There is one piece of cookware that every cook need in their arsenal of pots and pans and that is the proper roasting pan. How important can it be to choosing the best roasting pan for you when you might only use it a couple of times a year? Cooking a turkey at Thanksgiving and Christmas can require a large and sturdy one. Here are a couple of tips on how to choose the right one for you.

Size and Depth

A roasting pan should be big enough so food won’t touch the sides while it is cooking. The pan should allow enough space for the air to circulate and brown the entire bird.

An often overlooked factor is will the roasting pan fit into your oven? What a complete disaster you could be facing when you go to put the turkey into the oven only to find out it won’t fit!

To make sure that your pan will fit into your oven, you will need to determine the internal dimensions of your oven at the narrowest width – meaning not from the side of the oven to the other side of the oven. You have to examine the lip on each side wall of the oven where the rack slides in and out. You need to measure from the edge of this lip to the opposite side lip to get your clear width dimension.

Don’t forget you might also need a little extra room to accommodate the handles of your pan and the oven mitts on your hands when placing or removing the pan.

How deep should your pan be? The sides of your pan need to be high enough to contain the juices from the meat without overflowing into your oven. Sides that are 2-1/2 inches to 3 inches tall should be fine. A taller height of 3 inches to 4 inches can also allow for vegetables to be placed along the sides of the meat being roasted.

Now armed with this information, you are now ready to find the right size roasting pan for your oven. Remember, you can always have more than one pan for different size meats such as chicken, roast and turkey.

Handles and Sturdiness

There are a two different ways handles are mounted on the pan. Handles can be mounted so they extend out horizontally from the sides of the pan. This makes lifting the pan out of the oven easier but at the same time the handles cut down on the cooking area inside the oven. Handles that are mounted vertically can save you space within the oven but can make it more difficult to lift the roasting pan out of the oven.

No matter which type of handles you prefer or decide upon, it is most important that the handles be riveted onto the metal of the pan. Riveted handles are the most secure and the strongest. You want to be in full control when maneuvering an extremely hot pan with hot oil and juices in it.

As far as sturdiness of the pan is concerned, you probably want to have a heavy roasting pan for bigger and heavier meats and dishes. You will want to be able to support the weight and avoid an awful accident. Calphalon makes a nice nonstick pan that is strong enough for heavy dishes. Thinner pans might twist or bend with heavy foods in it possibly creating a potentially dangerous situation or accident with hot oils and juices.

Some people prefer to own a couple or three roasting pans. From a thin one maybe without handles to a thicker, more sturdy type to support heavier foods.

Whenever buying a roasting pan, you should consider these couple of features to make your future meal preparation better, easier and safer.

User Reviews Send this to a friend
Calphalon Unison Nonstick 16 Inch Roaster with Rack
	Manufacturer: Calphalon Customer Rating:   List Price: $300.00 Sale Price: $149.95 Availibility: Usually ships in 24 hours Free Shipping Available Buy Now
Product Description
Calphalon Unison Nonstick 16 Inch Roaster with Rack
Product Details
Large 16-inch roaster with nonstick V-rack Heavy-gauge, hard anodized aluminum construction for even heat distribution Specially textured SEAR nonstick interior seals in flavor yet has all the convenience of a nonstick surface Use nylon, wooden, or coated utensils; dishwasher safe; oven safe to 500 degrees F Measures 22.5 by 15.5 by 5.5 inches; carries a lifetime warranty
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Customer Reviews
NOT the real thing, but a decent roaster!   Review Date: September 23, 2009 Reviewer: A Research It Maven, USA This Roaster is NOT the REAL Calphalon Unison (which is made in Ohio) but a cheap offshore knockoff. You will search in vain among the package, literature, packing slip and box for "Made in the USA" because it isn't. (Lately China is "forgetting" to list the country of origin on stuff - have you noticed that?) If your Unison box says "Special Value" it is an IMITATION, so be aware! In addition, it has so called "slide" nonstick, NOT SEAR, which was invented by Calphalon for the Unison line - - if you don't care, this is a good pan.

From Cooking.com

Calphalon 16×13x4-in. Contemporary Stainless Roasting Pan with Rack

From Calphalon’s Contemporary Stainless line, this brilliantly shiny roaster holds a ham, turkey, chicken or pork tenderloin, leaving plenty of room for vegetables. It comes with a nonstick rack that lifts out for transporting your roasted food to the chopping block and for easier cleaning of the roaster itself. Two side handles are sturdy and wide for an easier grasp. Oven-safe to 500 F. & up. Note: Safe for use on glass/ceramic stoves. About Calphalon Contemporary Stainless: Now fashion-focused home chefs with a taste for all things modern have a line of cookware created just for them: Calphalon Contemporary Stainless. With its clean lines, smooth, lustrous surfaces and sleek, curvy silhouettes, it’s the first cookware ever to bring stunning, contemporary design into the home kitchen. This new line features tri-ply construction, the choice of many professional chefs. A layer of heavy-gauge aluminum (sandwiched between the stainless interior and exterior) provides superb conductivity and even heating. Sculpted handles stay cool on the stovetop. And for added convenience, the pans are dishwasher-safe.

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