Best Sheet Pan? I Tested Nordic Ware, Caraway, Made In, Vollrath, Hestan, and USA Pan

Do you need to spend a lot of money to get a quality sheet pan that doesn’t warp? Or are the cheaper brands just as good?

To answer these questions and find out which brand is truly the best, I tested the six highest-rated sheet pans on the market, including Nordic Ware, USA Pan, Made In, Vollrath, Caraway, and Hestan.

After cooking with them for months and comparing all the key specs, I put them through a series of controlled tests to determine which ones are worth your money and which you should avoid.

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Use the links below to navigate this guide:

• Comparison Chart
• Testing Methods
• Nordic Ware
• USA Pan
• Made In
• Vollrath
• Caraway
• Hestan
• Bottom Line: Which Sheet Pan Is the Best?

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Comparison Chart

Swipe to view the entire chart on mobile.

Brand	Nordic Ware	USA Pan	Made In	Vollrath	Caraway	Hestan
Price	$$ (Amazon)	$$ (Amazon)	$$ (Made In)	$$ (Amazon)	$$$ (Caraway)	$$$$ (Amazon)
Where It’s Made	USA	USA	USA	USA	China	China
Size	Half Sheet	Half Sheet	Half Sheet	Half Sheet	Half Sheet	Half Sheet
Base Material	Aluminum	Aluminized Steel	Aluminum	Aluminum	Aluminized Steel	Tri-Ply Stainless Steel
Non-Stick Coating	N/A	Silicone Non-Stick Coating	N/A	N/A	Ceramic non-stick coating	N/A
Full Length (in)	17.5	17.75	17.75	17.75	18.4	18.5
Full Width (in)	12.75	12.75	12.75	12.75	13.3	13.8
Flat Length (in)	16.5	16.5	16.5	16.5	17	17.5
Flat Width (in)	11.4	11.5	11.5	11.75	12	12.5
Handle length (in)	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	0.75	1.25
Wall Height (in)	1	1.2	1	1	0.8	1
Weight (lb)	1.6	2.9	1.6	1.6	3.7	4.6
Thickness (mm)	1.1	1.0	0.9	1.0	0.9	2.1
Max Temp	450°F	450°F	500°F	450°F	550°F	600°F
Top Reason to Buy	Most affordable, no warping, lightweight	Great non-stick, easiest to clean, excellent cookie results	Higher heat resistance (500°F)	Durable, even heating	Excellent non-stick, no warping, stylish colors	Zero warping, highest heat resistance (600°F), largest size
Top Reason to NOT Buy	Food sticks, surface scratches easily	Warps at high heat	Worse sticking than Nordic Ware, slight warping	Slight warping, inconsistent rim construction	Expensive, heavy, hot handles	Expensive, heaviest, food sticks, rainbow staining

Testing Methods

To ensure a fair comparison between all six sheet pans, I developed several standardized tests to evaluate their performance across key metrics.

For the roasting test, I prepared identical batches of diced potatoes with the same amount of oil (1 tsp) and seasoning (1/8 tsp salt and pepper) for each pan.

I baked them at 400°F for exactly 15 minutes, which allowed me to evaluate how much the potatoes stuck to each pan’s surface and assess browning consistency across different areas of the pan. I also examined the texture of the finished potatoes and noted how easily they could be flipped or moved without breaking.

After the roasting test, I conducted a cleaning test by leaving all pans dirty overnight. The next morning, I timed how long it took to fully clean each pan, documented the effort required (amount of scrubbing needed), and noted any remaining residue or staining.

For the cookie test, I placed identical cookie dough portions in the corners and center of each pan and baked them at 350°F for exactly 12 minutes. This allowed me to evaluate browning consistency across different areas of the pan, assess the doneness of each cookie (undercooked, perfectly cooked, or overcooked), and note how easily the cookies released from the surface.

The warping test was perhaps the most important. I heated each empty pan in an oven preheated to 450°F for 20 minutes, carefully observed any warping or buckling during heating, documented any permanent deformation after cooling, and tested for flatness by placing each pan on a level countertop.

Beyond these specific tests, I also compared several additional factors: materials and construction, weight and maneuverability, wall height and overall dimensions, thickness, maximum heat tolerance, special features (handles, non-stick coatings, etc.), and price.

Combined with the performance tests, these elements gave me a comprehensive understanding of each pan’s strengths and weaknesses.

Now, let’s break down how each sheet pan performed in these tests, starting with the most affordable and ending with the most expensive.

Nordic Ware

Nordic Ware is the least expensive sheet pan I tested. This pure aluminum pan is made in the USA, has standard dimensions, one-inch walls, and is about 1 mm thick.

This pan is frequently ranked as the best overall sheet pan by outlets like Serious Eats, The New York Times, and America’s Test Kitchen.

In my roasting test, the potatoes stuck slightly, and I had to use my tongs to pry off a few of them, which caused them to break apart. For the most part, the potatoes cooked evenly but a few larger pieces on the edges were not as brown as smaller pieces in the middle. This amount of variation is expected with different sizes and such a short cooking time.

Because of the sticking, it wasn’t the easiest pan to clean, but it only took a minute and 13 seconds to scrub, which was better than the group average.

The cookies baked evenly across the entire pan with no hot or cold spots. They came out slightly undercooked, but if I let them go for another minute or two, they would be perfect.

Most importantly, Nordic Ware didn’t warp at all during my high-heat test, which is impressive considering its price point.

Overall, this pan is lightweight, affordable, and won’t warp easily. At just 1.6 pounds, you can quickly grab it with one hand, which makes cooking, cleaning, and storing much easier.

USA Pan

USA Pan is the next most affordable sheet pan I tested. It’s made in the USA from aluminized steel, which is supposed to be stronger and more warp-resistant than pure aluminum. 

This pan has a silicone non-stick coating and a grooved surface to increase airflow, promote even browning, and prevent sticking.

At 1.2 inches, the walls are slightly taller than Nordic Ware, which helps contain food when you’re shaking or tossing things around, though this slightly reduces the overall airflow.

In my tests, the potatoes browned evenly with some variation between pieces, and I could see the pattern from the grooves imprinted on the bottoms. Unlike Nordic Ware, I could easily flip and move the potatoes without breaking or sticking.

This pan was the easiest to clean by far. It only took a minute and 4 seconds to get it completely clean. And I barely had to scrub anything; I just needed to rinse off the oil and seasoning.

The cookies turned out better than any other pan I tested. They cooked evenly all over with perfect doneness, they weren’t dried out or undercooked. The best part was how easily they released from the pan. I didn’t need a spatula – I could pick them up with my fingers because they didn’t stick.

Unfortunately, this pan did not do well in my warping test, which surprised me since it’s made of aluminized steel. This material is marketed as being stronger than pure aluminum.

It started to warp slightly while still in the oven, and then when I took it out to cool, one corner suddenly buckled upward pretty dramatically. It did flatten out a bit as it cooled, but it never returned to being completely flat.

Made In

The Made In half sheet pan costs a little more than Nordic Ware, but the pure aluminum construction and design is pretty much the same. It has the same dimensions, same one-inch walls, and weighs exactly the same at 1.6 pounds.

The only real difference in its specs is that it’s oven-safe up to 500°F, and Nordic Ware is safe up to 450°F.

When I roasted potatoes on it, I got more consistent and deeper browning than NordicWare, which was nice. But the sticking was worse. I had to scrape with my tongs to get the potatoes to move, and some of them broke apart when I tried to flip them.

Because of all the stuck-on bits, it took me longer to clean than USA Pan and Nordic Ware, but not by much.

The cookies came out the same as on NordicWare – they baked evenly but were slightly underdone.

Unlike NordicWare, Made In didn’t stay perfectly flat in my warping test. One corner lifted just enough that it would tap against the countertop. It wasn’t a dramatic warp like USA Pan, but it wasn’t perfect either.

Vollrath

If the Vollrath sheet pan looks familiar, that’s because it has virtually the same construction and design as Nordic Ware and Made In.

The dimensions, thickness, and weight are all the same, and the performance in my roasting, cleaning, and baking tests were pretty much the same.

In my warping test, Vollrath had the same issue as Made In. After heating it to 450°F, one corner lifted just enough that it would tap against the countertop when I set it down. It wasn’t a significant warp like the USA Pan, but it was not as solid and flat as Nordic Ware.

One thing I noticed was some inconsistency in the rolled rim. When you look under the pan, the gaps where they roll over the rim are bigger in some places than others.

The other pans have more consistent, even gaps all the way around. It’s not a dealbreaker and has no real impact on performance, but it’s worth mentioning.

Caraway

The Caraway large sheet pan is made in China and is significantly more expensive than Nordic Ware, USA Pan, Made In, and Vollrath.

This pan is made of aluminized steel with a ceramic non-stick coating and stainless steel handles on the sides. The exterior comes in several colors, but all have gray interiors.

This pan is noticeably different from the others I’ve shown you so far. It’s about an inch longer and a half inch wider, but it has the lowest walls at just .8 inches, and it weighs 3.7 pounds, which is more than twice as heavy as the Nordic Ware, Made In, and Vollrath pans.

Caraway performed well in my potato test. The potatoes browned evenly with zero sticking. I could easily move and flip every piece without breaking the crispy parts. And cleaning was just as easy as it was with USA Pan.

The cookies cooked evenly across the pan but overcooked around the edges with a dark ring and were slightly overdone bottoms.

You can clearly see the difference when holding the cookies baked in the Caraway and Nordic Ware pans side by side.

In my warp test, Caraway stayed completely flat. The sturdy steel handles help stabilize the entire pan and prevent warping.

One thing to watch out for is that the handles stay hot much longer than the pan body. After setting the pan aside for 5 minutes, the body of the pan was around 90°F while the handles were still over 120°F.

A couple of times during testing, I tapped the pan body to see if it was cool, and when it was, I grabbed the handles without thinking and nearly burned myself.

Hestan

The Hestan OvenBond sheet pan is the most expensive one I tested. It’s more than seven times the price of Nordic Ware.

It’s made in China with tri-ply stainless steel construction, which means the top and bottom layers are stainless steel layers and the core is aluminum. This construction gives it substantial weight at 4.6 pounds, nearly three times heavier than the aluminum pans.

This pan is the largest of the group at 18.5 inches long and 13.8 inches wide. Built-in are thin rivetless stainless steel handles that extend 1.25 inches from each side.

While the handles are helpful given the pan’s weight, they’re pretty thin and have somewhat sharp edges – not sharp enough to hurt you, but not as comfortable as they could be.

This pan is the thickest at 2.1mm; all of the others I tested are right around 1mm. It can also handle the highest heat – up to 600°F.

When roasting potatoes, I got fairly consistent browning across all pieces. But like the other non-coated pans, there was significant sticking. I had to scrape with the tongs to get several pieces to move, and a few broke apart when I tried to flip them.

Because of the sticking and its weight, this was the hardest pan to clean. And even after cleaning, there were rainbow-colored oxidation stains left behind. You can remove these with vinegar, but they tend to come back.

The cookies browned evenly but were noticeably undercooked,  likely due to the thickness and fully-clad stainless steel construction that heats up slower than aluminum. Since all cookies baked for the same time and temperature, the Hestan simply needed another minute or two to get the same results.

The one area where Hestan truly excelled was the warping test. It showed absolutely no signs of warping or buckling, which is what you’d expect from such a heavy, thick pan.

Bottom Line: Which Sheet Pan Is the Best?

Now that you know the pros and cons of the top brands, the question is: which sheet pan is the best?

If you’re looking for a pan that’s affordable, lightweight, heats evenly, and doesn’t warp, you simply cannot beat the value of Nordic Ware. Made In and Vollrath pans are nearly identical, but since they’re a little more expensive, there’s no good reason to choose them. They’re great pans, but when there are no notable advantages, go with the less expensive option (Nordic Ware).

The main issues with the 3 uncoated aluminum brands, Nordic Ware, Made In, and Vollrath, are that food can stick, the surface is prone to scratches, and they can warp and dent under enough pressure. But they offer the best balance of performance and value for most home cooks.

If price is not a factor and you don’t mind its heavy weight, Hestan is the most durable option. The chance of a pan this thick warping is very slim, and the extra surface area allows you to cook more food at once. Stainless steel may not heat as fast as pure aluminum, but this pan doesn’t scratch or dent, can handle higher heat, and is excellent for broiling.

USA Pan is the clear winner of the two non-stick sheet pans I tested (USA Pan and Caraway). It performed better in the cookie test, it’s almost a pound lighter, and you don’t have to worry about hot handles. Most importantly, it’s less than half the price of Caraway.

The biggest concern with USA Pan is warping. But as long as you spread food evenly across the pan and avoid extreme heat or drastic temperature change, it shouldn’t be a problem.

The bottom line is that the best sheet pan depends on what matters most to you. If you want the best value, go with Nordic Ware. If you want the best non-stick performance, USA Pan is a great choice. And if you’re looking for something that will last forever, Hestan is the most durable but also the most expensive.

Learn more and compare the current prices at the links below:

• Nordic Ware (Amazon)
• USA Pan (Amazon)
• Made In (MadeInCookware.com, Amazon)
• Vollrath (Amazon)
• Caraway (CarawayHome.com)
• Hestan (HestanCulinary.com, Amazon)