Weight: 3.97 pounds
- Max Temp: 400 degrees F
Pros:
- Affordable
- Rims prevent warping
Cons:
- Hand washing recommended
- Metal utensils can scratch the surface
What Others are Saying:
Brides named the Nordic Ware 3-Piece the “best sheet pans” and it has a 4.7-star rating from over 50,000 reviews on Amazon.
Buy the Nordic Ware 3-Piece Baker’s Delight Set :
3. Best Ceramic Bakeware Set: Mora Ceramics 2-Piece Baking Dish Set
This two-piece set is made by Mora Ceramics, a small, family-owned business, and includes a loaf-size pan (8” x 4”) and a larger pan (11” x 7”) that would work well with recipes for casseroles and brownies.
It’s made with durable, proprietary clay and a crystallized glossy glaze to resist scratches. Unlike many stoneware or ceramic dishes, this set is designed to go directly from the freezer to the oven and is also dishwasher safe.
My Tips:
I would use the loaf pan in this set to make Grandma’s Perfect Homemade Bread, which is a family favorite.
The Specs:
- Material: Ceramic and porcelain
- Shape: Rectangular
- Sizes: 8” x 4” and 11” x 7”
- Weight: 5.5 pounds
- Max Temp: 500 degrees F
The Pros:
- Easy-to-grip handles
- Dishwasher safe
- Durable
- Cadmium and lead-free
The Cons:
- Heavy
- No lid
What Others Are Saying
The Mora Ceramics 2-Piece Baking Dish Set has a 4.8-star rating on Amazon from more than 700 reviews.
Buy the Mora Ceramics 2-Piece Baking Dish Set:
4. Best Silicone Bakeware Set: Classic Cuisine 18-Piece Silicone Bakeware Set
If you’re looking for a lightweight best silicone bakeware set—maybe even one to bring filled with your dessert to a party or other type of social event—this is it. Available in fuchsia, red, and blue, these are all perky, fun colors to add to your kitchen.
This bakeware set is so complete that there is literally nothing missing from what any home baker needs: 12 cupcake molds, a 16” cookie sheet, 10” pie pan, 9” round cake pan, 12-cup muffin pan, 9.5” Bundt pan and 9” bread pan.
My Tips:
What I like about this set is that because it’s lightweight and the food pops out super easy, you can pop it in the freezer or refrigerator after it’s baked if, say, you want to serve my Strawberry Cheesecake Streusel Muffins or Grandma’s Favorite Pumpkin Pie slightly chilled, maybe even with a dollop of whipped cream on top?
The Specs:
- Material: Food-grade silicone
- Sizes: 16” cookie sheet, 10” pie pan, 9” round, muffin pan, 9.5” Bundt pan, 9” loaf pan, and 12 cupcake molds
- Weight: 2.75 pounds
- Max Temp: 450 degrees F
The Pros:
- Non-stick
- Dishwasher safe
- Affordable
The Cons:
- Needs a baking sheet for support
What Others Are Saying
The Spruce Eats named the Classic Cuisine the best silicone bakeware set.
Buy the Classic Cuisine 18-Piece Silicone Bakeware Set:
5. Best Budget Bakeware Set: Fat Daddio’s Anodized Aluminum Round Cake Pan Set
I still can’t believe the low price on this 3-piece aluminum bakeware set! The exact sizes are 3” x 2”, 5” x 2”, and 7” x 2”. Because we all know there is a need for more than one round cake pan size. Maybe you want to bake a mini cake for your BFF’s birthday or go all in with a huge coffee cake the whole family can enjoy on a lazy weekend morning.
What’s also cool is that Fat Daddio’s is a small, family-owned business based in Los Angeles, founded in 1968 and bumping up against all the bigger bakeware companies.
My Tips:
You’ll note that nearly all of the layer-cake recipes on my website call for using 8” round cake pans but you could get by with these pans. Imagine making my Lemon Layer Cake (trust me, it’s got lots of zing!) with these or my Lemon Blueberry Cake with Sunday dinner to celebrate the end of a relaxing weekend.
The Specs:
- Material: Aluminum
- Shape: Round
- Sizes: 3” x 2”, 5” x 2”, and 7” x 2”
- Weight: .72 Pounds
- Max Temp: 550 degrees F
Pros:
- Affordable
Cons:
- Not dishwasher safe (hand wash instead)
What Others are Saying:
The Spruce Eats named Fat Daddio’s the best cake pans, and it has a 4.7-star average rating on Amazon from over 20,000 reviews.
Buy the Fat Daddio’s Anodized Aluminum Round Cake Pan Set:
6. Best Splurge Set: Caraway 11-Piece Non-stick Ceramic Bakeware Set
You don’t have to be building a wedding registry to splurge on this nonstick bakeware set. If you’re like me and you LOVE baking, then you will make great use of this 11-piece set.
I also like the handy little two-piece storage rack because we all know how hard it is to keep pans organized. Included in the set are an 18” x 13” baking sheet and 9” x 13” rectangle pan (both with handles), 10” x 15” baking sheet, 12-cup muffin pan, 9” square pan, 1-pound loaf pan, two 9” round pans, an 18” x 13” cooling rack and the two storage pieces.
My Tips:
I would totally use the 9” x 13” pan in this set for my Easy Layered Pistachio Dessert, which is insanely delicious! This is one of those desserts for any occasion and so simple and easy to make.
The Specs:
- Material: Aluminum with ceramic surface
- Sizes: 18” x 13” sheet pan, 9” x 13” rectangular baking dish, 10” x 15” sheet pan, 12-cup muffin pan, 9” square, two 9” rounds, loaf pan, cooling rack, and two storage racks.
- Weight: 32.7 Pounds
- Max Temp: 550 degrees F
Pros:
- Comes with two storage caddies
- Easy to clean
- Non-stick and nontoxic
Cons:
- Not dishwasher safe (hand wash only)
- Heavy
What Others are Saying:
Southern Living calls the Caraway set the best ceramic bakeware set, Brides deemed it a best splurge, and Yahoo awarded it the best overall bakeware set.
Buy the Caraway 11-Piece Non-stick Ceramic Bakeware Set:
7. Best Bakeware Set for Kids: Handstand Kitchen 20-Piece Cupcake Baking Set
If you’ve got little ones in your household—or your family—who want to bake alongside you, but you’re not sure they’re ready for clunky, heavy pans, this 20-piece cupcake baking set is PERFECT.
In fact, everything is ergonomically engineered for their tiny hands! The set includes a spatula, pastry brush, mixing spoon, 12 silicone mini baking cups, a metal muffin tin, and four recipe cards. Handstand Kitchen was launched in 2007 with a goal to empower kids in the kitchen, which is something I can totally get behind.
My Tips:
On my website is a section devoted to kid-friendly recipes and I don’t just mean what they’ll eat. You could use this set to make Blueberry Muffins with a Sugared Glaze or Christmas Tree Cupcakes around the holidays.
The Specs:
- Material: Silicone
- Set Includes: Spatula, pastry brush, mixing spoon, 12 baking cups, muffin tin, and 4 recipe cards.
- Weight: 12.8 ounces
- Max Temp: 428 degrees F
Pros:
- Dishwasher safe
- Easy to clean
Cons:
- Smaller than standard cupcake size
Buy the Handstand Kitchen 20-Piece Cupcake Baking Set:
Other Bakeware Sets I’ve Researched
Circulon Non-Stick, 10-Piece Bakeware Set
The unique (and beautiful!) chocolate brown color sets this bakeware set apart, plus it’s a bargain of a price for TEN pieces! That said, even though they say it’s dishwasher safe, it’s really recommended to hand wash them. You also then need to be careful about using sharp metal objects in the pan because it could damage the nonstick coating. The Circulon Non-Stick, 10-Piece Bakeware Set is available at Amazon for $99.
Wilton 7-Piece Texturra Baking Set
I LOVE the cool minty-blue color to this set and that it contains seven pieces for around $100. Also, you know I have a lot of respect for a small, family-owned business (this one’s been in the same family since the 1920s). But users report these pans are very, very difficult to clean and that’s why I can’t name it a top pick. The Wilton 7-Piece Texturra Baking Set is available at Amazon for $100.
OXO Good Grips 14-Piece Glass Bakeware Set
I often get asked for recommendations for the best glass bakeware set and would not hesitate to recommend this one from OXO, a leading kitchenware brand. But the best kinds of lids for longevity are stoneware, not plastic, so this set might be better if you plan to do a lot of baking, followed by freezing. But with so many other options on the market, these heavy glass pans are not for everyone and they’re not dishwasher-safe. The OXO Good Grips 14-Piece Glass Bakeware Set is available at Amazon for $79.95.
Why You Can Trust Me
In 2012 I launched The Recipe Critic, which by now has more than 300,000 daily readers and 10 million readers per month, but I was baking long before this. I’m a busy wife and mother of FOUR KIDS (yes, you read that right). I don’t like recipes or products that are complicated and difficult to use. I’ve also received acclaim from Good Morning America, The Huffington Post and Today Food. In March of this year I’ll publish The Tried & True Cookbook, which I’m super excited about!
To develop this guide to the best bakeware sets I truly thought about what I would want in my kitchen—including what I already own and use. I looked for sets filled with pieces that are easy to clean, sturdy, versatile in their sizing, and dishwasher-safe whenever possible.
What to Know About Bakeware Sets
What to Consider Before Buying a Bakeware Set
Before you hop onto your favorite online retailer and click on what you think will be the best bakeware set, step back and think about what you want and need. The answers are different for everyone and all go back to what you plan to actually bake. Consider the products’ material, the number of pieces in the set, how easy they are to clean, and what shapes these pieces are (some recipes just do better in a rectangular versus round dish, for example).
Material: Glass may retain heat better than metal, and ceramic performs as well as glass, but think about the weight. If you have trouble lifting heavy pans out of the oven or are going to be transporting this to the table to serve, you don’t want heavy pans (unless the handles are sturdy).
Number of Pieces: Think about quality and not quantity. If you really, really want two round cake pans, then what good will it do to buy a three-piece of rectangular pans like my Staub pick? Some people bake banana bread religiously. Then go for a loaf pan. Others are hugely into casseroles and will want a set with a 9” x 13” pan, for example.
Cleaning: Look for a set where the pieces can go into the dishwasher. Nearly all can. So why would you buy one that you have to scrub and wash by hand? I would make that exception if the set is truly, truly great, however, in all other areas.
Shapes: Based on my extensive research, this guide includes bakeware sets featuring rectangular, round, and oval shapes, along with muffin molds. As any seasoned cook knows, you can take the same recipe for chocolate chip muffins and put it into a cake pan, so long as you adjust the cooking time, but what works best for YOU and your family?
What is Aluminized Steel?
This material is a common material used in bakeware. The reason aluminized steel is used is because it creates a layer of protection between aluminum and the food, making it safe to eat as there is no leaching of metals.
What Piece of Bakeware is Used to Make Sheet Cakes?
If you’re going to make a sheet cake, go for an 18” x 13” cookie sheet, which is what I use for my Texas Sheet Cake recipe.
Do Non-Stick Baking Pans Need to be Greased?
Even though a pan may be advertised as non-stick, you still want to grease it. This ensures that your cakes turn out easily and you don’t have to patch together broken layers! I recommend either butter or oil for this.
What Material is Best for Baking Sheets?
According to Food & Wine, uncoated (also known as not non-stick) aluminum is a top choice for professional bakers and chefs. When made from this material, the baking sheets stand up to high heat, are extremely durable, and heat evenly throughout.
Some of My Favorite Recipes That Use Bakeware Sets
Prices were accurate at the time of publication.
source https://therecipecritic.com/best-bakeware-sets/
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