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The 9×13 Baking Pan That Has My Heart
I’m no pro in the kitchen, just an everyday home-cooking, baking mama with a family to feed. So, if you’re a Michelin-starred chef searching for the best 9×13 baking pan to perfect an award-winning mille-feuille, well…I’m more of the Rice Crispie Treats type. But if you’re the queen or king of your kitchen and know your way around some comfort food favorites, let me tell you how this everyday home cook fell in love with one 9×13 stainless steel baking pan made in the USA.
When Did I Get Old Enough to Have an Opinion About The Best 9×13 Baking Pan?
And enough thoughts in my head about it to share? Oh boy.
I like to bake, and with a family to feed, I have to cook. Over the years, I’ve built up my collection of American-made cookware and bakeware. My cookies come together in a KitchenAid stand mixer, I preserve my garden harvests with an All American Canner, and my meatloaf is mixed in Pyrex. My dough rises in a vintage Roseville bowl, and for the last 15 years, I’ve done my baking in an Anchor Hocking 9×13 glass baking dish. You get the idea: I love high-quality kitchenware made in the USA.
So when I received some 360 Cookware and Bakeware for Christmas, I couldn’t wait to try it out. Here’s a picture of how one of the pieces (loaf pan) was gifted – wrapped with a festive red holiday bow, some baking ingredients, and a recipe to get started. The picture makes me smile all over again!
I tried out the 360 Cookware slow cooker first, which I’m just as smitten with – but that’s another story. As for my new 9×13 baking pan, I had plenty of recipes dancing in my head (no sugarplums, though). To break it in, I went with a homemade shepherd’s pie. But more about shepherd’s pie later. I want to tell you why I love my baking dish so much.
My Baking Dish Has Handles!
If you’re familiar with the phrase, “Thanks, it has pockets,” that’s how I feel about my 9×13 baking dish with handles. I’ve even said it out loud a few times – “It has handles!”
And not just any handles. They’re pretty, polished, and shiny, and, most importantly, high-quality riveted handles.
A Baking Dish With Handles Matters More Than I Realized!
I never thought about handles on bakeware before, but now that I have real, riveted handles on my baking pan, I can’t imagine going without them.
You see, I suffered from severe carpal tunnel syndrome for two years before finally having surgery in January and February of 2024. While the worst is behind me, I still deal with long-term physical effects and some psychological ones, too. I worry about hurting myself again. I hesitate when lifting and washing heavy dishes. And I definitely have a lingering fear of dropping glass or something hot.
Handles are Safer: Now I’m Obsessed!
Having a 9×13 baking dish with handles makes me feel more secure. There’s more surface to grip, and instead of just balancing the baking dish on my fingertips, I can wrap my fingers – ever so slightly – around the handles.
That small difference? It’s huge for safety.
And it’s not just safer for me – baking pans with handles are safer in any kitchen. Imagine kids unexpectedly running through the kitchen or someone accidentally bumping into you. With riveted handles, you have a firm, steady grip, unlike molded handles that can feel slippery and awkward. That extra stability could mean the difference between setting down a hot, heavy dish or dropping it (which, sadly, has happened to me).
“Thanks, it has handles!” might be a fun joke when my family compliments my new bakeware at dinnertime, but safety in the kitchen? That’s no joke.
Switching to Stainless Steel Baking Pans: My Love Is Unbreakable
I own a lot of bakeware – loaf pans, cookie sheets, cupcake tins, and even specialty cake pans. But like I said before, the 9×13 casserole and baking dish I was using before 360 Cookware was glass.
Now that I’ve switched to stainless steel, I’m never going back.
A Lighter, Easier-to-Handle Baking Pan
360 Cookware is heirloom-quality cookware and bakeware made with durable stainless steel. It’s heavyweight stuff – but not in a “too heavy to lift” way. It’s heavy in durability, not bulk. You can feel the quality when you pick it up, but compared to my glass bakeware, it’s significantly lighter.
I actually weighed my 9×13 baking pans to compare:
- Anchor Hocking 9×13 glass baking dish: A hair shy of five pounds.
- 360 Cookware 9×13 stainless steel baking pan: Under three pounds. Two pounds lighter!
That’s a big deal, especially for anyone with arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, or general strength challenges. And let’s be honest – we all get older. Some of us are old enough to have an opinion on the best 9×13 baking pan. Haha! Having bakeware that’s easier to handle just makes sense.
Drop It, Bang It, Cool It Too Fast: Stainless Steel Won’t Chip, Crack, or Break
Stainless steel can handle what glass and stoneware can’t.
Now, I’m certainly not recommending you throw a beautiful stainless steel baking dish on the floor. As a matter of fact, I made stuffed peppers last night, and as Don started to help me clean up the kitchen, he looked at my treasured 360 Cookware 9×13 bake & roast pan and said, “Am I even allowed to touch it to wash it?”
Hmm. My husband wants to do dishes? Eenie, meenie, miny…
“No, I’ll do it. It has handles.”
All jokes aside, I can wash my stainless steel baking pan with confidence, something I can’t do with heavy glassware and stoneware anymore due to my CTS. It’s just too dangerous.
Stainless steel bakeware is:
- Safer to wash: If it slips in your soapy hands, no worries. Unlike glass, stainless steel won’t crack or shatter, leaving you with an unusable pan – or worse, a painful, or serious injury.
- Safer to carry: For the same reasons it’s safer to wash, stainless steel bakeware is safer to carry. That solid grip and those riveted handles are a plus, too.
- Safer to cook with: Glass bakeware doesn’t like extreme temperature changes. If it’s moved from a hot stove to an air-conditioned kitchen, it could shatter unexpectedly. Stainless steel, on the other hand, handles those shifts without issue.
- Safer to eat from: Glass bakeware and stoneware can develop hairline cracks or unnoticeable chips over time. Those imperfections could end up in your food, presenting a hidden risk to your family. Stainless steel stays intact.
Beauty Meets Function: My 9×13 Baking Pan is Pretty
Let’s be honest; we all have to do the daily grind, whether it’s cooking or laundry (oh, the laundry). But having tools and products that bring a little joy can make a big difference in how we feel about our chores. For me, that’s exactly what my 360 Cookware 9×13 bake and roast pan brings to the table. Well, that and food.
I’ve learned that if I’m going to spend time doing chores, I might as well enjoy it! Having pretty cookware and bakeware that’s well-made helps me do that. When I look at my new 9×13 stainless steel baking pan, with its brushed finish and sleek handles, I feel good. It makes me smile every time I reach for it, and for me, that touch of elegance in the middle of my everyday routine helps me whistle while I work.
More Reasons to Fall for Stainless Steel Bakeware
I’ve shared why I love my 360 Cookware bake & roast pan so much, but here are a few more reasons to love a 9×13 stainless steel baking pan.
- Better Heat Distribution: Stainless steel bakeware tends to heat more evenly than glass, which can result in more consistent cooking.
- Oven Safe at Higher Temperatures: Stainless Steel can withstand higher temperatures than glass making it better for recipes that require high-heat roasting and broiling. Glass is generally safe to 425°F. My 360 bake and roast pan is safe to 500°F.
- No Staining or Discoloration: Over time, glass can stain and discolor from acidic foods like tomato sauces, but stainless steel won’t stain. And it’s easy to clean and maintain its shiny appearance.
- Longer Lifespan: Stainless steel is incredibly durable and can last a lifetime (or more!) if cared for properly. Glass and stoneware can chip and break.
- Environmentally Friendly: Stainless Steel is highly recyclable, so if you ever replace your pan, it’s easier to recycle. Glass can also be recycled, but the recycling process is less energy efficient.
More to Love About 360 Cookware
If you’ve been considering upgrading any of your cookware and bakeware, 360 Cookware is committed to quality, sustainability, and your health. It’s more than just a pretty pan!
- Lifetime Warranty: 360 Cookware comes with a certificate of authenticity and is backed by a lifetime warranty.
- Eco-Friendly Facilities: The 360 Cookware factory is entirely wind-generated, produces zero landfill waste, and requires no EPA permits to operate.
- Healthier Cooking: The brand’s cookware is designed to preserve nutrients and flavors while allowing you to cook with less fat and oil.
- Extensive Selection: 360 Cookware manufactures both cookware and bakeware for every possible purpose. I have my heart set on more!
I think this is the perfect time to tell you that 360 Cookware offers my readers 25% off when you follow one of my links to their website and use code USAMATTERS at checkout.
Shepherd’s Pie: Breaking in My 9×13 Baking Pan with a Comfort Food Classic
So who’s hungry? Should we talk about that Shepherd’s Pie?
Shepherd’s pie is a staple in my kitchen. It’s hearty, comforting, and a great way to use up leftover mashed potatoes. Plus, I figured it would be the perfect dish to test my new 9×13 stainless steel baking pan. Would it cook the same as the glass baking dish I’d been using for so long? Would clean up be easier? There was only one way to find out!
Layers of seasoned ground beef and vegetables topped with creamy mashed potatoes and melty cheese – this meal would put my new pan to the test.
When I pulled it from the oven, I could immediately see how evenly everything had baked. No overdone edges and a perfectly, evenly cooked dish. And serving was a breeze! The stainless steel released each portion effortlessly, with no sticking or baked-on mess left behind.
I don’t follow recipes to the letter; I use them as more of a guide and throw things in all willy-nilly. But if you’re craving shepherd’s pie now, here’s the recipe I used to learn how to make it.
From Dinner Time to Sweet Treats: My New 9×13 Baking Pan Is Getting a Workout
Since breaking in my new pan with shepherd’s pie, I’ve put it to work with a few other family favorites.
I used it to form Rice Crispie Treats, lining it with parchment paper for easy lifting onto a cutting board for slicing. It also worked perfect for our own Americanized enchiladas on taco night, lasagna, and the stuffed peppers I made last night.
Every time I use it, it makes me happy. It cooks evenly, cleans up effortlessly, and it looks beautiful sitting on my stovetop. Who knew I could be so tickled about a 9×13 baking pan made in the USA?
If you liked this post, “Thanks! It has handles!”
~Michelle
Save 25% on 360 Cookware with this link and coupon code: USAMATTERS
