Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. I may earn a small commission for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial, and/or link to any products or services from this website.
Blair absolutely loves baking bread! Over the years, she’s developed and baked her way through tons of different recipes, ranging from yummy banana nut to easy 3-ingredient beer bread. She’s learned so much about how to make perfectly crispy tops and moist interiors, but her number one tip is to invest in one of the best loaf pans.
Table of Contents
Whether you’re a seasoned baker or just starting your culinary journey, choosing the right loaf pan can make all the difference in your culinary creations. To make our list of the best loaf pans, Blair and I have meticulously researched and tested several types in a range of different sizes, shapes, and materials that guarantee durability, even baking, and easy release.
Ahead, you can check out the best loaf pans including innovative designs and trusted classics to help you bake delectable breads, cakes, and meatloaves.
Our Top Picks:
- In Blair’s Kitchen: OXO Good Grips Nonstick Loaf Pan – $20.95 at Amazon
- Blair’s Other Favorite Loaf Pan: Great Jones Breadwinner – $30 at Great Jones
- Blair’s Pick for Speciality Loaves: Nordic Ware Harvest Bounty Loaf – $28.99 at Amazon
- Best Loaf Pan for Sourdough: Staub Dutch Oven – $316 at Amazon
- Best Mini Loaf Pan: USA Pan Bakeware Pullman Mini Loaf Pan – $29.80 at Amazon
- Best Meatloaf Pan: Taylor Chicago Metallic Non-Stick Meatloaf Set – $11.99 at Amazon
- Best Pullman Loaf Pan: USA Pan Bakeware Pullman Loaf Pan with Cover – $27.72 at Amazon
Reviews of The Best Loaf Pans
1. In Blair’s Kitchen: OXO Good Grips Nonstick Loaf Pan
This loaf pan from the beloved cookware brand is a game-changer when it comes to baking. It’s a firm favorite of Blair’s, especially when she uses it to make her tasty Banana Nut Bread. Crafted from aluminized steel, it ensures even heat distribution for a consistent bake each and every time.
Blair loves the square rolled edges that provide a secure grip and make cleanup a breeze. As an added bonus, the material is scratch-resistant and dishwasher-safe, so it’s guaranteed to last the long haul in your kitchen.
What Blair Says:
“I lean towards loaf pans that sport a lighter finish, like beige or gold, as they tend to ensure the most even baking for my bread. Dark pans often lead to the outer layers burning before the inside is properly cooked. This is one of the reasons I love the OXO Loaf Pan!”
The Specs:
- Material: Commercial grade, aluminized steel
- Color: Beige
- Shape: Rectangular
- Weight: 1 lb
- Dimensions: 4.5 x 8.5 inches
- Dishwasher-safe: Yes
The Pros:
- PFOA-free nonstick coating
- Easy to clean
- Bakes evenly
- Lighter-colored coating
The Cons:
- Not good for larger loaves
What Others Are Saying
Serious Eats and The Spruce Eats both highly recommend this loaf pan. This product also has a 4.8 rating on Amazon from over 1,330 reviews.
Buy the OXO Good Grips Nonstick Loaf Pan:
2. Blair’s Other Favorite Loaf Pan: Great Jones Breadwinner
Every time Blair uses this loaf pan, her bread comes out nearly perfect. The aptly named breadwinner loaf pan from Great Jones is made with a nontoxic, nonstick coating and ensures your baking creations slide out effortlessly thanks to the wavy, ridged bottom.
It’s oven-safe and dishwasher-friendly, which makes cleanup a breeze. Plus, you get to choose from three vibrant colors (a fun fuchsia, cobalt blue, or forest green). Blair also loves that there aren’t any chemicals used in the construction of this pan. So, if you’re after consistently flawless baked goods and a hassle-free experience, this loaf pan is your perfect kitchen companion!
The Specs:
- Material: Aluminized steel, nonstick coating
- Colors: Raspberry, Blueberry, Broccoli
- Shape: Rectangular
- Weight: 1 lb
- Dimensions: 4.5 x 8.5 inches
- Dishwasher-safe: Yes
The Pros:
- Non-toxic
- Easy to clean
- Oven-safe and dishwasher-friendly
- Comes in 3 different colors
- Ridged bottom
The Cons:
- Ceramic coating may chip if using metal utensils
What Others Are Saying
The Great Jones Breadwinner Loaf Pan was featured in both All Recipes and Food & Wine roundup of the best loaf pans.
Buy the Great Jones Breadwinner:
3. Blair’s Pick for Specialty Loaves: Nordic Ware Harvest Bounty Loaf
The only thing better than a perfectly baked loaf is one that looks gorgeous — so this Nordic Ware Bounty Loaf pan landed on our list. The bottom boasts an autumnal-inspired design that imprints directly into the bread. Its intricate design captures the essence of the season, ensuring your creations look as delightful as they taste.
When it comes to the construction, it has a nonstick interior that guarantees your treats will come out flawlessly detailed and nicely baked every time. Best of all, the aluminum structure offers superior heat conductivity that ensures even browning.
What Blair Says:
“I use this special loaf pan for my pumpkin bread each fall, which always garners rave reviews!”
The Specs:
- Material: Aluminum
- Color: Bronze
- Shape: Rectangular
- Weight: 1.3 lbs
- Dimensions: 5.7 x 10.1 inches
- Dishwasher-safe: Handwashing recommended
The Pros:
- Non-toxic, non-stick coating
- Creates fun harvest-inspired treats
- Great heat conductivity
The Cons:
- The detailed carving can make it slightly harder to clean
What Others Are Saying
This product has a 4.8-star rating on Amazon from more than 2,690 reviewers.
Buy the Nordic Ware Harvest Bounty Loaf:
4. Best Loaf Pan for Sourdough: Staub Dutch Oven
While it’s not your classic loaf pan, this iconic Dutch oven from Staub is an absolute masterpiece. Its smooth enamel bottom works effortlessly on any stovetop for one-pot meals, but Blair especially loves using it in the oven to bake a beautiful, crunchy loaf of bread. Its near-perfect heat retention and even distribution make it a bread baker’s dream.
While it’s on the pricier side, Blair notes that you’re not just investing in a piece of cookware, but a timeless cocotte that will last for years: “The Staub Dutch Oven is one of my kitchen essentials that is an heirloom piece.” She also previously voted this model as the best Dutch oven, especially since she frequently uses it for her No Knead Bread recipe.
- Material: Cast iron
- Color: Gray, Black, Orange, Cherry, Blue
- Shape: Round
- Weight: 12.9 lbs
- Dimensions: 12.87 x 6.57 inches
- Dishwasher-safe: Yes, but hand washing is recommended
The Specs:
The Pros:
- Durable & long-lasting
- Smart lid design
- Versatile
- Lifetime warranty
The Cons:
- Hand washing recommend
- Pricey
What Others Are Saying
The Staub Dutch Oven has a 4.6-star rating on Amazon from more than 3,500 reviewers. It’s highly recommended by Bon Appetit, CNET, Food & Wine, and Serious Eats.
Buy the Staub Dutch Oven:
5. Best Mini Loaf Pan: USA Pan Bakeware Pullman Mini Loaf Pan
This mini loaf pan from USA Pan is great for home cooks who want to make fun appetizers or mini versions of their favorite loaves. It has eight wells and is constructed with aluminized steel that ensures even heat distribution. The ridged surface is also great for air circulation, which can help with the baking process. As a bonus, the nonstick coating doesn’t contain any chemicals, but it’s still just as effective as other options.
This pan is perfect for cooking Blair’s delightful mini orange juice cakes or moist cornbread. Whether you’re a novice or a seasoned baker, this pan will elevate your baking game, making it a must-have addition to your kitchen arsenal!
The Specs:
- Material: Steel
- Color: Aluminized Steel
- Shape: Rectangular
- Weight: 1 lb
- Dimensions: 2.25 x 3.88 inches
- Dishwasher-safe: No
The Pros:
- Makes 8 miniature loaves at a time
- Nonstick
- Free from chemicals
The Cons:
- Hand wash only
What Others Are Saying
The Spruce Eats named this pick as the best mini pan, and it has a 4.8-star rating on Amazon.
Buy the USA Pan Pullman Mini Loaf Pan:
6. Best Meatloaf Pan: Taylor Chicago Metallic Nonstick Meatloaf Set
As one of the best meatloaf pans, this set from Chicago Metallic is perfect for making yummy, hearty meals, like Blair’s Southern Meatloaf. It’s specifically designed to bake healthier meatloaf by draining away excess fat and grease through a handy perforated lifter, which is also helpful for serving.
It’s made from heavy-weight aluminized steel that’s great for even heating, while the nonstick silicone offers a breezy cleanup process. This meatloaf pan also doubles as a bread loaf pan if you use it without the removable insert.
The Specs:
- Material: Heavy-weight aluminized steel
- Color: Gray
- Shape: Rectangular
- Weight: 1.6 lbs
- Dimensions: 5.8 x 12.2 inches
- Dishwasher-safe: Yes, but hand washing is recommended
The Pros:
- Even baking
- Side handles on the insert for easy lifting
- Nonstick
- Affordable price
The Cons:
- No handles on the base
- Hand washing is recommended
What Others Are Saying
The Chicago Metallic Healthy Meatloaf Pan has a 4.7-star rating on Amazon, and The Spruce Eats dubbed it as the best meatloaf pan.
Buy the Taylor Chicago Metallic Loaf Pan:
7. Best Pullman Loaf Pan: USA Pan Bakeware Pullman Loaf Pan
If you prefer the classic, narrow style of the Pullman loaf pans, the USA Pan Pullman Pan & Cover is super versatile: It can be used for everything from Blair’s Easy Homemade Bread to her Honey Wheat Bread. The precise design includes a sliding lid and straight sides, so it’s ideal for making sandwich bread because it yields uniform loaves and perfect bread slices.
The lid also helps to trap the moisture for extra soft bread. The interior is nonstick but free from any chemicals, giving you peace of mind while you bake up a storm.
The Specs:
- Material: Steel
- Color: Silver
- Shape: Rectangular
- Weight:1 lb
- Dimensions: 13 x 4 inches
- Dishwasher-safe: No
The Pros:
- Nonstick coating
- Comes with a lid that creates steam whilst baking
- Makes perfectly square bread, ideal for sandwiches
- Versatile and precise design
The Cons:
- The cover can be hard to remove
What Others Are Saying
Epicurious recommends this Pullman loaf pan and it has a 4.7-star rating on Amazon from over 10,700 reviews.
Buy the Pullman Loaf Pan with Cover:
Other Loaf Pans to Consider
The OXO Good Grips Glass Loaf Baking Dish is durable and can withstand extreme temperature changes, making it perfect for transferring from the oven to the fridge or freezer. While Blair is a big fan of anything from OXO, glass isn’t the best material for baking bread since it takes longer to heat up and cool down. The OXO Good Grips Glass Loaf Pan is available at Amazon for $14.99.
Wilton Perfect Results Premium Non-Stick Meatloaf Pan
This nonstick, stainless steel meatloaf pan comes with a main pan and a cleverly designed drain tray insert, ensuring your meatloaf cooks to perfection every time. It also comes with a 10-year warranty, but it’s pricier than our pick from Chicago Metallic and serves a similar purpose. The Wilton Premium Non-Stick Meatloaf Pan is available at Amazon for $20.19 or Walmart for $25.19.
Emile Henry Modern Classic Ceramic Loaf Pan
Emile Henry’s ceramic loaf pan boasts high-fired Burgundy clay and top-quality ceramic construction, ensuring durability and resistance against temperature changes up to 520 degrees. Its scratch-resistant glaze is easy to clean, either in the dishwasher or by hand. However, it’s on the more expensive side, and ceramic pans can be easier to break. The Emile Henry Ceramic Loaf Pan is available on Amazon for $49.95.
Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast-Iron 8-Inch Skillet
Blair loves her Lodge skillet and regularly uses it to make recipes like her tasty Cast Iron Cornbread (it also made her list of the best cast iron skillets!). Because it’s made from heavy-duty cast iron, it has great heat retention for edge-to-edge cooking, which makes Blair’s cornbread come out deliciously moist on the inside and crispy on the outside. The only downside to this skillet is it’s more specific to cornbread and meals rather than loaves. The Lodge Cast-Iron Skillet is available at Amazon for $14.90 or Walmart for $14.90.
If you don’t mind investing more money into your kitchen tools, then you may want to consider a bread oven, like this option from Le Creuset. The enameled cast iron definitely elevates the at-home baking experience and helps create bakery-level bread with ease. Its unique dome shape is designed to circulate steam for an optimal rise, but it’s not super versatile and it’s very expensive. The Le Creuset Bread Oven is available at Williams Sonoma for $300 or Amazon for $299.95.
Why You Can Trust Us
Hi! I’m Georgina Caro, a content creator, passionate sustainability advocate, certified nutritionist, and skilled master herbalist. Over the years, I’ve dedicated my career to crafting insightful culinary guides and product reviews, empowering readers to make conscious buying choices. My work has shown up in publications like HuffPost, Apartment Therapy, and Ethical Consumer.
Blair Lonergan is a dedicated cook, recipe developer, and the creative mind behind The Seasoned Mom. Blair’s culinary journey is fueled by her belief that cooking is an expression of love, evident in her mouthwatering, family-friendly creations like No Knead Bread and Southern Cornbread.
Together, Blair and I worked to create this list of the best loaf pans. Starting in Blair’s own kitchen, we handpicked her favorites before diving into extensive research, considering customer feedback and recommendations from esteemed food publications. To narrow down the best picks, we considered design, material, weight, and nonstick features.
What to Know About Loaf Pans
Things to Consider When Choosing the Best Loaf Pan
When selecting the perfect loaf pan for your baking endeavors, there are a few key considerations to take into account:
Material
Opt for a pan made from durable materials like aluminized steel or cast iron, ensuring longevity and even heat distribution. Glass and ceramic are also good options, but they tend to brown loaves a bit faster than the alternatives. Nonstick coatings are also super helpful since they can help facilitate an easy release with minimal cleanup.
Size
Size is important too. Choose a pan that suits your recipe needs, whether it’s a classic 9×5-inch or a mini version for smaller batches. A narrow pan (like the Pullman loaf option we included above) is good for sandwich-style bread. You should also keep in mind that bread recipes will usually call for a certain-sized pan, so you may have to adjust measurements depending on the one you have.
Shape
You should also consider the pan’s shape – traditional rectangular pans are ideal for various baked goods, like Blair’s no yeast cinnamon swirl bread, while specialty shapes like Pullman or brioche pans are more catered to specific recipes, like those for sandwich bread (such as Blair’s White Bread with Milk and Honey). Some pans also have handles, which make it easier to grip and transport once cooled.
What Size is a Standard Loaf Pan?
A standard loaf pan typically measures 9 inches in length, 5 inches in width, and 2.5 inches in height. These dimensions make it suitable for baking most common bread recipes, like banana bread, zucchini bread, and sandwich bread. There are a variety of loaf pan sizes available, and Blair tends to use 8.5-inch pans instead of 9-inch ones.
Can You Cook Jiffy Cornbread in a Loaf Pan?
Yes, you can definitely cook Jiffy Cornbread in a loaf pan! Simply follow the instructions on the recipe and pour the batter into a greased loaf pan for a delicious and convenient twist on this classic recipe.
An alternative method for baking Jiffy Cornbread is using a preheated cast iron skillet, which creates extra crispy edges.
How to Make Meatloaf Without a Loaf Pan
To make a meatloaf without a loaf pan, shape the meat mixture into a free-form loaf on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Alternatively, you can mold individual meatloaf patties, allowing them to cook evenly. This method promotes a slightly crusty exterior, adding a delightful texture to your meatloaf.
Remember to adjust the cooking time as free-form shapes may cook faster than those in traditional loaf pans. For other fun methods, you can try Blair’s muffin tin meatloaf or her healthy mini meatloaf recipe.
How to Line a Loaf Pan with Parchment Paper
To line a loaf pan with parchment paper, cut out a strip of parchment paper that matches the width of the pan, leaving extra on the sides as handles. From there, just press it into the greased pan, allowing the excess paper to hang over the edges for easy removal after baking.
How to Store Freshly Baked Bread Loaves
You should store freshly baked loaves of bread in a cool, dry place. You can use a breathable bread bag or wrap it in a clean kitchen towel to maintain freshness. Investing in a decent bread box is a good idea if you want to keep your bread from getting stale quickly.
More Great Bread Recipes
Now that you’ve found the best loaf pan, check out some of Blair’s favorite bread recipes!
- Best Ever Banana Nut Bread Recipe
- Classic White Bread
- Cranberry Bread
- Blueberry Bread
- Honey Wheat Bread
- Buttermilk Banana Bread
- 3 Ingredient Beer Bread
Prices were accurate at the time of publication.
