Sometimes enjoying your favorite foods can leave you feeling guilty afterwards. Red meats are a prime example (excuse the pun!)…
One serving of prime rib contains 24 grams of fat, which provides over a whopping 200 calories. That’s not what you want to hear when you’re trying to count calories and slim down. It doesn’t leave much wiggle room for vegetable or carb side dishes.
However, if you were to cook your meat in a broiler pan, you can not only reduce or even eliminate the fat contained in the cooking oil, but the natural fat in your meat will melt during the broiling process, and the fatty grease will simply drip into the lower area underneath.
This way, there’s less saturated fat in your cooked meat, which is also great news for your arteries.
We’ve been checking out and testing some of the best broiler pans on the market today. And, after much deliberation, we were able to put together a shortlist of our top 5 favorites to review for you here.
Our reviews are unbiased and contain both pros and cons.
But if you haven’t really looked into it before, we get how tricky it can be to choose one, which is why we’ve also put together a handy buying guide for you that will walk you through some of the key points to consider before you buy.
Then we’re going to top that off with a section where we answer some of your most frequently asked questions on the subject.
And without further ado, let’s get down to it.
Whirlpool 4396923 Porcelain Broiler Pan And Grid
Now, this broiler pan kit has earned the title of Amazon’s Choice in the category of broiler pans. Such a title is only given to products that are both of excellent quality and are also available at a good and reasonable price.
It comes from the top, well-established brand Whirlpool, which is part of the Whirlpool Corporation.
And while over the last 100 years or source most of their profit comes from the sale of their kitchen appliances, they also manufacture accessories to work with these appliances, as in this instance.
However, it’s worth noting at this point that this broiler pan set is universal in nature and will work just fine in any oven, and not just in Whirlpool ovens alone.
It’s larger in size than it looks in the photo, measuring 16.75 inches in length by 12.75 inches in width, and is a full half an inch high,
The kit consists of both a black porcelain broiler pan and a metal grid. The rack holds your food above the lower pan, allowing the hot air to better circulate completely around the food, and at the same time drain away any excess grease. It also serves to prevent splatter and smoke during the broiling.
When we tried it out for ourselves, we were very pleased with it. It was big enough to accommodate a large joint of meat, and the resulting meat was very tender and moist without being too greasy.
We also found that it’s a breeze to clean, thanks to the porcelain coating, and we can confirm that it’s perfectly safe to go in the dishwasher.
There’s also a 30-day return policy in place, which we take to mean that if you are unhappy with the product after the sale, then you could return it to them and request your money back.
It’s a little pricey compared to some of the other brands on the market, but I guess many people would be prepared to pay a little more, knowing that it comes from such a reputable brand.
Pros
- Has earned the title of Amazon’s Choice
- It comes from a top brand in the industry
- Large enough to accommodate big joints
- It’s perfectly safe to go in the dishwasher
- There’s a 30-day return policy in place
Cons
- It’s a little pricey compared to some of the other brands on the market
Also Available To Buy At
Stock Your Home Disposable Aluminum Foil Broiler Pans (10 Pack)
As we discuss in our buying guide a little later, disposable broiler pans have some advantages over regular ones. They are significantly cheaper, even if you were to buy a back of ten. And you don’t ever have to bother cleaning them because they are intended for single use.
This particular pack of disposable broiler pans has other advantages besides. The aluminum foil of which they are constructed is eco-friendly and is 100% recyclable, which is excellent news for the environment and means you can dispose of them guilt-free.
Each pan has a ribbed bottom surface. This not only allows the hot air to better circulate around the food you broil, but also allows excess fat and grease to be drained off. What’s more, this ribbed bottom also serves to give your meat and veg a grill-like texture.
Each broiler pan is quite big, but even bigger would be better. It measures 13 inches in length and 9 inches in width, while being 0.85 inches high.
These disposable pans can also be used as drip trays. And you can use them both in your oven and on your barbecue outdoors.
And although they are classed as disposable, you can reuse them if you so wish, since they are 100% dishwasher safe. Moreover, they are also safe to put in the freezer for those of you who like to meal prep ahead of time.
When we tried them out for ourselves, we were pleasantly surprised with how sturdy they are. But at the same time they were also very lightweight and easy to carry.
Amazon occasionally has deals on this particular set of disposable broiler pans – simply click on “Check price” to see if there happens to be a deal on now.
Pros
- Bargain, affordable price tag
- A good size at 13 by 9 inches
- They’re lightweight yet sturdy
- They’re 100% dishwasher safe
- They’re also safe for the freezer
Cons
- The pans are a little flimsy to carry, but you can solve this by using two pans together
Also Available To Buy At
Granite Ware 3-Piece Set, Bake, Broil & Grill
Now, this is not a traditional broiler pan, but something much better that just so happens to be available at pretty much the same price tag, if not cheaper if you catch a deal.
The set is made up of a large 14 by 9 inch roasting pan, a 13 by 9 inch broiler pan, and a 13 by 9 inch grill rack. And you can use them in different combinations for different effects, making it an incredibly versatile set to have to hand.
And the set is both stronger and safer than disposable foil type broiler pans.
It comes from an incredibly long-established brand that has been in the business for well over 100 years.
There are no nasty chemicals in its construction to intoxicate your food, and it’s perfectly safe to use. It features an inert, non-porous porcelain enamel surface which is by nature a non-stick surface. You may also be pleased to hear that it’s 100% dishwasher safe.
When we tried this set out for ourselves, we were suitably impressed with the results. We tried out the set both with and without the grill rack. And as you may imagine, using the rack was more effective at ridding the meats of excess grease drippings.
When we used it without the grill rack, we found it a breeze to clean down (by hand) afterwards, thanks to the non-stick surface.
Amazon occasionally has deals on this 3-piece set – simply click on “Check price” to see if there happens to be a deal on now. To be honest, though, it’s still great value for money if you end up paying the full listing price.
Pros
- Great price and value for money
- It comes as an entire 3-piece set
- It’s from a long-established brand
- You can use it to bake, broil, or grill
- Has easy to clean non-stick surface
- It’s safe to use in the dishwasher
Cons
- Not suitable for use on glass cook tops
- There are also other sets on the product page, so if you decide to buy, please ensure you only select the set you want
Also Available To Buy At
GE WB48X10056 Genuine OEM Broiler Pan
Now, this broiler pan is a prominent bestseller with the leading online retailers, where it’s been selling in its thousands.
It comes from big brand GE Appliances, also known as General Electric, and is typically sold as a GE appliance accessory. However, this does not mean that it can only be used in GE ovens. On the contrary, it can be used in any oven.
It is made up of two component parts, namely a grill and a bottom pan. You basically lay the grill over the bottom pan in order to use the two together to form a broiler pan.
The grill part features numerous large slots through which grease drippings can pass through to the bottom pan, leaving your various meats and vegetables grease-free.
And if you ever did want to keep the drippings, maybe for making a gravy, you could always use the bottom pan alone without placing the grill part inside.
The other great thing about this broiler pan is the sheer size of it. Whereas many broiler pans typically measure about 13 by 9 inches, this one is significantly bigger, coming in at 16.75 inches long by 12.62 inches wide by 1.37 inches high.
You can accommodate larger joints with this broiler pan than you can on its smaller counterparts, but on the flip side it will take up more room in your oven.
When we tried it out for ourselves, we were very happy with it. We noticed that the slots were quite sharp but this didn’t put us off using it.
When it came time to let the meat rest before cutting it, we noticed that there was no remaining grease on it, and it had all dripped through to the bottom pan underneath.
We also found that no food stuck to the broiler pan and that it was easy to clean down afterwards.
Pros
- It’s a bestseller from a top brand
- Very large size to fit lots of food
- You can use two parts separately
- Very effective removal of grease
- It’s non-stick and easy to clean
Cons
- The slots in the grill part are really sharp, so you have to be careful when handing it that you don’t cut your hands or fingers
Also Available To Buy At
Range Kleen Broiler Pan For Ovens
Now, when this article was written, this broiler pan was the number one bestseller in the category of roasting pans on Amazon.com, and what’s more it has been met with excellent customer ratings and reviews, having earned an average customer rating of 4 and a half stars out of 5.
This pan is made up of two component parts, namely a broiler pan and a broiler rack. Both of which are made of porcelain-coated black steel, which makes them not only sturdy to handle and highly conductive of heat, but also non-stick, and therefore easy to clean.
In fact, it’s 100% dishwasher safe, so if you have one cleaning it couldn’t be easier.
One of the great things about this broiler pan is the sheer size of it. Whereas many broiler pans typically measure about 13 by 9 inches, this one is significantly bigger, coming in at 16.75 inches long by 12.75 inches wide by 1.75 inches high.
You can accommodate larger joints with this broiler pan than you can on its smaller counterparts, but on the flip side, it will take up more room in your oven.
When we tested this broiler pan out for ourselves, we found that it was great at letting grease drip away to the bottom pan.
When we tried to hand wash it later on, there was a little food stuck on, but we found that if we let the pan soak in the dishwasher for a while first, it came right off.
We were also reassured to learn that it’s made right here in the good old US of A.
Pros
- It’s a number one bestseller
- Very large size to fit lots of food
- You can use two parts separately
- Very effective removal of grease
- It’s non-stick and easy to clean
Cons
- It can vary in price depending on what retailer you buy from
Also Available To Buy At
Buying Guide
As promised, here’s your buying guide. Let’s walk you through some of the key things to think about before you buy your broiler pan.
Broiler Pan Vs Roasting Or Baking Pan With Rack
Broiler pans typically feature raised elements on an otherwise flat pan, allowing the excess grease to drip into its recesses. And while this is a good thing, you may still get grease touching your food.
With a roasting pan and rack, however, ALL the grease falls below the rack, leaving everything above the rack completely free of grease.
However, one disadvantage of roasting pans with a rack is that all the food on the pan is raised, and this could become problematic if you want to cook bulky foods, or if you want to cook several trays of food in the oven simultaneously.
Disposable Vs Reusable Broiler Pans
To be perfectly honest, most of the advantages and disadvantages of disposable and reusable broiler pans are pretty much obvious and self-explanatory.
You don’t have to bother cleaning disposable broiler plans, because you’re going to be disposing of them. They’re also significantly cheaper and more affordable than reusable broiler pans, even if you were to buy a pack of ten.
Most disposable broiler pans are made from aluminum, which is recyclable, so you don’t have to worry too much about damaging the environment when you use them.
But, on the flip side, if you were to invest in a reusable broiler pan, then you will always have one at hand whenever the need arises. And usually they’re quite easy to clean anyway.
For these reasons, we decided to include both disposable and reusable broiler pans in our shortlist.
Size
Your broiler pan needs to be big enough to accommodate everything that you want to cook on it. But broiler pans come in different sizes, so be sure to check whether each broiler pan you look at can meet your needs.
We made a point of including the broiler pan dimensions on each of our reviews, so you can judge for yourself whether it’s adequate.
Sturdiness
It’s important not to overlook the sturdiness of the broiler pan. This is because some broiler pans have been known to warp when in a hot oven, and this could cause juices to spill into the oven floor.
Heat Conduction
One of the main ways that foods cook well in the oven is through the heat conduction of the pan. The heat is transferred to your food via the pan as well as through the hot air.
Easy To Clean
If you decide to go for a reusable broiler pan rather than a disposable one, you will want the pan to be easy to clean. Any food particles left on the pan will be unsanitary.
Wherever possible in our reviews we have mentioned whether or not the pan is dishwasher safe, since this is the most convenient way to wash your pots and pans if you’re lucky enough to own one.
Brand
We would argue that brand is somewhat important when shopping for a broiler pan. Big brands have a reputation to maintain, and they simply cannot afford to produce low quality goods.
Thus, you can expect branded broiler pans to be of better quality than their cheaper counterparts.
Value For Money
Broiler pans can vary somewhat in price…
The cheapest ones you can buy are the disposable broiler pans. You can pick up a pack of at least 3 disposable aluminum broiler pans for less than $10.
At the other end of the spectrum, however, broiler pans can cost as much as $40 or so.
We don’t include prices in our reviews in case they change, but please feel free to check the current prices as you go along, using the links provided.
Answers To Your Most Frequently Asked Questions
Is A Broiler Pan Worth It?
We would argue that a broiler pan is absolutely worth it for anyone who wants to look after their health and still enjoy fatty foods like red meats without all that needless unpleasant grease.
What Is The Best Material For A Broiler Pan?
We ask a lot from our broiler pans. They need to be heat conducive to help cook your foods, but they must also be heat-resistant so that they don’t warp with the heat in the oven.
And that’s not all – they also need to have a coating that will prevent foods from sticking to it, so that it’s easy to clean afterwards, and ideally dishwasher safe to boot.
The best material for this is steel, but with a porcelain coating.
Is It Safe To Broil On Aluminum Foil?
Not only is it perfectly safe to broil on aluminum foil, it’s something that we strongly recommend. If you were to line the bottom part of a broiler pan with aluminum foil, this will save you from having to wash the bottom part because you simply dispose of it all when you dispose of the foil.
Aluminum foil is excellent for conducting heat, however, so we suggest using caution when handling it.
Or alternatively, you can use a broiler pan that’s made out of aluminum foil, as in our number two pick, the Stock Your Home Disposable Aluminum Foil Broiler Pans.
Do Ovens Come With A Broiler Pan?
A broiler pan comes standard with the purchase of a Wolf Oven or Range.
