Whether you're preparing for pancake day or brunch, discover our top picks for making everything from the perfect crêpes to fluffy American pancakes.
Readying yourself for Pancake Day 2026 (Tuesday 17 February)? Though whisper-thin crêpes or soft American-style pancakes can be made in any decent non-stick frying pan, investing in a purpose-made pancake pan can make cooking and flipping the pancakes easier. Pancake pans offer impressive versatility, making them ideal for searing, browning, light frying and preparing other batter-based foods like blinis or Scotch pancakes – not just traditional pancakes. We put a range of pancake pans through their paces in the Good Food Test Kitchen, and if you're looking for a quick recommendation, the Dexam Supreme non-stick pancake pan and the Ninja Foodi Zerostick frying pan are my number-one star-buy picks. If you're after something specific, though, read on to discover more of our tried-and-tested favourites. Plus, check out our guide to the best tools for Pancake Day to find whisks, moulds, spatulas and more. View Affiliate Playlist on the source website Best pancake pans at a glance 5/5 stars: Best versatile pancake pan: Dexam Supreme non-stick pancake/pizza griddle pan, £72 Best frying pan for pancakes: Ninja Foodi Zerostick frying pan, £55 Best of the rest: Best investment pancake pan: HexClad 30cm griddle pan, £139 Best griddle-style pan: Our Place griddle pan, from £55 Best non-stick pancake pan: ProCook Professional 26cm Granite Crepe Pan, £35 Best budget pancake pan: MasterClass ceramic non-stick crêpe pan 24cm, £16.96 Best value frying pan: Stellar Rocktanium frying pan, £50 Best frying pan for eco credentials: Kuhn Rikon New Life frying pan, £84.95 Best small cast-iron pancake pan: Le Creuset Cast Iron Small Crepe Pan, £145 Best pancake pan for fun designs: Nordic Ware smiley face pancake pan, £56.95 Jump to: Best pancake pans to buy in 2026 Why buy a specialist pancake pan? What to look for in a pancake pan How we tested pancake pans I used our foolproof easy pancake recipe to test all the pans, plus our fluffy American pancake recipe – I then scored them against the following criteria on our testing matrix: Handle comfort: Pancake-making sessions can last a while, so I looked for a handle that was comfortable, didn’t get too hot and could be easily gripped – rubber or plastic handles work well. I also liked handles that had a notch for hanging. Heat distribution: I expect pancake pans to heat up quickly and evenly. If the finished pancake had darker spots or cooked quicker in certain parts of the pan, we marked the product down. Non-stick: Arguably the most important criteria for pancake pans. I looked for a surface that allowed us to easily tease the pancake up to be turned or flipped. I also discounted any pans that omitted an unpleasant chemical smell, even after being washed several times. Ease of flipping: I judged the pans on how easy the pancakes were to flip – both the handle comfort and shape and size of the lip are important here. A shallow, well-angled lip is ideal. Finished effect of the pancake: Golden, evenly cooked, nicely round pancakes were what I was after – any burnt spots were taken into account. Ease of cleaning: I judged how well the pans could be cleaned with hot soapy water and a sponge. Best pancake pans to buy in 2026 Dexam Supreme non-stick pancake/pizza griddle pan Available from Amazon (£58.99), Robert Dyas (£66.99), Harts of Stur (£72) Best versatile pancake pan Pros: Two-handled Versatility Dishwasher-safe Easy to use straight from the box Cons: Cannot toss pancakes Star rating: 5/5 I was very intrigued on unwrapping the Dexam pan from its sturdy, recyclable display box – as it boasts that it's not only great for pancakes, but also for pizza, scones, frying eggs and other goodies. It's a 34cm in diameter, so will easily handle all the above, and I loved the sturdiness of the pan and how stable it felt on the hob. It also has a smooth stainless-steel base, which can be used on induction. And despite all this sturdiness, the Dexam pan weighs just under 2kg. The pan is ready to go straight from the box with a quick wash, and I found heating it very speedy. Though Dexam doesn't say that the two handles on the pan stay cool, I noticed they didn't get hot even after a long period on the stove. However, if the pan goes under the grill or into the oven, you should of course use oven gloves as the handles get extremely hot. Both styles of pancakes cooked rapidly and evenly, and though the design meant I couldn't toss the pancakes, they flipped back and forth impressively easily with just a flick of a spatula. Cleaning the pan was effortless; even though it was dishwasher-safe, it was unnecessary when making pancakes. I was so impressed with this pan. It may not be the cheapest of the tests, but I felt that what it delivered in performance, its lifetime guarantee and the quality certainly supports the price tag. Available from: Amazon (£58.99) Robert Dyas (£66.99) Harts of Stur (£72) undefined Ninja Foodi Zerostick frying pan Available from Very (£45), Robert Dyas (£44.99) Best frying pan for pancakes Pros: Oven-safe up to 260C Dishwasher-safe Cons: Handle gets warm Star rating: 5/5 Not only is the Ninja Foodi Zerostick frying pan an excellent piece of kit for everyday frying tasks, but it excelled in our pancake test. It's equipped with a tough non-stick coating and long, thin handle ideal for deft pancake flips. This frying pan heats up quickly, and most importantly, evenly. It produced the smoothest and most even finish on my pancakes of all the frying pans tested. Available in three different sizes: 20cm, 24cm and 28cm, I found all to be lightweight and easy to carry around. The frying pan also remained balanced on the hob. This ultra-versatile pan is suitable for all hob types, is dishwasher safe and is oven safe up to 260C. Read our full Ninja Foodi Zerostick frying pan review. Available from: Very (£45) Robert Dyas (£44.99) undefined HexClad 30cm griddle pan Available from Amazon (£125.10), HexClad (£139) Best investment pancake pan Pros: Commercial-grade pan Oven-safe to 260C Dishwasher safe Stay-cool handle Serious non-stick Cons: Expensive Needs seasoning before use Pancakes were thin in the centre Star rating: 4.5/5 The HexClad commercial-grade griddle pan is super-looking with an intriguing laser-etched hexagonal patterned surface of stainless-steel ridges and, in the valleys, a serious non-stick surface. This combination brings a robust feel to the pan and will withstand metal utensils, the dishwasher and the oven, making this a very versatile pan, not just for pancakes. I found the 30cm diameter of the pan helpful as I could cook three American-style pancakes simultaneously, and my regular pancakes were huge. The first three pancakes stuck relentlessly, and I realised I had not seasoned the pan; once I did, I had no more problems with sticking. I found the regular pancakes tricky as the batter continuously spread to the edges, leaving the centre thin; even swishing the batter around again only helped a little. The American pancakes, however, were superb; they cooked quickly and evenly, rose beautifully and slid effortlessly from the pan. Despite the problem with the regular pancakes, the HexClad pan has many attributes that make it a delightful pan to use. The pan is high-quality and versatile; it has a generous stay-cool handle and excellent conductivity, making the raising and lowering of the temperature quick and precise. Its stunning good looks and lifetime guarantee make this a lovely pan to have in the kitchen. Read more about HexClad in our guide: Is HexClad worth it? Available from: Amazon (£125.10) HexClad (£139) undefined Our Place Griddle Pan Available from Our Place (from £55), Amazon (£89) Best griddle-style pancake pan Pros Available in two sizes Fabulous range of colours Lightweight Great non-stick Cons Not induction-friendly Larger pan is too big for regular ovens Star rating: 4.5/5 Prepare to be impressed by the Our Place Griddle Pan. It is a large and lovely looking pan in a variety of fabulous colours. It is not your regular pancake pan but a griddle, large enough to cover two burners and cook the whole breakfast. I was surprised when I discovered it is not induction-friendly but is suitable for ovens up to 230C, doubling up as a generous baking or roasting tin. However, the larger pan is 53cm wide, including the handles, so it will not fit into a standard oven, but if you have a range oven with a gas or electric hob, this will suit you perfectly. The pan has astonishing non-slip which, in the test, made exceptional American-style pancakes. I could cook eight pancakes in one go, perfect for families and parties. Because the thinner batter spread unevenly without boundaries, all my regular pancakes were random shapes but still cooked evenly and tasted delicious. If you have the room, this is undoubtedly a griddle to love. Available from: Our Place (from £55) Amazon (£89) undefined ProCook Professional 26cm Granite Crêpe Pan Available from ProCook (£35) Best non-stick pancake pan Pros Amazing price Cool touch handle Super-hard ceramic coating Excellent pancake results Cons Convex surface Star rating: 4.5/5 Unpacking this sturdy pancake pan from ProCook, it was hard to believe it was one of the cheapest pans on the test, as it looks and feels more expensive. Made of forged aluminium, it delivers fast and even heat with no hot spots. The five-star ceramic non-stick surface was so good I spent some time chasing the American pancakes around the pan. But our favourite was the long, ergonomically shaped cool-touch handle, which made lifting and flipping easy and safe with this pan. These great features resulted in the best cooking results: the pancakes cooked evenly, with excellent colour, in seconds and flipped easily through the air. The American pancakes were light, fluffy and beautifully coloured. I had one tiny gripe, the base of the pan is ever so slightly convex, which meant the butter and oil poured into the centre quickly ran away to the edge – otherwise, it is a terrific pan at a great price. Available from: ProCook (£35) undefined MasterClass ceramic non-stick crêpe pan Available from Amazon (£12.60), Harts of Stur (£16.96) Best budget pancake pan Pros: 15-year guarantee Very effective non-stick coating Cons: Slightly less ergonomic to hold than others we tested Star rating: 4.5/5 If you’re put off buying a pancake pan because you think you will only use it a couple of times a year, this budget-friendly pan should assuage your guilt. It’s suitable for all hob types including induction, goes in the oven up to 150C (which I would say is quite restrictive for most cooking) and is chemical free. With an aluminium body and iron base, this pan is light with a shallow lip and a very effective non-stick surface. It also comes with a 15-year guarantee. Despite its below-average price tag, this scored highly on all the things you want in a pancake pan. Most importantly, it’s simple to use – my crêpe came away cleanly from the sides and flipped very easily. All of my pancakes were evenly cooked and none of them stuck. Washing up afterwards was very quick, apart from a few scraps of pancake that got caught around the steel rivets inside. If I was being very pernickety, the handle wasn’t as comfortable to hold as some of the others. Available from: Amazon (£12.60) Harts of Stur (£16.96) undefined Stellar Rocktanium frying pan Available from Stellar (£35), Harts of Stur (£44.95) Best value frying pan Pros: Accessible price-point Lightweight Cons: Pancake was a little patchy Star rating: 4.5/5 If you're not looking to break the bank, the Rocktanium frying pan from Stellar is a brilliant option. It's has all the makings of a pan brilliantly engineered for pancakes: an effective non-stick surface, lightweight body and long comfortable handle. This pan took around 2 minutes, 30 seconds to heat up, giving you enough time to whip up a delicious pancake batter. I was impressed with the results on my pancake tests and enjoyed light, fluffy and evenly risen morsels. The Rocktanium pan is a fantastic all-rounder, too. Available from: Stellar (£35) Harts of Stur (£44.95) undefined Kuhn Rikon New Life frying pan Available from Kuhn Rikon (£84.95), Amazon (£84.95) Best frying pan for eco credentials Pros: Made from recycled aluminium cans from Europe Suitable for all hob types Cons: Cooked a little unevenly Star rating: 4.5/5 Sporting impressive eco credentials, the Kuhn Rikon New Life frying pan is made from recycled aluminium cans from Europe. This versatile pan is suitable for every hob type, is oven safe and dishwasher safe, too. The handle is a little stubby, but comfortable nonetheless. The walls of the pan are gently curved, making the New Life pan a great choice for pancake-flipping masters! This pan is quick to heat up, but I found my pancakes a little patchy, aesthetically. However, I couldn't fault them when it came to flavour and texture. A fantastic option for pancakes, and more. Available from: Kuhn Rikon (£84.95) Amazon (£84.95) undefined Le Creuset cast-iron small crêpe pan Available from Le Creuset (from £145) Best cast-iron pancake pan Pros Superb quality pan Two colours Lifetime guarantee Accessories included Cons Heavy Short handle, which gets hot A few attempts needed to get it right Star rating: 4/5 The small Le Creuset cast iron crêpe pan is a classic-looking pan from the renowned French brand and comes in two lovely colours, a cerise red or satin black. A wooden spatula and crêpe spreader are included, which I struggled to use successfully – hopefully, practice will make it perfect. At 27cm, the Le Creuset makes an excellent-sized crêpe. I followed the instructions for using the pan closely, but my first four pancakes stuck to the pan. Eventually, the non-stick kicked in with use, though Le Creuset stated that the pan did not need to be seasoned. I had no problems with the American style which, thanks to the outstanding conductivity of cast iron, was cooked quickly and evenly, and was fluffy and light. This pan will not suit everyone: it is heavy, and the handle is short and gets hot during use. But with use, it will become a workhorse for those who can lift it and serve them well for many years. Available from: Le Creuset (from £145) undefined Nordic Ware smiley face pancake pan Available from Amazon (£56.95) Best pancake pan for fun designs Pros: Perfect for characterful pancakes Novelty Cons: Not suitable for induction hobs Takes a little trial and error This pan is excellent quality and makes delicious American-style pancakes that will make you smile; there are seven cute, cheeky, funny faces on the pan to choose from and keep the whole family happy. Unfortunately, the pan is made from cast aluminium, so isn't suitable for induction hobs. It has a robust non-stick surface, so all that is needed for the pancake is the lightest brush of oil or butter; I found that a brush worked better for this job as it got nicely into the crevices of the faces. I needed to cook several pancakes to get the amount of batter right – a good tablespoon; I finally settled at medium for the cooking heat as any hotter the little faces burned. Three minutes on each side gave a lovely, fluffy pancake with good colour. The pan is only suitable for making this pancake style, so it is quite pricey, but it will provide hours of fun. Available from: Amazon (£56.95) Other pancake pans tried and tested Premier Cookware Essentials pancake pan 24cm, £12.99 Le Creuset 24cm toughened non-stick crêpe pan, from £129 Circulon Infinite French skillet 25cm, £54.99 Why buy a specialist pancake pan? A good, multipurpose non-stick frying pan will generally do the job when it comes to pancake making, however the non-stick element is really important. The pancake pans that passed our test all have great non-stick credentials, but also have a flat, shallow design with a small lip to help flip the pancake. The heat of the pan is very important when making pancakes – pancake pans are often thinner than regular frying pans so they conduct heat quickly and efficiently. In a similar vein, handles are likely to get very hot during a batch cooking session, so rubberised or plastic handles are common to protect your hand. A tapered handle will also feel more comfortable in the hand. A pancake pan can also double up as a general use fryer. They’re particularly good if you like to cook with minimal oil – some of them barely need any at all. Recipes like omelettes are ideal for pancake pans as the shallow sides will help them slide out easily onto the plate. What to look for in a pancake pan Usage: Consider how you’ll be using this pan. If you just want to use it to make crêpes and pancakes, you can go for a smaller size (around the 24cm mark). However, if you want this to double up as a fryer, go for a larger diameter. Material: If you’ll be using this pan frequently, opting for a material like reinforced cast metal should ensure longevity. Coating: The coating is also of paramount importance. Among our sample were a number of heavy duty, cast iron, skillet-style pans that had no non-stick coating. While this 'natural' finish has its benefits in some ways, it’s a no-no when it comes to pancake making – we found ours just stuck to the bottom and had to be scraped off. Hob types: Most of the pans we tested were suitable for all hob types, including induction, but a select few had to be tested on gas. Do check before buying to ensure the pan is suitable for your cooker. Related reviews Best non-stick frying pans Best sauté pans Best griddle pans Best measuring cups How to store pans How to make pancakes Best tools for making pancakes Pancake recipes Our 10 favourite pancake toppings How to flip a pancake All you need to know about pancakes Best jelly moulds How to care for non-stick cookware Best stainless steel frying pans If you have any questions, suggestions for future reviews or spot anything that has changed in price or availability, please get in touch at goodfoodwebsite@immediate.co.uk. Which pan do you use to make pancakes? We'd love to hear your product recommendations in the comments below...
It's one of the most useful pans in your kitchen, so it's worth investing in one that will last. Browse our pick of the best sauté pans for browning, searing and frying food
A sauté pan is easily one of the most versatile pans to have in the kitchen. They come in many shapes and sizes, some with two handles, with or without lids. Their shared characteristics are that they are sturdy, robust pans with thick, heat-retaining bottoms and sides making the sautéing of vegetables, meat and fish so easy. Plus, as they are deeper than a regular frying pan, they can also be used for for steaming, deep-frying, searing and poaching. Many are also able to go from hob to oven, and cooking on all heat sources including induction. Spoiler alert: the Le Creuset toughened non-stick sauté pan was our number-one star-buy pick, but read on to discover more of our tried-and-tested recommendations. Best sauté pans at a glance Best investment sauté pan: Le Creuset toughened non-stick sauté pan, £209 Best non-stick sauté pan: Circulon Infinite Total non-stick sauté pan, £90.99 Best looking sauté pan: Samuel Groves classic tri-ply sauté pan and lid, £195 Best spun iron sauté pan: Netherton Foundry sauté pan, £125.10 How we tested sauté pans All the pans were tested by first sautéing a finely chopped onion in three tablespoons of vegetable oil. We sautéd a soffritto (finely chopped onion, celery, carrot and garlic cooked in olive oil), then 500g minced beef and crisped up smoked bacon or pancetta for our ever-popular bolognese recipe. We scored the pans against the following criteria on our test matrix: Overall material quality Handle comfort Weight of pan Non-stick credentials Heat retention and distribution Quality of sauté Sides – do they protect from splash-back? Ease of washing Quality and fit of the lid Added bonuses: dishwasher-friendly; oven-friendly Capacity Any special features such as measurement marks or pouring spout? Best sauté pans to buy in 2026 Le Creuset toughened non-stick sauté pan Available from Le Creuset (£209) Best investment sauté pan Pros: Lifetime guarantee Excellent non-stick performance Distributes heat evenly Cons: Most expensive on test Star rating: 5/5 The deep, straight-sided Le Creuset sauté pan is hailed as one of their toughest non-stick pans ever, it’s dishwasher-safe and you can carefully use metal tools with it, too. You won’t need the dishwasher though – the non-stick is so super-smooth that even after cooking a sauce for a few hours, it only needed a light hand-wash. The handle is super-comfy and tightly riveted on, and even with a sauce in, the pan didn’t feel too heavy. The heat distribution was exemplary, with the onions soft and translucent in under 10 minutes on a medium heat. Lowering the heat and cooking even longer created lovely, slightly golden onions, likewise with a soffritto, and the mince browned evenly in just eight minutes. With the silky surface, the food hardly needed any stirring during cooking – a shake was enough, and even then, the contents of the pan flew around. The lid fits exceptionally well on the pan, with very little steam escaping and our bolognese gently cooked away for a couple of hours, resulting in a beautifully thick, slightly dark and rich tasting sauce with no drying out at all. The Le Creuset may be an expensive pan, but given that it also comes with a lifetime guarantee, it’s a worthwhile investment. Available from: Le Creuset (£209) undefined Circulon Infinite Total non-stick sauté pan Available from Circulon (£90.99) Best non-stick sauté pan Pros: Professional looking Ultra non-stick Cons: Lid makes the pan heavy Star rating: 5/5 The Circulon is a very good-looking pan, from its long, curved handle to its smooth satin-grey finish and ultra non-stick finish. There are clever, little grooves in the bottom of the pan to protect from scratching into the surface, which means, according to Circulon, you can use metal tools during cooking. The non-stick finish worked very well; if you ever fancied flicking food in the air like a celebrity chef, this is the pan to practice with. Equally, as nothing sticks, washing-up was quick, easy and required just a little hot water and soap. If that’s too much, it’s dishwasher-proof, too. The pan heats scarily fast, so we found it best to start low and work our way up. For its 24cm diameter, this is a slightly heavy pan when the stainless-steel lid is on, but there’s the sturdy grab handle makes carrying it easy. With the lid on and the sauce simmering on a very low heat, our bolognese was one of the best on test; the meat meltingly soft and the sauce rich and thick. undefined Samuel Groves classic tri-ply sauté pan and lid Available from Samuel Groves (£195) Best looking sauté pan Pros: Handsome Not as heavy as it looks Cons: Hard to find Star rating: 5/5 The Samuel Grove is a beautiful looking 26cm pan made by Samuel Groves in Birmingham, cookware makers since 1817. It arrives without a scrap of plastic, wrapped in a thick jute sack inside a box. Unwrap and find a polished, gleaming and extremely handsome pan. It has classical clean lines and two handles, both of which are solidly-riveted onto the pan and the well-fitting lid. Despite being made of durable three-ply stainless steel and aluminium, the pan was not overly heavy. Its solid construction and secure handles made it feel safe to move around the kitchen when full. The pan is also ovenproof to 260C, making it extremely versatile. The speed of heating and the subsequent heat retention was remarkable, the sautéing only needed a low heat and even then, required a watchful eye to prevent burning. There is no added non-stick coating, the highly polished high-quality stainless steel provides this all by itself – nothing stuck and hand-washing was a doddle. While cooking a sauce, all that was needed was a quick eye from time to time to check the contents weren’t drying out – they didn’t. Our sauce came out beautifully cooked, rich and very tasty. Available from: Samuel Groves (£195) Netherton Foundry sauté pan Available from Netherton (£125.10) Best spun iron sauté pan Pros: Handmade design Good longevity Cons: The oak must be removed before using in an oven Re-seasoning required from time to time Star rating: 4.5/5 The shallow, 25cm Netherton sauté pan is handmade in Shropshire using spun iron, resulting in a deep, dark chocolate brown finish. The handle has a smooth British oak grip, with brass fittings which are lovely to hold but must be removed before the pan can go anywhere near the oven. To create a non-stick surface, the pan comes pre-seasoned (heated to a high temperature with a light coating of Sussex flax oil), which means no chemicals or PTFE, and makes it very easy to wash. Netherton recommend re-doing this from time to time. We found the pan a little shallow to make a full bolognese sauce, so we cut the recipe to two-thirds. The pan heated up exceptionally fast and evenly. Chopped onions and vegetables cooked quickly, and browning bacon and mince heralded the best results in our test, thanks to the great heat retention and spread. Our finished sauce was thick and rich thanks, in part, to the vent hole in the lid. Though the pan requires a little extra work, your reward is a beautiful utensil which, with care, will last you a lifetime. Available from: Netherton Foundry (£125.10) Good Food in partnership with Tower TriPly 28cm multi-pan with lid Available from Tower (£59.99) The Good Food 28cm Tri-Ply multi-pan, created in partnership with Tower, is a versatile kitchen essential. Its three-layer bonded base ensures fast, even heating, while the superior ceramic non-stick coating offers effortless food release with minimal oil. Designed for convenience, it features an extra helper handle, built-in pouring lips and a tempered glass lid with dual-sized straining holes. It’s suitable for all hob types, including induction, and is oven safe up to 220C, this Tried, Tested and Trusted pan provides top performance for everyday cooking. Available from: Tower (£59.99) Good Food in partnership with Tower Hard Anodised 25cm Multi-Pan with Lid Available from Amazon (£84.99), Tower (£84.99) – save 30% with code GOODFOOD30 This versatile 28cm multi-pan is built for everyday family cooking. Made from tough hard anodised aluminium with a ceramic non-stick coating, it heats evenly, releases food easily and needs little to no oil. The tempered glass lid, pouring lips and helper handle make serving simple, while it’s oven and induction hob safe too. Available from: Amazon (£84.99) Tower (£84.99) – save 30% with code GOODFOOD30 Related reviews Best pan sets Best non-stick frying pans Best cast iron skillet pans Best pancake pans Best saucepans Best food processors Best griddle pans Is Hexclad worth it? Best paella pans How to care for non-stick cookware Best stainless steel frying pans If you have any questions, suggestions for future reviews or spot anything that has changed in price or availability please get in touch at goodfoodwebsite@immediate.co.uk. Have you stumbled across a sensational sauté pan? Leave a comment below...
14 of the best roasting tins for a perfectly cooked Sunday roast
A solid roasting tin is an essential piece of kitchen kit, for everything from traybakes for the table to succulent roasts with all the trimmings. Discover our picks of the best buys
A robust roasting tin is something I rely on for everything from Sunday roasts to midweek traybakes. It’s worth doing a bit of homework before you buy, because a good tin will give you years of reliable use, while still being easy to clean. To find the best, we tested a wide range of roasting tins, from budget buys to pans costing more than £150, using the same recipe of chicken thighs with garlic cloves, potatoes and onion rings. We looked for tins that delivered an even roast, crisped veg and gave spuds a crunchy edge without burning, sticking or warping when moved from oven to counter. The tray that impressed us most overall was the JosephJoseph Nest roasting tray. The latest additions were tested and reviewed by Annie Collyer. View Affiliate Playlist on the source website Best roasting tins at a glance JUMP TO REVIEWS 5/5 stars: Best roasting tin for easy handling: JosephJoseph Nest roasting tray, £40 Best blowout roasting tin: HexClad roasting pan with rack, £179 Best UK-made roasting tin: Lakeland deep roasting tin, £9.99 Best two-piece roasting tin set: Circulon Ultimum non-stick roasting tray set, £34.99 Best roasting tin set: Falcon Bake Set, £72 Best of the rest: Best stainless steel roasting tin: M&S x Tom Kerridge stainless steel roasting tray, £40 Best roasting tin for smaller households: ProCook stainless-steel roasting tin, from £30 Best budget roasting tin: ProCook non-stick granite roasting tin, £14 Best roasting tin for families: Circulon non-stick roasting oven tray and rack, £31.99 Best value roasting tin: Salter Marblestone non-stick roasting pan, £9.99 Best roasting tin for eco credentials: Kuhn Rikon New Life Pro roasting tin, £49.95 Best classic roasting tin: Le Creuset Signature cast iron roaster, from £239 Best investment roasting tin: Staub 3.5-litre roasting dish, £139 Best roasting tin for Sunday roasts: Lakeland large roasting tin with pouring lip, £15.99 Jump to section: Best roasting tins to buy in 2026 How to clean a roasting tin How we tested roasting tins I tested using an all-in-one roast combination of chicken thighs, potatoes, garlic (the high sugar content of which makes the unpeeled cloves prone to sticking), lemon wedges and herbs, and looked for an even finish and crispy skin. I then judged each roasting tin on the following criteria: Non-stick ability: The most important criteria – whether the tin stood up to is non-stick claims. Handle: Handles or a lip can make moving the tin in and out of the oven easier, but handles that are too high use up valuable oven space. I discounted handles that were either too small, too high or seemingly pointless. Flameproof: Ideally the tin could be used over a gas flame to reduce juices to a gravy or sauce. Maximum temperature: The tin needs to be able to handle high heats over and over again, otherwise it’ll buckle and render itself useless. Durability: As ever, we subjected tins to the Good Food 'drop test' to mimic the effects of long-term kitchen wear and tear. Anything that dented didn’t cut the mustard. Some of the pans I considered were not recommended to be used on direct heat – so, no gravy making on the hob for those – but others could happily warm on induction and even be placed directly under grills or into the freezer once cooled. Best roasting tins to buy in 2026 Joseph Joseph Nest roasting tray Available from Joseph Joseph (£32) Best roasting tin for easy handling Pros: Integrated easy pull/hold handles Deep sides Carbon steel with excellent conductivity More tins to buy, which nest together Cons: Hand wash only Star rating: 5/5 The sizeable non-stick roasting tin from Joseph Joseph comes in a striking blue colour that, at first glance, seemed like a strange choice. Surprisingly, though, it worked well with the colourful chicken bake we tested it with and makes it easy to find in the kitchen cupboard. The tin is weighty but not heavy and heats up so quickly thanks to its carbon-steel construction. Our favourite feature was the integrated easy-hold and pull handles, which extend seamlessly from the deep sides of the tin and curve downward. We found them so easy to pull from the oven - of course, with heatproof gloves. The chicken bake was faultless: the onions and peppers cooked quickly and evenly across the pan, the chicken was tender, and nothing stuck. Just a shame the tin is handwash only, but it cleaned easily by hand. Material: Carbon steel Sizes: H8 x W41 x D30 cm Maximum temperature: 240C Dishwasher safe: No Hob-friendly: Yes Guarantee: 10 years Available from: Joseph Joseph (£32) undefined HexClad Roasting Pan with Rack Available from HexClad (£179) Best blowout roasting tin Pros: Hybrid surface of stainless-steel and TerraBond non-stick Easy to clean Hob, oven and BBQ safe to 480C Non-stick roasting rack included Metal safe Dishwasher proof Cons: Heavy Handles get very hot Star rating: 5/5 Undoubtedly, the HexClad Roasting Pan with Rack is a thing of beauty; it has a hefty price tag, but in our test, it delivered quality and performance in heaps. The pan is heavy, even without the non-stick rack. The weight comes from the materials: a three-layer construction of magnetic stainless steel, an aluminium core and a second stainless steel layer. The handles are chunky and good to hold. HexClad recommends heating all their pans slowly, and their construction ensures even heating across the whole pan. Our bake was superb: cooked more quickly than others, with tender chicken, well-cooked vegetables and beautifully browned potatoes. The pan is dishwasher-safe, you can use metal utensils, it comes with a lifetime guarantee, and it looks gorgeous on the stove. What's not to like? Material: Three-layered magnetic stainless-steel, aluminium core, outer layer of stainless-steel Sizes: H8.2 x W28.5 x D42 cm Maximum temperature: 480C Dishwasher safe: Yes Hob-friendly: Yes Guarantee: Lifetime Available from: HexClad (£179) undefined Lakeland deep roasting tin Available from Lakeland (£9.99) Best UK-made roasting tin Pros: Made in the UK Incredible price for the quality and versatility Light but sturdy Dishwasher friendly Oven safe up to 230°C Cons: None Star rating: 5/5 The Lakeland roasting tin is such a revelation. At just £9.99, we expected a value-priced light tin, but we were so wrong. It's not the heaviest pan, but it is far from flimsy, being made of high-grade carbon steel. The tin is 6cm deep, making it – we feel – roomy and big enough for a family roast and we liked the generous lip, which makes it easy to handle. The tin is coil-coated with two layers of non-stick, PFOA-free PTFE coating, making it healthier to use and easier to clean. Though Lakeland says the tin is dishwasher-proof, they also state that handwashing is ultimately better for longevity. We had no grumbles at all with the traybake, the tin heated quickly and evenly with excellent results. However, our favourite aspect of the tin is that it is made in the UK, in Accrington, and coil-coated in Birmingham. It also comes with a 3-year guarantee. We love it. Material: High-grade carbon steel Sizes: W26 x L32 cm, 6cm deep Maximum temperature: 260C Dishwasher safe: Yes Hob-friendly: Yes Guarantee: 3 years Available from: Lakeland (£9.99) Circulon Ultimum non-stick 2-piece roasting tin set Available from Circulon (£34.99) Best two-piece roasting tin set Pros: Super easy to clean 2-piece set Great conductivity Supreme non-stick Cons: Not induction-friendly Star rating: 5/5 Unwrapping the Circulon roasting tin, it was a lovely surprise to find two inside the box: one a good 39.5cm x 25cm tin for roasting, and a smaller square cake pan that can also double as a small roaster. The two carbon-steel pans are coated with a shiny non-stick surface and feature the Circulon “Hi-Low” grooved bottom. This clever bit of engineering is not to make the pans pretty; the ridges we found helped prevent sticking, made lifting food from the pan easier and helped with browning. Our bake was beautifully and evenly cooked, particularly the chicken, which coloured well while remaining tender and tasty, as were all the vegetables. We loved the ergonomic handles, which make the pans safe and easy to handle, and they are also dishwasher safe. Circulon does believe in this product, offering a lifetime guarantee. Material: High-grade carbon steel Sizes: Dimensions: 39.5cm x 25cm x 5cm - rectangular pan, 23cm x 23cm - square pan Maximum temperature: 230C Dishwasher safe: Yes Hob-friendly: Yes Guarantee: Lifetime Available from: Circulon (£34.99) undefined Falcon bake set Available from Liberty London (£90) Best roasting tin set Pros: Stack together easily Good range of sizes Come in different colours Cons: Not microwave safe Star rating: 5/5 This is a versatile addition to any kitchen, offering a range of durable enamelware for baking, roasting and more. The set includes three bake pans (37cm, 34cm and 31cm) and two 20cm pie dishes, all designed to withstand oven temperatures up to 270C. This set practical for everyday cooking, with the enamel coating providing even heat distribution and a sturdy feel. The bake pans performed well with roasting and baking, though we did notice some food sticking when sauces and juices reduced. However, this wasn’t a major issue, as the surfaces cleaned up well with a soak and gentle scrub. Being dishwasher-safe, freezer-friendly and hob-safe (gas and electric), this set offers impressive versatility. At £90, it's an investment, but one that suits home bakers and cooks looking for a stylish, functional and durable set. Material: heavy-gauge steel Sizes: 2 x 20cm, 31cm, 34cm, 37cm Maximum temperature: 270C Dishwasher safe: Yes Hob-friendly: Yes – gas and electric only Guarantee: No Available from: Liberty London (£90) undefined M&S x Tom Kerridge stainless steel roasting tray Available from Marks and Spencer (£40) Best stainless steel roasting tin Pros: Non-toxic stainless steel design Large Affordable price point Textured centre for crispier foods Cons: Not dishwasher-safe Only one size available Star rating: 4.5/5 The ideal size for families, this stainless steel roasting tin was designed by Tom Kerridge, as part of a collaboration with M&S. Its large size and deep sides might mean you’ll struggle to store it, but I keep my roasting tins in my oven, which also means they're always ready to use. Arguably, the best part about this tin is that it’s also hob-safe (including induction cooktops), making it a versatile choice. Its design gets top marks from me as not only is it sizeable, but its rounded edges, full-surround pouring lip and large, strong handles make it great for serving several mouths – and for taking it from the oven to your table. The centre of the pan is textured, which encourages more airflow and better crisping of foods. The chicken bake tasted great, but I did note that the corners of the pan retained heat a lot more than the middle, so the vegetables nestled in the corners were slightly burnt. I'd also recommend using a little more oil than recommended to prevent sticking, as there’s no special coating to lubricate the pan. It’s not dishwasher-safe, but it is easy to clean once it's been soaked, and it probably wouldn’t fit in a slimline dishwasher like mine anyway. Available from: Marks and Spencer (£40) Material: Stainless steel Sizes: 1 - H9.2 cm x W26.5 cm x L39.4 cm Maximum temperature: 240C Dishwasher safe: No Hob-friendly: Yes Guarantee: None ProCook Stainless Steel Roasting Tin Available from ProCook (from £30) Best roasting tin for smaller households Pros: 260C top heat Wide lip for easier carrying Completely dishwasher safe 25-year guarantee Buckle resistant Cons: Not induction-friendly Doesn't heat as fast as some, but still has good conductivity Star rating: 4.5/5 There's really nothing not to like about the ProCook stainless steel roasting tin. It is a classic, simple, sturdy tin made of 18/10 stainless steel and will be buckle-free up to 260C. At 630g, the pan is also light and the lip, we found, is a good size for carrying it safely to and from the oven. Our traybake was delicious. Though it didn't heat quite as fast as some carbon-steel tins, it was no slouch either. The chicken was cooked through and tender, as were all the vegetables. This tin will also work wonderfully on all stovetops except induction. Though not the largest tin on the test (larger sizes in this range are available), its great price and 25-year guarantee make it an excellent choice for the smaller household or for those with limited storage space. Material: 18/10 stainless steel Sizes: W24 x L36 cm, 5.5cm deep Maximum temperature: 260C Dishwasher safe: Yes Hob-friendly: Yes Guarantee: 25 years undefined ProCook non-stick granite roasting tin Available from ProCook (£14) Best budget roasting tin Pros: Effective non-stick Fully recyclable packaging Four sizes available 10-year warranty Cons: A little heavy Not suitable for metal utensils Star rating: 4.5/5 We liked the practicality of this roasting tin from ProCook, which has deep recesses under the rims that were generous enough for oven-gloved hands to grip. It passed our drop test with flying colours, and there was no buckling when transporting the tray from oven to counter. Our finished dish scored highly too, with our chicken traybake cooked to perfection. Potatoes crisped nicely and the thighs were evenly roasted. There’s a generous ProCook guarantee of 10 years on this tin, and at such a low price, this is a quality buy if you want a no-frills, functional roaster. Material: Carbon steel Sizes: 26 x 19.5cm, 31 x 23cm, 36 x 27cm, 41 x 31cm Maximum temperature: 260C Dishwasher-safe: Yes Hob-friendly: No Guarantee: 10 years Available from: ProCook (£14) undefined Circulon non-stick roasting oven tray and rack Available from Amazon (£29.30), Circulon (£31.99) Best roasting tin for families Pros: Roasting rack allows hot air to circulate Easy to clean by hand Cons: Grooves could harbour food debris Non-stick may scratch over time Star rating: 4.5/5 Circulon’s non-stick family roasting oven tray and rack uses the same non-stick system as the rest of the Ultimum range, consisting of a triple layer of non-stick coating combined with a grooved interior to prevent food from sticking. In testing, any traybake residue wiped away easily by hand, though the black surface doesn’t make it easy to spot residue, and we had to pay attention to the grooves to make sure nothing was left behind. This is fortunate, as while the roasting tin is dishwasher-safe, handwashing is recommended. What we liked most about the tin, besides the simple clean, was that it came with a rack: meaning that it could be handy for roasting fatty meats, such as duck, as well as elevating any food that has the potential to burn on the base. We felt it was good value for money. Material: Non-stick coated carbon steel Sizes available: 39.4cm x 30.7cm x 6.5cm Maximum temperature: 230C Dishwasher-safe: Yes, but handwashing recommended Hob-friendly: No Guarantee: Limited lifetime Available from: Amazon (£29.30) Circulon (£31.99) undefined Salter Marblestone Non-Stick Roasting Pan, Carbon Steel, 36 cm Available from Salter (£9.99), Amazon (£9.99) Best value roasting tin Pros: Slim Non-stick coated Cons: Not suitable for metal utensils Handwash only Star rating: 4.5/5 Huge roasting tins can hog space in the oven, but Salter’s slim Marblestone non-stick roasting pan allows you to cook other food at the same time. It’s still big enough to be practical, with high sides and a brilliant non-stick coating that, in testing, made removing food and cleaning it afterwards effortless. The speckled grey finish makes it easy to spot any debris, too. It’s affordable for the size compared with many we tested, and we liked that it came only packaged with a card label. However, you won’t be able to use metal utensils on its non-stick surface. The maximum temperature it can withstand is only 220C, and it’s not suitable for cleaning in the dishwasher. Material: Non-stick coated carbon steel Sizes available: 36 x 24 x 5.5cm Maximum temperature: 220C Dishwasher-safe: No Hob-friendly: No Guarantee: 10 years Available from: Salter (£9.99) Amazon (£9.99) undefined Kuhn Rikon New Life Pro Roasting Tin with lid Available from Kuhn Rikon (£49.95), Amazon (£79.95) Best roasting tin for eco credentials Pros: Vacuum lid for storage Freezer-safe Eco-friendly 3-layer ceramic non-stick coating Cons: Lid not leakproof Can't use metal utensils Star rating: 4.5/5 The Kuhn Rikon New Life Pro Roasting Tin is a good sustainable option. It’s made from recycled aluminium from Europe, and its makers claim that it’s produced with up to 95% less energy than conventional aluminium ovenware. The different alloys of aluminium also make it stronger, and it has a lid so you can cut back on cling film use. In tests, the non-stick aspect performed well – food released easily and clean-up by hand was quick. We liked the ease of getting it out of the oven and how light it was, and felt that its versatility made it ideal for a busy kitchen. However, the price in relation to its size and potential lifespan (it only has a five-year guarantee) made it poor value compared to the others we tested. Material: Polypropylene lid and aluminium tin Sizes available: 6 x 20 x 32cm, plus two others – small 1.1 litre and large 4.7 litre Maximum temperature: 240C Dishwasher-safe: Dishwasher-safe, but cleaning by hand is recommended Hob-friendly: No Guarantee: 5 years Available from: Kuhn Rikon (£49.95) Amazon (£79.95) undefined Le Creuset Signature cast iron roaster Available from Amazon (£166.99), Le Creuset (from £239) Best classic roaster Pros: Selection of colours Good heat retention for keeping food warm at the table Lifetime warranty Cons: Heavy A colourful oven-to-table dish, this cast-iron roaster is a kitchen classic. But does it still rank amongst the best ways to crisp, roast and bake? Short answer – yes. The form and function combo of these dishes is hard to beat. In a choice of standard and modern colours, they look great on the table, and available in a range of sizes too. You’ll undoubtedly curse the weight of them at some point (even a 33cm roaster comes in at nearly 4kg), but it’s the heft that gives them an even bake and the ability to retain heat at the table, making them the perfect choice for traybakes. Cast iron with enamelled coating, the pans can be used on all types of hob and come with a lifetime warranty. Material: Enamelled cast iron Size: 29, 33 or 27cm Maximum temperature: 250C Dishwasher-safe: Yes Hob-friendly: Yes, induction included Guarantee: Lifetime Available from: Amazon (£166.99) Le Creuset (from £239) undefined Staub 3.5-litre roasting dish Available from Zwilling (£139), Amazon (£139) Best investment roasting tin Pros: Keeps dishes hot at the table Lifetime warranty Cons: Heavy Hefty investment Staub pans are made of cast iron that has been poured into a sand mould – hence the slightly rough feeling of the interior surface. Although this pan is not a non-stick roaster, we found that chicken, garlic and potatoes crisped nicely to its enamelled interior, with great heat distribution and no hotspots. This one of the heaviest we chose for our final selection (although still a kilo lighter than the Le Creuset cast iron). This one scores extra for keeping dishes hot for far longer than thinner, metal tins, so it’s ideal for moussaka, lasagne or oven-to-table dishes. That goes for chilled dishes too, of course. There’s a lifetime guarantee from Staub if it’s properly looked after. Never heat the pan dry (without oil) in the oven and never pour cold water directly onto it when hot as that could cause damage. Hefty pan, hefty investment, but this one is going to be in use for ages. Material: Cast iron Size: 38 x 20 x 7cm Maximum heat: 260C Dishwasher-safe: Yes Hob-friendly: Yes, induction included Guarantee: Lifetime Available from: Zwilling (£139) Amazon (£139) undefined Lakeland large roasting tin with pouring lip Available from Amazon (£15.99) Best roasting for Sunday roasts Pros: Practical depth for layered roasting Integrated pouring spout Cons: Not hob-friendly For a budget tin, this one has good features – a generous capacity, easy-to-clean and a non-stick surface. The raised bumps on the bottom of this roaster make heat circulation more efficient, and ‘roughed up’ roast potatoes as we tossed them around in hot oil, helping to give them a crunchy finish. With deep edges, this would be a good choice if you decide to roast meat on a bed of potatoes or other veg, though it’s not hob-friendly, so you need to transfer to another pan to make sauce or gravy. That's easy, though, thanks to the wide lip in one corner, which made pouring juices into a saucepan easy. Great quality for the money. Material: Carbon steel Size: 42 x 27.5 x 8.5cm (including handles) Maximum heat: 240C Dishwasher-safe: Yes Hob-friendly: No Guarantee: 3 years Available from: Amazon (£15.99) undefined Other roasting tins, tried and tested Samuel Groves Mermaid 12-inch hard-anodised roaster, £110 Le Creuset non-stick toughened rectangular roaster, £175 Nordic Ware oven crisp baking tray, £89.62 How to clean a roasting tin Roasting tins are prone to becoming caked in baked-on grease, so a thorough clean after every use is a must. Your first stop is a soak: fill it with boiling water, add some washing up liquid and leave for an hour to soften the debris before giving it a scrub: a non-scratch sponge is best for pans with non-stick coating. You can speed this process up by filling and popping it back in the oven on a low heat for up to 30 minutes before washing. If burnt-on bits remain, sprinkle over bicarbonate of soda and white vinegar in equal amounts, followed by hot water. Soak for half an hour. If the tin doesn’t have a non-stick coating, you can use a scourer with some salt added (as an extra abrasive) to help shift stubborn mess. If you don’t have bicarb and vinegar to hand, try substituting a dishwasher tablet or even biological laundry detergent. Add them to the roasting tin, fill with water, pop on the hob, simmer for 10 minutes or so, then any debris should be easily wiped away. Most manufacturers prefer you to hand-wash roasting pans, always allowing them to cool before immersing in water to avoid metal buckling or cast iron cracking. Many of our selection can be placed in the dishwasher when you don’t have time to don washing-up gloves. What to cook in your roasting tin Our best-ever roast recipes Summer roast recipes Vegetarian roast recipes Video: How to make gravy More reviews Best meat thermometers Best casserole dishes Best oven thermometers Best griddle pans Best sauté pans Best cast iron skillet pans Best non-stick frying pans Best dishwashers How to season cast iron If you have any questions, suggestions for future reviews or spot anything that has changed in price or availability please get in touch at goodfoodwebsite@immediate.co.uk.
Best Yorkshire pudding tins for crisp, golden yorkies
Everyone loves a Yorkshire pudding, and a good-quality tin will help you make your best ones yet. We tested the latest tins for heat retention, optimum rise, overall shape and finished results
Whatever your Sunday roast of choice – whether it’s pork, chicken, lamb, veggie or vegan – a golden Yorkshire pudding is a welcome addition to the plate (you can enjoy them if you’re vegan, too). Originally, Yorkshire puddings were cooked under spit-roasted meat in the kitchen fireplace, where the hot fat would drip into a pan for the batter to be added to it. Nowadays, yorkies are smaller and rounder, but whatever size or shape you prefer, you’ll need a suitable tin. A good tin will ensure you get a tall rise, an even golden bake and the perfect shape. Tins come in a variety of shapes and sizes, whether you want mini puds (handy for canapés), deep ones for filling with gravy or even one large tin to make a single pudding to share – we’ve tested a wide range using our popular best Yorkshire pudding recipe to ensure there’s a tin for every need. Best Yorkshire pudding tins at a glance Best non-stick Yorkshire pudding tin: Salter carbon-steel non-stick 6-cup tin, £9.99 Best blowout Yorkshire pudding tin: Le Creuset Yorkshire pudding 4-cup tray, £39 Best value Yorkshire pudding tin: ProCook Yorkshire pudding tray, £10 Best tin for mini Yorkshire puddings: Vogue carbon steel non-stick mini muffin tray, £13.10 Best deep Yorkshire pudding tin: Lakeland deep Yorkshire pudding 6-cup tray, £11.99 Best 4-cup Yorkshire pudding tin: Tala Performance Yorkshire pudding 4-cup tray, £5 Best tin for large Yorkshire puddings: Mermaid hard anodised aluminium Yorkshire pudding pan, £50 Jump to: Best Yorkshire pudding tins to buy in 2026 How to choose a Yorkshire pudding tin How we tested Yorkshire pudding tins Quality and weight of the material: Is the tin sturdy, heavy to lift or too light and flimsy? Is there a chemical smell when cooking? Heat distribution and time taken to heat: How quickly does the tin reach a high temperature, and does the heat spread through the entire tin? Non-stick coating effectiveness: Do the puddings slip easily from the tin or stick when cooked, and how easy is it to wash afterwards? The overall finish of Yorkshire puddings: What’s the speed and height of the rise? Its overall colour and texture? Depth and width of the cups: Are they too small or large for a Yorkshire? Taste and texture: Is the Yorkshire light, crisp and strong enough to hold gravy? How does it taste, is there any residual grease? Best Yorkshire pudding tins to buy in 2026 Salter BW02778G carbon steel non-stick 6-cup tin Available from Amazon (£9.99) Best non-stick Yorkshire pudding tin Pros: Attractive marble finish Excellent non-stick Cons: Only oven-safe to 220C This attractive-looking tin delivers: the finish not only looks good, but is also fully non-stick, making handwashing effortless. Salter also provides a 10-year guarantee, which is something you might expect of a tin that costs twice as much. The tin is whisper-light at 300g, and measures just 27 x 18cm, so it’s small. However, the cups are a good 6cm across and 3cm deep, so it makes good-sized puddings. Made from grey carbon steel, the tin heats fast and evenly so the puddings fly up the side – some were so high during our test that they began to topple slightly, resulting in a tray of various shapes and sizes, but all tasted very good. The speedy rise means the bottoms stay slightly thick as the sides cook so fast, but they do cook through and there were no soggy bottoms in our test. The only surprise with this tin is that it is only oven safe to 220C, which is low for a Yorkshire pudding tin – the higher heat of 230C in the recipe makes for fast cooking and crisp puddings. We cooked at 220C and the puddings took longer to reach the right colour. undefined Le Creuset Yorkshire pudding 4-cup tray Available from Amazon (£39), Le Creuset (£39) Best blowout Yorkshire pudding tin Pros: Fast, even rise Robust design Cons: Most expensive tin in the test The Le Creuset was the most expensive tin tested, but the features and resulting puddings more than justify the price. The 650g weight of the heavy gauge steel gives the tin a robust feel. Any fear of it being too heavy is offset by a deep rim and heatproof handles, making it easy and safe to carry. The toughened non-stick coating is dishwasher-safe. The manufacturer states that metal utensils can be used with care, though as with all non-stick bakeware this is best avoided. Le Creuset offers a lifetime guarantee, so the tin should last for years. The cups are a shallow 1.5cm deep, but a generous 10cm across. When tested, they produced almost identical puddings, with a fast rise and dark golden colour. The pudding sides and bottom were so even when removed from the tin that they stood proudly on the plate, almost begging to be filled with gravy. The even, quick cooking of these Yorkshires meant they turned brown very quickly and finished a bit darker than some, bringing out a delicious, slightly caramelised flavour. This tin produced the best puddings from the test. Using these tins and following the manufacturer's care advice, these tins should last a lifetime, making them worth the investment. Latest Deals ProCook Yorkshire pudding tray Available from ProCook (£10) Best value Yorkshire pudding tin Pros: Ultra non-stick Fast heating 10-year guarantee Cons: A little heavy for some We were impressed with the ProCook Yorkshire pudding tray right from the start. Removing the packaging, we were greeted by a solid, matt black tin with a 0.5cm lip to make holding it easier. There are six generous 10cm-wide cups and a satin smooth double layer non-stick finish, so no dishwasher needed. The tray is made of 1mm carbon steel so it’s a slightly heavier tin at 650g when empty, which may be a problem for some. However, what the carbon steel brings to the party is astonishingly fast heating with the fat nicely smoking in the oven at the recommended 230C in just 5 mins. The tin can withstand temperatures all the way up to 260C – which would be a touch too high, even for a Yorkshire pudding. As the cold batter hit the hot fat, the puds whooshed into action, rising around the edges in seconds. They rose quickly and evenly into a lovely bowl shape with golden colour. There was no sticking in the pan nor on the plate, the top was crisp but not hard, and the bottom was cooked yet still soft – the perfect pudding. undefined Vogue carbon steel non-stick mini muffin tray Available from Amazon (£13.10) Best tin for mini Yorkshire puddings Pros: Best for small puddings Multi-functional Cons: Can burn easily The Vogue mini muffin tray is multi-purpose with 12 small holes at only 6cm across and 2cm deep. It’s not only great for Yorkshire puddings, think mini muffins, jam tarts or mince pies. Well-constructed, the tray is made from high-grade carbon steel in a shiny black non-stick finish. It heated exceptionally quickly and the small cups only required a little batter – before the tray was back in the oven, the mini puddings had started to rise. We were impressed by the quick rise, and because of the cups’ sloping sides, the yorkies curled slightly at the rim to give a pretty bowl shape. All were cooked evenly with a golden colour, but you’ll need to keep an eye on them as they darken very quickly. The Yorkshire puds are not pub-sized but cute, two-bite sized, which are great for children. They also make the perfect party canapés or starters filled with bites of sausage, thick onion gravy or tiny slivers of beef. Available from: Amazon (£13.10) Lakeland deep Yorkshire pudding 6-cup tray Available from Amazon (£9.59), Lakeland (£11.99) Best deep Yorkshire pudding tin Pros: Deep, crisp and even puds Cons: Thick bottoms If a tall, deep, pub-style pudding is what you like, then this is the tray for you. Its super-generous cups measure a whopping 9cm across and 4cm deep, resulting in high-sided, cup-shaped puddings, perfect for lots of gravy. The Lakeland tin is made from 1cm gauge steel, and this is easily felt in its weight and sturdiness. There are two heatproof handles on the wide rim, making this tray easy to move around, even when it's hot and full of batter. The interior of the tin has a deep grey Quantum 2 non-stick finish and the outside is an enamelled blue colour. These finishes make the tin super-easy to clean; all that was needed was a quick wipe inside and out. All this attention to design and detail results in lovely puddings. The batter whooshed up the sides, spilling out and over the rim even though the cup was only a third full. The resulting puddings were delightfully wonky, with some very high and others less so, but nonetheless delicious and beautifully cooked. A few bottoms were a little thick – caused by the sudden rise – but reducing the temperature by 10 degrees made them rise a bit slower, solving that issue. undefined Tala Performance Yorkshire pudding 4-cup tray Available from Amazon (£8) Best 4-cup Yorkshire pudding tin Pros: Super-fast rise Easy to clean 10-year guarantee Cons: Tricky to hold This Tala tin is a classic Yorkshire pudding dish that comes in a shiny black finish. The price is astonishingly low for the sturdy weight, and it comes with a 10-year guarantee. The tin is made from super-strong, 1mm carbon steel, so it's slightly heavy for its size (weighing 600g). The cups are a standard 10 x 2cm. It has a superior Whitford Eclipse double-layered non-stick coating, so puddings slip out easily. Clean up is effortless, requiring just a quick wipe. We particularly like the rolled edges of this tin, as it has no fiddly crevices to clean, but this reduces the width and makes holding the tin a little difficult when hot. The tin heats quickly and evenly, giving a fast rise to the puddings. The shallow cups mean puds cook in just 10 minutes, and are beautifully crisp both on top and bottom. They were marginally different in height, but this wasn't a problem. At well under £10, this tin makes great puddings, and its low price belies its quality. undefined Mermaid hard anodised aluminium Yorkshire pudding pan Available from Harts of Stur (£50) Best tin for large Yorkshire puddings Pros: Quick heating Lightweight for a large tin Cons: Seasoning is required This large 28 x 35cm rectangular tin is made from hard anodised aluminium, but weighs just 560g. The manufacturer claims the pan will stand up to the rigours of the kitchen without damage, and indeed, after using it several times in testing, it still looked like new. It's no surprise that it comes with a lifetime guarantee. The Mermaid does not have a non-stick coating, so it's recommended you season it before use to build up a patina on the surface. This process will need to be repeated from time to time, though the fat used to make Yorkshire puddings will also help do this. The tin should never be put in the dishwasher, and it needs only a quick rinse and dry after use. The fat came up to temperature in just minutes, and the batter began to rise almost immediately after adding it. The softly curved sides of the tin help with the rise, and create a lipped edge. The golden brown, evenly crisp pudding was ready in just over 15 minutes, and held its shape with no shrinkage, making this a great tin if large, square Yorkshires are your preference or if you like making toad-in-the-hole. Available from: Harts of Stur (£50) How to choose a Yorkshire pudding tin Almost any tin or dish can be used to make a Yorkshire pudding, as long as it can withstand high temperatures and create an even distribution of heat. Choosing the right one for you will depend on what size and shape of pudding you want. The shallow four-cup tray is considered traditional, and it makes a decent-sized starter serving one (or two) that would also fit nicely on a plate alongside meat and vegetables. However, if you have a family to feed, the bun- or muffin-style tin is useful for cooking more at once. The puddings are usually smaller at 6-8 cm across, but are a great size for children (though you will also find bigger 9cm or larger tins). Large roasting-style tins are best for large, slab-like portions of pudding and making family-sized toad-in-the-hole. Yorkshire pudding tins are made from many different materials, from heavy-duty steel to aluminium and silicone, but the main factors should be how quickly and evenly it heats. Caring for Yorkshire pudding tins is much easier now that most come with non-stick as standard. Some tins may need seasoning to produce a natural non-stick surface, though this is not as good as non-stick. Where once it was ‘never wash the tin’, nowadays it’s ‘keep it away from the dishwasher’. Handwashing and a quick dry will ensure that your tin lives a long life producing great puddings. Yorkshire pudding recipes No-fail yorkies Best Yorkshire puddings recipe James Martin's Yorkshire puddings Gluten-free Yorkshire puddings Vegan Yorkshire pudding recipe Peppered beefy Yorkshire puddings Wild mushroom yorkies Sage & onion Yorkshire pudding recipe Mustard Yorkshire puddings How to make Yorkshire puddings Video: How to make Yorkshire puddings 8 ways to flavour Yorkshire pudding batter Top tips for making Yorkshire puddings Next-level Yorkshire pudding recipes Related reviews Best Sunday roast gadgets Best roasting tins Best meat thermometers Best pancake pans Best dishwashers If you have any questions, suggestions for future reviews or spot anything that has changed in price or availability, please get in touch at goodfoodwebsite@immediate.co.uk. Which tin do you use to make Yorkshire puddings? Leave a comment below.
Best hand blenders for making smoothies, salad dressings and more
Get whizzy with it and invest in a stick blender to make soups, smoothies, sauces and much more. We put them to the test and picked our favourite versions
Why not add a versatile stick blender to your kitchen armoury? They take up far less space than a traditional jug blender or food processor and are an easy way to whip up soups and sauces in record time. No need to decant hot food into another container while cooking — simply take the wand straight to the pot. Many come with safety guards to ensure that pans and casseroles won’t be scratched. Plastic or steel casings cover the blades and draw ingredients up to be blended perfectly. Although they’re compact and can easily fit in the smallest kitchen cupboard, some immersion blender models come with extra beakers and blades, so will take up more room. If you simply want smooth soups and sauces, then even a basic model will do wonders for the quality of your dishes and the speed you get dinner on the table. The latest additions were tested and reviewed by Lesley Jones. Best hand blender deals Looking for a discount on one of the hand blenders in this list? We've been scouring the market to find the best deals. Good Food in partnership with Tower hand blender: Good Food Digital Hand Blender | £69.99 £48.99 at Tower (save £21 or 30% with code GOODFOOD30) More hand blender deals: KitchenAid GO cordless hand blender | £179 £134.95 at Harts of Stur (save £44.05 or 25% off the RRP) Ninja Foodi 2-in-1 Food Prep System | £99.99 £79.99 at Ninja (save £20 or 20%) Russell Hobbs Desire 3-in-1 hand blender set | £49.99 £34 at Amazon (save £15.99 or 32%) For more kitchen appliances deals, visit our guide, discover how our experts test products and let us do the hard work for you. View Affiliate Playlist on the source website View Green Video on the source website Best hand blenders at a glance Best cordless hand blender: KitchenAid GO cordless hand blender, £134.95 Best professional-quality blender: Ninja Foodi 2-in-1 Food Prep System, £79.99 Best multifunctional hand blender: Gastroback Design hand blender, £91.92 Best hand blender for large quantities: Kenwood Triblade XL+ hand blender, £94.40 Best budget hand blender: ProCook hand blender, £39 Best designed hand blender: Bamix Classic hand blender, £109.99 Best for occasional use: Salter Cosmos 3-in-1 blender set, £27.99 Best mid-range hand blender: Russell Hobbs Desire 3-in-1 hand blender set, £34 Jump to: Best hand blenders to buy in 2026 Good Food in partnership with Tower hand blender How to use a hand blender How we tested hand blenders How we tested hand blenders We scored a range of hand models against the following criteria on our testing matrix: Weight: nothing too heavy or large. Hand blenders are about as long as a ruler and some weigh nearly as much as a bag of sugar, so they can be exhausting to control and hard to get a good grip. Easily controllable: you want the blender to be able to blitz a thick soup. Too fast, especially if you're doing delicate jobs like making mayonnaise, the mixture will curdle. So sensible speeds and easy-to-reach speed controls are a must. Cleaning: you want a model that cleans quickly and doesn't have too many nooks or crannies for food to linger in, making it unhygienic. Versatility: with good quality attachments and accessories, hand blenders can perform multiple kitchen tasks saving you cupboard space and money on separate appliances. Best hand blenders to buy in 2026 KitchenAid GO cordless hand blender Available from Harts Of Stur (£134.95), KitchenAid (£179) Best cordless hand blender Pros: Cordless Powerful Easy to store Lightweight Cons: Expensive While this is undoubtedly an investment purchase, its cordless functionality is worth the money alone – meaning no more dangling cords near your chopping device. It's a part of KitchenAid's GO range, which comes with a rechargeable battery that's compatible with other appliances in the range, including a mini chopper and food processor. It's lightweight but powerful, and though there's a bit of a knack to handling it – we had to grip it with both hands during our first few uses – our blending was controlled and efficient. A 700ml BPA-free beaker is also included for blending smoothies and sauces, but if you want to mix ingredients straight in the pan, there's a protective guard that prevents any scratching. undefined Ninja Foodi 2-in-1 Prep System Available from Very (£79), Ninja (£79.99), Currys (£79.99) Best professional quality blender Pros: Professional-sized, robust hand blender Easy to hold and use Super-speedy Attachments included Motor recognises each attachment Optimised speed settings for attachments Cons: A little heavy No beaker Star rating: 5/5 The Ninja Foodi 2-in-1 Food Prep System is a serious hand blender. It is weighty at just shy of 2kg, so for some, it may feel a little heavy, but the weight distribution is even, so it feels lighter. Behind that weight, there is an 850W motor driving this machine, which makes short work of anything in its path. The hand blender has just two speeds, and toggling between the low and turbo settings is easy. The box also includes a five-speed hand mixer attachment and two beaters, making this an incredibly versatile package. However, there is no beaker for mixing smaller quantities, so a jug is needed. Read our full Ninja Foodi 2-in-1 Food Prep System review. Latest Deals Gastroback Design Hand Blender Advanced Pro Available from Harts of Stur (£91.92), Amazon (£192.10) Best multifunctional hand blender Pros: Five speeds Attachments included Potato masher attachment Powerful 800W Generous 800ml beaker with lid Cons: Confusing instructions Star rating: 5/5 The Gastroback Advanced Pro hand blender is, as suggested by its name, a professional looking and sturdy machine capable of tackling most blending jobs in the kitchen. From its ergonomic soft-touch handle, the 800W motor that makes light work of most ingredients, five easily adjustable speeds, and titanium coated four-fold blade, this is a serious hand blender. And, if that is not enough, the Gastroback Advanced Pro also has an enviable range of accessories included in the box with a 500 ml mini chopper, whisk and a generous 800 ml beaker with a non-slip base, which turns into a lid for the beaker and a special attachment for mashing potatoes. Read our full Gastroback Advanced Pro review. Available from: Harts of Stur (£91.92) Amazon (£192.10) Kenwood Triblade XL + Hand Blender HBM60.307GY Available from Amazon (£94.40) Best hand blender for large quantities Pros Variety of attachments Larger blades for bigger dishes Long wand Cons Expensive Space needed to store accessories Wide blade may not fit in smaller containers Star rating: 4.5/5 So much more than just a hand blender, this set from Kenwood comes with lots of accessories to help around the kitchen. There’s a useful metal whisk, an attachment for smooth mashing and puréeing and a handy 0.5L chopper attachment that’s perfect for herbs, nuts and fine grinding. Safety first with this model, especially as the three blades are very sharp indeed, but the wand has a soft-touch cover that makes it non-slip as you hold it. Although weighty, this added to the quality feel, rather than making it difficult to use. The power to this robust 1000W unit is controlled by a sliding control on the wand, with a turbo button for extra power for pulsing. Longer than many models, with an extra-wide blade, we found it extra speedy at blending large volumes, with a double batch of creamy leek & potato soup smooth and aerated without any lumps or fibres. The beaker with pouring lip is a generous size, but we had a tricky time making our favourite basic mayonnaise recipe and resorted to our own narrower container in the end, which created more of a vortex for the ingredients to emulsify. The super berry smoothies we tried were whizzed up in no time, with silky results. undefined ProCook hand blender Available from ProCook (£39) Best budget hand blender Pros Great price Easy to use Compact Cons Accessories sold separately Short power cord Glossy casing shows fingerprints Star rating: 4.5/5 If you’re looking for a more basic model that can handle simple blends with ease, this is a great choice. No bells and whistles here; the ProCook hand blender comes with a single power unit wand and a twist-on stainless steel blade attachment, arriving in a surprisingly small box. No need for anything larger as there aren’t beakers, attachments or extra blades, although they’re available separately. But considering the ProCook’s performance and price, this was still a top choice for us. There are speed settings from one to six (as well as a boost button) we used to pulse a fibrous butternut squash soup as well as blitzing through the oats and fruit in our favourite berry smoothie. The quality stainless steel attachment to the main power wand gave plenty of clearance for ingredients to whizz around underneath the blades, and it was narrow enough to use in smaller containers for kids’ milkshakes and single-serve salad dressings. The glossy black casing of the main handle did slip once or twice when dealing with a buttery bearnaise sauce, but that served more as an important reminder not to use any blender without clean, dry hands. We’d have liked a slightly longer power cable, but overall, our list of gripes with this budget blender was also short. undefined Bamix Classic hand blender Available from Lakeland (£109.99) Best designed hand blender Pros: Powerful Long cord Easy to clean Cons: Unclear instructions Star rating: 4.5/5 This is a design classic that’s been around, pretty much unchanged, since 1954. No fancy bells and whistles here, just a sturdy hand unit with three stainless-steel discs to chop, whisk or blend. The Classic model comes with the basic stainless-steel attachments but with interesting designs. Instead of the usual balloon whisk, we made whipped cream using the flat whisk ‘disc’ with perfect results. These small additions could be easy to mislay in the kitchen drawer though, and although this set comes with a basic stand for the main unit, it could do with somewhere to stash those precious blades. There are lots of extra accessories available to buy for your Bamix, like mincer blades, shredders, jugs and beakers and a processor for grinding spices. There’s also a deluxe stand with those all-important cubby holes for the attachments if you’d like to upgrade. We liked the simple black casing of this model, which was easy to clean and didn’t require too much effort to remove the end pieces as we moved from recipe to recipe. Latest Deals Salter Cosmos 3-in-1 blender set Available from Amazon (£27.99) Best hand blender for occasional use Pros: Affordable Lightweight Useful storage stand Cons: Cheaper plastic parts may not stand the test of time Short cable length Whisk feels flimsy Star rating: 3.5/5 With only two speed settings – 'on' and ‘turbo’ – there’s not a lot of choice in terms of control with this model, but you do get attachments to blend, chop and whisk, with the addition of a lidded chopping bowl. We found this model more than capable when making smoothies and mayonnaise, but we’re not sure how long it would last with constant use. There were no lumps in our smoothies and nothing got caught up in the wide mouth of the blender attachment, but we had less success with the small chopping bowl accessory. This blender’s motor parts are plastic and we think these might wear down faster than the other, more robust models we looked at. The plastic also means it was louder in use than other models tested, especially on the faster speed setting. However, if a hand blender only gets occasional light use in your kitchen, then this budget choice may just fit the bill. And when it’s stashed away in a cupboard, the different components won’t go missing as a handy plastic stand can be placed on top of the mixing beaker to keep everything together. Just slot all the components on there to keep everything in one place. Latest Deals Russell Hobbs Desire 3-in-1 hand blender set Available from Amazon (£34) Best mid-range hand blender set Pros: Dishwasher-safe detachable components Really quiet Simple two speed settings Cons: Backwards locking system Narrow 700ml beaker Sleek with a matte-black finish design, this hand blender set felt more powerful than its 500 watt motor and was notably quiet during use. It's covered by a three-year manufacturer's guarantee which indicates the brand’s confidence in its performance. Additional accessories include a 700ml beaker, which is tall with a sturdy base but it's also quite narrow and could be broader. It was fine for smoothies and lumpy soups, but whipping cream with the whisk attachment would be better done in a large mixing bowl than in the beaker. The long, stainless-steel blender arm was easy to clean and allows for plenty of height if batch-cooking large quantities of soups. Plus, there are smart design sections, like the 500ml chopper, which has a silicone lid that doubles up as a non-slip base during chopping. All the components except the motor unit are dishwasher-safe on the top shelf. All the attachments are compact enough to be simply stored in a cupboard, while the blades have blade guards, so the blender arm and whisks could also be put in a utensils drawer. Read our full Russell Hobbs 3-in-1 hand blender set review. Latest Deals Good Food in partnership with Tower hand blender Available from Amazon (£42.78), Tower (£69.99) – save 30% with code GOODFOOD30 Blend, whisk, froth and more with this powerful five-in-one hand blender developed in partnership with Tower. A 1000-watt motor and five interchangeable stainless steel blades offer impressive versatility, while the ergonomic grip and coiled cord ensure comfortable, tangle-free use. From soups to smoothies, it handles every task with ease. It also comes with a holster stand and accessories holder, so your kitchen stays tidy. Available from: Amazon (£42.78) Tower (£69.99) – save 30% with code GOODFOOD30 How to use a hand blender Assembling a hand blender is super easy. There are usually just two sections: the motor housing, where the control buttons are, and the blade section. Many blenders come with beakers for preparing smaller amounts of food, such as spice pastes or salsa. The beakers are tall and narrow, and the blender should fit comfortably. Use tall jugs or bowls to avoid splashing if you do not have a beaker When processing anything with hot liquids, start at a low speed if your hand blender's speed is adjustable. If not, approach the hot liquid carefully to avoid splashing, which can burn Never overfill the beaker. Otherwise, you will struggle to puree and must force the blade down, which can cause the beaker to slip or the food to spill out, which is dangerous Overfilling and forcing the blender can also cause a vacuum in the bottom of the beaker, which prevents it from working correctly. To avoid a vacuum, tip the beaker slightly at an angle, which allows any trapped air to escape You can use a hand blender directly in pans and mixing bowls. Be careful not to drag the blade housing on the bottom of a pan, especially a non-stick pan, as it may scratch Always carefully handle or clean the very sharp blade section. When cleaning your hand blender, never submerge the motor housing in water; wipe the handle clean instead Related reviews Best blenders Best smoothie blenders Best food processors Best stand mixers Best juicers Best spiralizers Best Cuisinart ice-cream makers Is the Ninja Swirl worth it? Appliance deals Air fryer deals Microwave deals Dishwasher deals Pizza oven deals Do you have any hand blender recommendations? Leave us a comment below...
The best pressure cookers tried and tested
Read our review of the top pressure cookers on the market. Plus, we have cookery advice and recipe ideas for this speedy, economical piece of kit.
A pressure cooker's fundamental purpose is to speed up cooking time. From stews, curries and legumes to steamed puddings and cheesecake, there isn’t much that won't go in a pressure cooker. It requires less water than other conventional cooking methods and means more vitamins and minerals are retained. Lack of exposure to air also prevents oxidation of the nutrients in the food. To top it all off, you'll save time and money on your energy bills. We've tried and tested the market's pressure cookers, so you can find the perfect model – read on to discover our top picks. As for the slow cooker vs pressure cooker debate, the two one-pot gadgets operate very differently and have pros and cons to each. Read more about the best slow cookers and how to use pressure cookers. View Affiliate Playlist on the source website Best pressure cookers at a glance JUMP TO REVIEWS Best pressure cooker: Sage the Fast Slow Pro, £179.95 Best stainless-steel pressure cooker: ProCook Professional Stainless Steel Pressure Cooker, £100 Best pressure cooker for speedy results: Kuhn Rikon Duromatic Neo Pressure Cooker, from £158.36 Best budget pressure cooker: Tower One-Touch Ultima Pressure Cooker, £54.99 Best basic pressure cooker: Tower Pressure Cooker, £40.49 How we tested pressure cookers We tested a representative range of pressure cookers and scored them against our test criteria, focusing on the following four areas. Size and storage: is the pressure cooker easy to store? Are there any features that would make it more compact? Design: we assessed the aesthetic credentials of each model. Cooking results: we tried a variety of recipes to really put them through their paces, including meats that take a long time to tenderise, pulses and recipes with a lot of liquid, to see if it escaped on pressure release. Ease of use: we looked at how easy the model was to open and close and whether the functions and accompanying literature were useful and straightforward. Jump to: Best pressure cookers to buy in 2026 Which pressure cooker should I buy? What can you make in a pressure cooker? Best pressure cookers to buy in 2026 Sage the Fast Slow Pro Available from Amazon (£199), Sage (£199.95) Best pressure cooker Pros: Excellent quality for the price Versatile Cons: Some non-recyclable packaging Star rating: 5/5 Wattage: 1500W It is hard not to be impressed by the sleek good looks of this multicooker, with its brushed steel exterior and large LED screen accessing 11 pre-set and various manual programs. Every aspect of the machine feels solidly made, from the handles and ceramic-coated steel inner pot to the secure removable lid, making cleaning the Sage super easy. The cooker is tall but has a small footprint relative to large multi cookers. It couldn't be easier to start cooking with the Fast Slow. First, turn the machine on and use the sauté or searing functions, depending on what you are making. Next, select pressure, choose from a range of programs (or custom cook your recipes) add the ingredients and liquid, then close and turn the large knob in the centre of the lid, check the pressure valve is in the correct position, and away you go. The machine will do the rest, including controlling the level of pressure, time and best form of steam release. The Sage has 7 pressure levels and the added safety of three types of steam release; all are hands-free and only need the press of a button. Read our full Sage the Fast Slow Pro Slow Cooker review. Latest Deals ProCook Professional Stainless Steel Pressure Cooker Available from ProCook (£125) Best stainless-steel pressure cooker Pros: Great-quality cooker glass lid included 25-year guarantee Cons: No recipes included Star rating: 4.5/5 The ProCook 6-litre pressure cooker is a side handled stovetop cooker made from high quality brushed stainless steel with a 7mm impact bonded base that is suitable for all hob types. The ProCook can also be used as a regular stock pot, thanks to the additional glass lid. This is straightforward to use from the box and can be up and running immediately after a quick wash and dry. It is so simple to use, with a single-handed closing mechanism and clear open-close buttons on the central column of the lid, which snap the lid jaws firmly shut with a reassuring thump. The pressure gauge, set to one side of the lid, is easy to see and read. The cooking results are excellent with this pressure cooker: we had beautifully cooked, tender meat, vegetables with great colour and texture and a rich, thick gravy made in under an hour — all of this with a staggering 25- year guarantee. The only downside is that there are no recipes in the instruction book, so this could be a problem to getting started and making the most of your pressure cooker unless you are familiar with this cooking style already. Read our full ProCook pressure cooker review. undefined Kuhn Rikon Duromatic Classic Neo Pressure Cooker Available from Kuhn Rikon (from £158.36) Best pressure cooker for speedy results Pros: Superior quality Silent during cooking Economical cooking Cons: Requires an app for recipes Star rating: 4.5/5 The Kuhn Rikon stovetop pressure cooker made in Switzerland is impressive in its quality. It feels robust and well-made but not overly heavy. It has a 'super-thermic' sandwich bottom for energy-efficient heat transmission and distribution. In addition, it has side handles which are strong and feel secure when moving the pressure cooker around. This is a great pressure cooker with its high-quality, robust build, ease of use and speed of cooking with excellent results: our stew cooked amazingly fast at only 25 minutes on level two. The cooker comes without recipes but these can be found on an app to download. However, there are cooking times on the cooker's lid, along with the multi-lingual instruction book. Though this was not the cheapest stove top on the test, the superior quality, speed of cooking and ease of use make this a great investment piece. Read our full Kuhn Rikon Duromatic Classic Neo Pressure Cooker review. Available from: Kuhn Rikon (from £158.36) Tower One-Touch Ultima Pressure Cooker Available from Argos (£40), Amazon (£59.99) Best budget pressure cooker Pros: Excellent quality for the price Removable timer included Cons: Lighter than some models Star rating: 4.5/5 The Tower One Touch is an excellent pressure cooker for those on a budget. It is good for those starting pressure cooking and comes at a phenomenal price for the quality. The cooker performed as well as many of the more expensive models, and at 6 litres in size, it has a manageable footprint and is a good size for the average family. The cooker comes with a thorough instruction booklet, and a complete novice could approach setting up and using it immediately. The lid and locking system's opening mechanism is straightforward with just one hand and a simple twist. Included with the cooker is a detachable timer complete with batteries, which is handy with a manual cooker as you can keep an eye on the time as you move about your home. Read our full Tower One-Touch Ultima Pressure Cooker review. Latest Deals Tower pressure cooker Available from Tower (£44.99) Best basic pressure cooker Pros: Budget price Easy to use Suitable for all hob types Cons: Not many recipes Less versatile than other models This offering from Tower is relatively lightweight and comes with a vegetable steaming basket and stand. There's comprehensive information in the instruction manual on cooking times, but only two recipes. The design is super simple, meaning it's both easy to seal and doesn't have any bits that are awkward to clean. In this price range, you're unlikely to get much more. Suitable for all hob types, it comes in 4-litre and 6-litre versions. Latest Deals Other pressure cookers tried and tested Instant Pot Duo review, £74.99 Which pressure cooker should I buy? If you purchase a large pressure cooker, look for one with two side handles. The pots get heavy when they contain food, so it's easier to lift and handle a pressure cooker if they have them. Folding handles require less storage space. Many recipes call for the use of accessories such as a steamer basket or cooking rack, so you'd get the best value for your money if you buy a pressure cooker that comes with one or two of these accessories. Related reviews Best multi-cookers Best slow cookers Best bullet blenders Best toasters Best kettles Best fridge freezers 10 tips for using a pressure cooker Pressure cooker recipes Lemony prawn and pea pressure cooker risotto Asian short ribs with herb salad If you have any questions, suggestions for future reviews or spot anything that has changed in price or availability, please get in touch at goodfoodwebsite@immediate.co.uk.
An electric hand mixer is a useful piece of kitchen equipment, especially if you enjoy making cakes. Here, we reveal our favourite models.
The best hand mixers – sometimes called hand whisks or hand beaters – make light work of more tiresome baking tasks like whisking egg whites, creaming butter with sugar and whipping cream. Typically compact and inexpensive, they tend to be less powerful than most stand mixers, which makes them ideal for smaller quantities or if you need more direct control over the mixture. Hand mixers can be used in short bursts for kneading soft doughs, too. Nearly all the models in our test, however, struggled to incorporate flour from the edges of bowls. Additionally, heavy doughs or long kneading can damage the alignment of the gears and put the motor under strain, so a stand mixer may be a better investment for regular bread bakers. We tested a range of hand mixers from popular brands like KitchenAid, Kenwood, Smeg and Dualit, so read on to discover which models came out on top. For more baking kit, you can also read our guide to the best stand mixers. View Affiliate Playlist on the source website Best hand mixers at a glance Best hand mixer: Smeg HMF01, £149.95 Best compact hand mixer: Kenwood Quick Mix Go, £39.99 Best premium hand mixer: Dualit hand mixer, £84.99 Best lightweight hand mixer: VonShef hand mixer, £24.99 Best value hand mixer: Breville Flow Collection VFM034, £19.93 Best handle on a hand mixer: Russell Hobbs Desire hand mixer, £26 Best quiet hand mixer: Bosch CleverMixx MFQ2420, £42.99 Jump to: Best hand mixers to buy in 2026 How to choose a hand mixer How we tested hand mixers Egg whites Each mixer was used to whisk 100g egg whites to stiff peaks using the beater attachments, and again with the balloon whisk attachment. We noted how fast the eggs whipped, what the final volume was, the thickness of the foam, size and regularity of bubbles, and the glossiness of the whites. Double cream The second test was whipping 200ml double cream with beaters, then balloon whisks. Cream is easy to over-beat, so this was to test that the lowest speed setting was gentle enough. Buttercream This was to test the speed and power of the hand mixers. Achieving soft, fluffy buttercream takes a lot of beating. We looked out for overheating, dragging of the beaters and unhealthy motor sounds. Kneading Each mixer was used to knead a dough made with 250g flour. Again we were looking at power, sturdiness of the attachments and ease of control. Best hand mixers to buy in 2026 Smeg HMF01 hand mixer Available from Amazon (£126.95), Smeg (£149.95), Boots (£149.99) Best hand mixer Pros: Available in a range of colours Efficient Backlit digital screen Cons: High price tag Star rating: 5/5 Wattage: 250W There’s no denying it, this Smeg mixer is expensive. But it’s well built, and we found it comfortable to use. With a choice of six colours and a distinct retro style, it has a quirky appearance that sets it apart from others on the market. On test it was impressively speedy at whipping cream and didn’t struggle with tougher tasks like mixing bread dough or making buttercream. With nine speeds to choose from, it offers plenty of control and the backlit screen on the handle shows how long you’ve been mixing for. It comes with dishwasher-safe whisks, beaters and dough hooks, plus a handy cotton bag to store them in. We also like the trigger below the handle which makes ejecting the attachments very easy. Available from: Amazon (£126.95) Smeg (£149.95) Boots (£149.99) Kenwood Quick Mix Go hand mixer Available from Amazon (£37), Lakeland (£39.99) Best compact hand mixer Pros: Easy to store Five speed settings Made from 30% recycled plastic Cons: Reassembling the parts can be fiddly Star rating: 4.5/5 Wattage: 350W If you love to bake but face the challenge of storing all your equipment in a small kitchen, Kenwood's latest gadget is one of the most space-efficient mixers we've ever used. Released as part of the brand's Go collection, which also includes a stand mixer and food processor, this stylish hand mixer comes with cord storage and a lid that slots securely on top, so you can keep it proudly on display without cluttering up the counter. Available in two colours, 'storm blue' or 'clay red', this model has five speed settings and two attachments (a whisk/beater and dough hook), both of which handled our mixtures with ease on test. The manual is also impressively detailed, with diagrams and a usage table that should help you avoid overworking the appliance or selecting the wrong attachment. Remembering how everything fits back together might be a little fiddly for some at first, but most users should get the hang of it after a few uses. You can even clean the attachments in the dishwasher. Available from: Amazon (£38.70) Lakeland (£39.99) Dualit hand mixer Available from Amazon (£84.98), Lakeland (£84.99), Currys (£85.99) Best premium hand mixer Pros: Robust build Powerful motor Cons: Expensive Slightly heavy Star rating: 4.5/5 Wattage: 400W The Dualit whisk has delightful sleek lines and curves, and is all shiny chrome and black, making it a handsome, sturdy machine. With a 400W motor, it’s also a little heavy, which may be a problem for some. There are only four speed settings, but each packs a punch – at the top speed, this mixer flies. The efficient motor performed exceptionally well in all our tests, including the bread dough, though it did start to struggle after a couple of minutes. We love the retractable cable storage that tucks the cord neatly away inside the machine. Though one of the more expensive hand mixers on test, it’s justified thanks to the excellent results it produces. Available from: Amazon (£84.98) Lakeland (£84.99) Currys (£85.99) VonShef hand mixer Available from Amazon (£23.99), VonHaus (£24.99) Best lightweight hand mixer Pros: Easy to handle Value price Good looking Cons: Attachments don't feel 100% secure Wattage: 300W The VonShef is a well-built and stylish whisk, with a retro shape and cream-and-silver colours. It’s a light 800g, and though not overly large, performed extremely well during our test thanks to a robust five-speed 300W motor and good-quality accessories. We especially like the generous curved handle with two finger grips. We’d like a firmer, more reassuring click when inserting the accessories and a firmer push is needed to eject them, but despite this, the attachments stayed in during our test. We highly recommend this affordable, robust whisk not just for the great results it produces, but also its good looks and great handling. Read our full VonShef hand mixer review. Available from: Amazon (£23.99) VonHaus (£24.99) Breville Flow Collection VFM034 hand mixer Available from Robert Dyas (£19.93) Best value hand mixer Pros: Budget-friendly price Efficient motor Cons: Ridged design can be tricky to clean Heavy Star rating: 4/5 Wattage: 240W As part of the Breville Flow collection, this hand mixer matches a range of other small kitchen appliances, should you want to buy a matching set. It’s a great budget choice and is one of the least expensive mixers you can buy. It doesn’t feel cheap or poor quality and the performance is very good. Despite only being 240W, it didn’t struggle to mix bread dough or thicken buttercream and it whisked egg white and cream with ease. The main downsides are that it’s a little heavy and the on switch, which is also the speed switch, requires a bit of effort to move, meaning it’s easy to accidentally push it past the first speed setting and end up on a faster setting than you intended. The ridged design isn’t the easiest to wipe clean but thankfully the sturdy attachments are dishwasher-safe. Overall, given the price, this is a good all-rounder. Available from: Robert Dyas (£19.93) Russell Hobbs Desire hand mixer Available from Amazon (£26) Best handle on a hand mixer Pros: Lightweight Good range of accessories Cons: Confusing eject button Star rating: 4/5 Wattage: 350W The five-speed Russell Hobbs is a good-looking whisk, with a black matte and shiny finish. It comes with impressive accessories made of good-quality stainless steel, with an unusual but efficient cross between a beater and whisk that performed extremely well in our test. The large, comfortable handle and great balance make this an easy whisk to use, though there is some vibration and noise at the top speed. The Russell Hobbs is an excellent whisk that, despite feeling a little flimsy at first, is, in fact, a sturdy little workhorse with excellent accessories at an affordable price. Read our full Russell Hobbs Desire hand mixer review. Available from: Amazon (£26) Bosch CleverMixx MFQ2420 hand mixer Available from Amazon (£24.08) Best quiet hand mixer Pros: Not too heavy Efficient Cons: Power cord is positioned awkwardly Beaters are a tad flimsy Star rating: 3.5/5 Wattage: 400W This simple-to-use mixer is lightweight and won’t break the bank. There are just four speed settings to choose from which might not be enough for some. But during our tests it was fast enough to whisk up cream and egg whites quickly, yet also slow enough to mix buttercream without creating clouds of icing sugar. Our only complaint is that it’s easy to flick the switch to turbo as you’re turning it off, which could be messy if you have a habit of removing the beaters as you switch it off. The main beaters feel flimsy, but the dough hooks are very sturdy and cope well with heavy dough. Both are dishwasher-safe for easy cleaning. It’s quiet in use and has a comfortable handle, but the plastic has no grip so it’s best not to hold it with damp or greasy hands. Additionally, the power cord is poorly positioned, so can catch on your wrist during use. Available from: Amazon (£24.08) Other hand mixers tried and tested KitchenAid nine-speed hand mixer review, £139 Kenwood Handmix Lite review, £28.99 Morphy Richards hand mixer review, £18.35 How to choose a hand mixer Hand mixers are straightforward machines. Nearly all models come with twin beater and twin kneader attachments. Balloon whisk attachments can be very useful, so look out for these. Some models come with a bowl and stand that the hand mixer clips onto. This will not be as powerful or large as a purpose-built stand mixer, but these accessories are particularly helpful for those who struggle to hold a hand whisk or don’t have the storage space for a full-blown stand mixer. What to look for in a hand mixer Weight and balance: We looked for mixers that were easy to hold for several minutes of whisking, that didn’t tilt up and weren’t too heavy. Handle: This needed to be comfortable, not too broad or sharp-edged. We favoured those that were non-slip. Ease of operating: It should be possible to both hold the mixer and change the speed setting with only one hand. This leaves the other hand free to steady the bowl or add ingredients while mixing. Speed: The speed settings should be distinctly different, with gentle speeds for softly whipping cream and faster settings for tackling buttercreams and thick batters. Quality of build: We looked for sturdy attachments that clip easily into the mixer. Vibrations: We rejected mixers that vibrated too much in the hand as this can be very uncomfortable. Storage: We looked for clever storage solutions for attachments and cords. More reviews Best blenders Best cake tins Best food processors Best stand mixers Best toasters Best slow cookers Best kitchen scales Best mixing bowls Best baking trays Best stand mixers Best coffee machines Is KitchenAid worth it? What equipment do they use in The Great British Bake Off? If you have any questions, suggestions for future reviews or spot anything that has changed in price or availability please get in touch at goodfoodwebsite@immediate.co.uk.
Steamers lock in flavour and nutrients as they gently cook vegetables, rice and fish. Read our review of the top electric food steamers.
Though not strictly a kitchen essential, for some, electric steamers are an indispensable tool. Often, steamers are bought for health reasons on the grounds that steaming preserves more vitamins and nutrients than boiling. It's a far gentler form of cooking than most, retaining the flavour and texture of all foods. Steamers aren’t just for veg, either – they can also be used to cook meat, fish, shellfish, eggs (in their shells), pasta, grains and even puddings. Steaming can be as simple as a colander over a pan of boiling water. That method, though, is an inexact science and led more by guesswork. An electric steamer comes into its own by cooking in a controlled environment with a steady, even flow of steam, constant temperature and a timer. Simply load, switch on and leave until the timer pings so you can get on with other things. Using multiple baskets, it's possible to steam an entire meal and can be more energy efficient than using the oven and hob. View Affiliate Playlist on the source website Best steamers to buy at a glance JUMP TO REVIEWS Best smart steamer: Sage the Fast Pro multi-cooker, £199.95 Best steamer multi-cooker: Ninja Speedi 10-in-1 Rapid Cooker, £229.99 Best high-spec steamer: Magimix steamer, £174 Best value steamer: Judge three-tier steamer, £37.19 Best small food steamer: Salter food steamer, £29.99 Best budget steamer: Russell Hobbs three-tier food steamer, £29.99 Best designed steamer: Morphy Richards Intellisteam food steamer, £66.93 Jump to: Best steamers to buy in 2026 How to choose the best steamer How we tested steamers Instruction manual: notably, the instruction booklet can make or break for those new to steaming. Understanding the importance of food positioning in a steamer (food on the top cooks more slowly), the accuracy of guidance from the manual is paramount. Knowing cooking times by weight and time, fresh or frozen, makes so much easier and less wasteful than trial and error. Efficiency: A steamer should cook food quickly and evenly. We looked for machines that produced steam fast for tender fish and bright, al dente veg. Size: Steamers can be space-consuming, so we considered both height and footprint. We favoured steamers with baskets that stacked inside one another for ease of storage. Versatility: We looked for the inclusion of baskets for rice, grooves to hold eggs for steaming, and the ease of cooking a whole meal in the steamer at once. Rice: most of the steamers we tested had rice bowls included. We cooked two servings of basmati rice and looked for dry, fluffy, evenly cooked grains. Mixed load: to test the ease of cooking a whole dinner, we steamed salmon and potatoes with green beans. This meant using all the baskets and testing the manufacturer’s guidance for timings. Best steamers to buy in 2026 Sage the Fast Slow Pro multi-cooker Available from Amazon (£199), Sage (£199.95) Best smart steamer The Fast Slow Pro is a popular appliance in our review of the best slow cookers, but it's also technically a multicooker that offers a whole range of functions. It comes with slow- and pressure-cooking functions, as well as searing, sautéing, reducing and steaming, with all the presets displayed on the large, bright LED screen. The machine is tall but has a small footprint. It's attractively designed with high-grade brushed steel, solid handles and ceramic-coated steel inner pot through to the secure removable lid. Rice is cooked directly in the pot, but for the fish and vegetables, we use a stainless-steel rack that sits snugly inside the removable pot and doubles up as a stand for raising the steaming colander above the waterline. Using the charts in the instruction book, we cook each component precisely as suggested and have excellent results across all the foods. The downside to using a cooker such as this is that, unlike a traditional steamer where you can cook many different foods simultaneously, here they are done individually. But what you do get is many other functions and different cooking methods rolled together, and the Sage is a master at this style. Available from: Amazon (£179.95) Sage (£179.95) Ninja Speedi 10-in-1 Rapid Cooker Available from Ninja (£229.99) Best steamer multi-cooker Pros: 3 steam settings Mostly recyclable packaging Easy to control temperature Intuitive controls Cons: More expensive to run than other steamers Star rating: 4.5/5 The Ninja Speedi is so much more than a traditional steamer – it has a unique rapid-cook setting that combines steam with convection heat to turn meals around in 15 minutes. Among it 10 settings are 'steam air fry', 'steam bake' 'roast', 'sauté', 'grill', and its double-layer design allows you to cook two different ingredients simultaneously. We achieved particularly good results with the steam bake setting, and adapted our flourless chocolate & almond cake by adding 500ml of water to the cooking pot (as suggested in the Ninja Speedi manual) – before inserting the cake tin filled with batter inside, then steam baking it for 20-25 minutes. Once done, our cake had a fudgy, brownie-like centre with a firm top. Read our full Ninja Speedi Rapid Cooker review. Available from: Ninja (£229.99) Magimix multifunction steamer Available from Amazon (£174), John Lewis & Partners (£174) Best high-spec steamer The Magimix steamer was the most expensive on our test, but it is a powerful, sturdily built 12-litre steamer made with the highest-quality stainless steel. It fits together seamlessly and consists of a base unit, two dishwasher-safe steaming baskets, a heavy-duty glass lid with a heatproof silicone handle and a multifunctional stainless-steel bowl with a lid for cooking rice or reheating food. The upper steaming basket has a removable perforated bottom for cooking large dishes – a steamed pudding will fit in comfortably – making this an excellent choice for family cooking. However, the large footprint takes up quite a lot of space, so it's not best for smaller kitchens or those lacking storage space. The machine has four temperatures (100C, 80C, 60C, 40C). This means that in addition to steaming, you can gently cook fish and use it to reheat or keep food warm. The lowest temperature can be used for setting homemade yogurt. There's a boil-dry safety system when the water is low, and topping up involves removing the baskets, which must be done carefully to avoid accidents. Otherwise, the steamer is easy to operate, with one dial and four pre-set cooking temperatures, including a yogurt setting and keep-warm function. We like the instruction and 55-recipe book, but we find the instructions for cooking a piece of fish vague, giving timings for a fish fillet by number, not weight. That said, all is cooked quickly and easily with beautiful clear flavours – superb-quality cooking from a great machine. Available from: Amazon (£174) John Lewis and Partners (£174) Judge three-tier electric steamer Available from Amazon (£37.19) Best value steamer The Judge is the cheapest on our test, but robust as it's made from strong plastic. The baskets are clear and all have removable bases, so it's possible to steam oversized items. The steamer is oval rather than round and at 32cm, does not have an enormous footprint, but is not so small that you can't quickly cook fish and vegetables for two to four. The base unit is clear and straightforward, with a large bright button telling you that the machine is heating, another to indicate power and a 60-minute timer button. We find it a little noisy as it comes to the boil, sounding more like a kettle boiling. This is the only steamer on the test where the water starts to boil dry. The instruction leaflet provides all you need to know to get started quickly. There are no recipes or tips on how to descale the steamer, but there are good timings for different weights and sizes of vegetables and meat. The fish is soft and tasty and the rice a little sticky, but there are no complaints with the potatoes and beans. This is certainly a decent little steamer at a bargain price. Available from: Amazon (£37.19) Salter EK2726Z three-tier 7.5-litre food steamer Available from Salter (£29.99) Best small food steamer The Salter steamer is compact but tall. It has three separate dishwasher-safe baskets that neatly stack on top of each other using a divider. For storage, these can stack inside each other, which is handy in a small kitchen. The base unit is made from stainless steel, with a single timer button on the front. The three baskets are made of light plastic but do fit together well, and the top basket has a good-sized secure handle. The Salter is undoubtedly a budget-level steamer, but that doesn't mean it doesn't do its job. Unlike some of the other steamers on the test, this one requires 500ml boiling water to use, which is a timesaver as you're not heating from cold. It claims that amount of water is sufficient for an hour of cooking. There is room enough to cook for a small family, especially if using all baskets at once. We cook the rice in the top using the rice bowl, veg in the middle and fish at the bottom. In 30 minutes, everything is cooked to perfection, including the best rice on the test. The seal between the layers is excellent and no steam escapes, so it is doing its job on the inside. It's a little hard to see what is going on as it steams up, but we trust the process. Available from: Salter (£29.99) Russell Hobbs three-tier food steamer 21140 Available from Amazon (£29.99), Argos (£29.99) Best budget steamer The Russell Hobbs steamer is another budget machine, but a good size for family cooking at 9 litres. There are three dishwasher-safe baskets, each slightly smaller than the other, so they must be placed correctly. The baskets fit inside each other, which is handy for storage. They are made of flimsy plastic, though, and with no removable bases they can only take smaller foods. We particularly like the waterspout feature that means you can top up the reservoir during cooking without unstacking the hot steaming baskets. There is one clear timer dial on the front, which is barely audible when it reaches time – at first, we miss the signal. We like the transparent base unit, making it possible to see the water level throughout the cooking. Even at this price, it has a boil-dry function which is very useful. The instruction book is thin, but has everything you need to know on timings and sizes for steaming different foods, plus tips on food safety and details on descaling the steamer, which it will require from time to time. We are happily surprised by the food from this steamer – the rice is light and fluffy and cooks in 20 minutes. The salmon is soft, moist and has good flavour, and the veg is spot-on. Available from: Amazon (£29.99) Argos (£29.99) Morphy Richards compact Intellisteam food steamer Available from Amazon (£66.93) Best designed steamer Ideal for two people, this neat steamer has one basket that can be divided into two compartments, with a removable wall. We particularly like that separate timers can be set for the two compartments. The steamer automatically delays the start for the shorter cooking time so that both compartments finish steaming together. It produces good, fluffy rice and al dente carrots. It has a water inlet for filling during cooking and an alarm sounds if the water drops below minimum. There is a safety feature to cut the machine off if the water dries out. Easy to clean, the container (though not the lid) is dishwasher-safe and the reservoir can be descaled with vinegar using a descale setting. Available from: Amazon (£66.93) How to choose the best steamer Size and available space: steamers needed for family cooking can be huge, with a large footprint and deep, wide baskets that will take up room on the worktop and in the cupboard. If space is at a premium, choose a taller model rather than wider and one that has baskets that stack one inside the other. Most steamers are around 9 litres, which is big enough to cook a meal for four. If cooking for one to three people, it might be better to opt for a smaller steamer that will take up less space. Safety: look for models with sturdy, well-balanced baskets and robust, easy to grip, heatproof handles. A boil-dry cut-out that will automatically switch the machine off if the water runs out is hugely important, as is the ease of filling up the water tank during use. An external tank with a spout is the best, but not all models have this and having to remove baskets not only affects cooking times, but you also risk injury from hot steam. Price: there is a broad range of prices with electric steamers. The top price range will have many extra features and be made of high-quality materials, but do not discount the mid and budget range. All here performed exceptionally well in the test. Steamer recipes Pork & prawn wontons Bao buns Chinese steamed bass with cabbage Steamed leeks & peas More appliance reviews Best food processors Best blenders Best toasters Best kettles Best health gadgets If you have any questions, suggestions for future reviews or spot anything that has changed in price or availability please get in touch at goodfoodwebsite@immediate.co.uk.
Best waffle makers for fluffy homemade waffles
Homemade waffles are always a hit whether for breakfast, brunch or dessert. We reviewed electronic waffle makers to bring you our best buys, plus our tips for making perfect waffles.
If you're a big fan of waffles, buying a waffle maker rather than eating out could be a worthwhile investment. While it’s possible to make something resembling a waffle on a griddle pan, nothing matches the airy texture and golden crunch of one made in a good waffle machine. There are two styles of waffle machine – those that make deep Belgian or American waffles and the other that produce flatter Scandi-style waffles. The latter are still crunchy on the outside and soft in the middle, but they’re not as big and fluffy. If you like waffles but don’t eat them frequently, a multipurpose snack machine might be a better option than a single purpose waffle maker. These tend to double up as toasted sandwich or panini makers. We used our triple-tested classic waffles recipe to put waffle makers through their paces. When waffle machines had multiple functions, including toastie and panini functions, we tested these too. Read on to discover our top buys. View Affiliate Playlist on the source website Best waffle makers at a glance Best Belgian waffle maker: CASO Design WaffleUp Belgian waffle maker, £90 Best 2-in-1 waffle maker: Cuisinart 2-in-1 waffle machine, £45 Best premium waffle maker: Sage the Smart Waffle Pro, £179.95 Best mid-priced waffle maker: Breville DuraCeramic waffle maker, £108.77 Best waffle maker for families: Lakeland No-Mess waffle maker, £59.99 Best budget waffle maker: VonShef Dual Belgian waffle maker, £36.99 Best waffle maker for cleanliness: Sage the No-Mess Waffle, £109.95 Best multi-purpose waffle makers: Salter 3-in-1 snack maker, £34.99 How we tested waffle makers Each maker was used to make several rounds of waffles using our triple-tested classic waffles recipe. This meant we could check for consistency in waffle results to fairly compare the machines. We could also make sure the machines were able to maintain temperature and cope with making a number of waffles in a row if cooking for a group of people. Some machines doubled up as toastie and panini makers. Their ability to make waffles was the primary concern but we tested all functions to make sure they were good all-rounders. Jump to: Best waffle makers to buy in 2026 What to look for when buying a waffle maker How to make waffles in a waffle maker Best waffle makers to buy in 2026 CASO Design WaffleUp Belgian waffle maker Available from Argos (£90) Best Belgian waffle maker Pros: Creates perfectly formed Belgian waffles Excellent non-stick Overflow container means no mess or waste Fully recyclable packaging Cons: Tall, so might be tricky to store Star rating: 5/5 This Belgian waffle maker from CASO Design was a joy to use. Not only does it look great on the countertop, its unique top-fill design helps to reduces mess and waste as any excess batter flows into the detachable drip container. The spout through which you pour the batter is a little small, so it's worth doing this gently and slowly – the drip container will catch anything that escapes, which you can then use for your next batch of waffles. There are five browning levels to choose from across a scale of one to five, and when the batter is cooked, the gadget beeps clearly five times. The results speak for themselves: we cooked impressively golden Belgian waffles in our test – crisp on the outside and fluffy in the centre with a uniform thickness. Wattage: 800W Available from: Argos (£90) undefined Cuisinart 2-in-1 waffle and pancake maker Available from Amazon (£45) Best 2-in-1 waffle maker Pros Versatile Quick and easy to use Great results Comes with American pancake plates Plates for toasted sandwiches and grilling can be bought separately Cons Beware of the locking catch on the handle Star rating: 5/5 The Cuisinart 2-in-1 waffle and pancake maker has a large footprint, makes great waffles quickly and easily, and looks great on the worktop. Plus, it comes with pancake plates (grill and sandwich-making plates are available separately), making this one of the most versatile machines on test. Operating this waffle maker is easy, with clear, precise instructions in the enclosed book and recipes so you can produce delicious waffles and pancakes in no time. Wattage: 1000W Latest Deals Sage the Smart Waffle Pro Available from Sage (£179.95) Best premium waffle maker Pros Stylish machine Produces large waffles Cons Expensive Heavy Slower than other models Star rating: 5/5 This is one of the most expensive waffle makers we tested and is aimed at those who are really serious about their snacks. There’s no guesswork needed with this Sage machine. You choose your type of waffle from a choice of five and can also select how brown you want it to be, with a range of one to 12. There’s even a “bit more” button you can press if you want it just a little browner. The machine will tell you when your waffles are ready, with a digital counter counting down the seconds. And unlike most machines, there are no lights. Instead, there’s a beep when it’s heated up and another announcing that your waffles are ready. The waffles themselves were huge – about 12 x 12cm and noticeably thick. Browning was also very deep and even, and the waffles were crispy on the outside and soft inside. This is a heavy, stylish machine that looks more like something you’d expect to find in a café then for the average household kitchen. Read our full review of Sage the Smart Waffle Pro. Wattage: 1000W Available from: Sage (£179.95) undefined Breville DuraCeramic waffle maker Available from Amazon (£108.77) Best mid-priced waffle maker Pros: Dura-ceramic coating Good texture and colour Cons: Slower than other models Star rating: 5/5 Solid, heavy and no-nonsense, this is a waffle maker for the true waffle enthusiast. The name Breville is synonymous with sandwich makers and its waffle maker is built along the same lines. Every detail has been thought of from the easy to remove, washable plates to clear indicators and a heavy-duty non-stick coating on the plates. The waffles themselves are among the best we tried – and we dutifully chomped through dozens for this test. Sizeable and thick, they are crunchy on the outside while soft on the inside. This isn't the quickest machine, taking just over four minutes to heat and seven minutes to produce waffles. Read our full review of the Breville DuraCeramic waffle maker. Wattage: 800W Latest Deals Lakeland No Mess waffle maker Available from Lakeland (£59.99) Best waffle maker for families Pros: Cuts down on leakage Great for making batches Even results Cons: Big footprint Star rating: 4.5/5 If you’re feeding a large family – or just have a large appetite – this waffle maker from Lakeland will enable you to make a batch of four at a time. This has a clever design to avoid spillage. Mess is a bit of an occupational hazard when making waffles as it’s all too easy to ladle just a little too much mixture into the machine, which duly squelches out when cooking. The Lakeland machine has deep ridges at the sides so if you do put too much in, it will leak there rather than out on to your worktop. This waffle maker is easy to use, with a red light to show it is heating up which switches to green when it is ready. Results were good with thick, evenly cooked waffles produced at a reasonable speed. Read our full Lakeland No Mess waffle maker review. Wattage: 1200W Available from: Lakeland (£59.99) undefined VonShef Dual Belgian waffle maker Available from Amazon (£36.99) Best budget waffle maker Pros: Compact design Quick to heat and cook Good price Cons: Wipe-clean only Star rating: 4.5/5 The VonShef is a good, straightforward, no-fuss waffle maker that makes a pair of waffles at a time. It looks like a sandwich maker so if you have one of those too, you might accidentally grab the wrong one. Its small footprint makes it easy to store while it doesn’t take up too much space on the worktop. Most importantly, it made evenly cooked waffles quickly. This heats up in just two and a half minutes, and our waffles were done after just four. The waffles were a little thinner than average, though. This is a good size for a small family and its speed means that you can make extra batches rapidly. Plates are non-stick and aren’t removable, so you’ll have to wipe them down with a cloth after use. Read our full VonShef Dual waffle maker review. Wattage: 1000W Latest Deals Sage the No-Mess Waffle Maker Available from Amazon (£100), Argos (£100), Sage (£109.95) Best waffle maker for cleanliness Pros: Attractive design Variety of settings Small footprint Cons: Produces small waffles Expensive Star rating: 4/5 There’s no denying the Sage No-Mess is a good-looking, quality machine that's simple to use and, as the name suggests, does not make a mess. This is thanks to the deep, efficient moat around the plate that catches any overspill without burning or sticking. The Sage offers different settings for varying the colour of the resulting waffle, which also changes the texture (the darker it is, the crispier it is). The instructions are clear and easy to follow, and the waffle maker can be up and running in minutes. Wattage: 750-900W Latest Deals Salter 3-in-1 snack maker Available from Amazon (£34.99), Salter (£34.99), Argos (£35) Best multi-purpose waffle maker Pros: Interchangeable plates Good textured waffles Indicator lights Cons: Longer cooking time Star rating: 4/5 This hardworking Salter machine comes with three sets of interchangeable plates for waffles, paninis and sandwiches and outdid other multifunction machines in the texture and taste stakes. It makes impressively large and deep waffles that were soft and light in the middle with a crunchy exterior. The high hinge of the machine helps to create a uniform thickness, although the colour was a little uneven. The deep, wide plates can take lots of batter so we had to experiment with quantities to get it just right. The sandwich and panini plates are just as generously sized but were slightly trickier to remove than other brands we tested. Given its versatility and generous portions, it is surprisingly compact, although it doesn’t come with a storage solution so has to be packed away carefully to avoid scratches. However, there is a useful cable tidy and clips for keeping the plates secure when stacked. Read our full Salter 3-in-1 snack maker review. Wattage: 900W Latest Deals What to look for when buying a waffle maker Quality of non-stick: Nearly all waffle makers come with non-stick plates. The non-stick coating needs to be durable. We looked for plates that released the waffles easily after cooking with no sticking or tearing. Indicator lights: Having one light to show that the machine is turned on and a second light to indicate the waffle maker has come up to cooking temperature is a very useful feature. Removable plates: Though not essential, having removable plates can make cleaning easier. Overrun channel: Some machines have a useful ‘overrun’ channel that collects excess batter and prevents it from running down the side of the machine. Speed of cooking: We looked for machines that cooked quickly and efficiently. Texture of waffle: We looked for waffles that were fully cooked and fluffy on the inside with a crunchy but not overcooked exterior. Colour of waffle: We looked for even golden colour across the waffle, rejecting machines with obvious hot spots or that burnt on the outside before cooking the middle. Thickness of waffle: Some machines with narrow hinges tend to squash waffles along their edge. We looked for waffles of uniform depth. How to make waffles in a waffle maker Our classic waffles recipe is designed to be used in a standard electric waffle maker like the ones listed above (in fact, we put the machines through their paces using this recipe). Use the manufacturers instructions to heat the waffle maker up to temperature, then spoon the batter into the mould, close the lid and cook for 5 minutes or following the instruction manual. Once you've completed your batch, crisp up the waffles in the oven for five minutes and serve warm with toppings of your choice. Waffle recipes Classic waffle recipe Belgian waffles Cheese & herb waffles Vegan chive waffles Waffles with banana & salted caramel Marmite eggs Benedict with waffles All our top waffle recipes Related reviews Best sandwich toasters Best toasters Best ice-cream makers Best pancake pans Best non-stick frying pans Best pan sets Best doughnut makers Appliance deals Air fryer deals Microwave deals Dishwasher deals Pizza oven deals If you have any questions, suggestions for future reviews or spot anything that has changed in price or availability, please get in touch at goodfoodwebsite@immediate.co.uk. Do you use a waffle maker? We'd love to hear your product suggestions…
We've tested dozens of cookware sets - these are the best pan sets 2026
A good set of pans will enhance your culinary adventures for years to come. Read our reviews of stainless steel and aluminium offerings, from cheap to blowout, to find out which is best for you
The best pan sets should be robust and reliable enough to withstand years of use, and while the cost of buying an entire set might be off-putting, purchasing them individually might end up being more expensive in the long run. With a matching set, you'll also have familiarity with the pans you use and understand how quickly they heat, along with other special features. And, if that isn’t enough to tempt you, a matching set does look good, too. When choosing a pan set, your first port of call is to consider what you want: light or heavy, how many pans and your budget. Good pans with extended guarantees are solidly built with outstanding conductivity and heat quickly. They're also easier and cheaper to use, less likely to burn and have a longer life. But, equally, some excellent pans don't cost a fortune, as you'll see from my recommendations. Pan sets come in so many combinations of sizes and types, it can be difficult to decide what to go for. Every one of the combos I've tried and tested here has different items that can be added to complete your ideal collection – read on for my recommendations. Best pan set overall If you're after my top pick, the Cuisinart Ceramica XT non-stick cookware set earned five stars in our testing. Jump to review View Affiliate Playlist on the source website Best pan sets at a glance JUMP TO REVIEWS 5/5 stars Best pan set if you don't use induction: Cuisinart Ceramica XT non-stick cookware set, £79.99 Best fast-heating pan set: Stellar Stay Cool, 4 Piece Draining Saucepan Set, £90 Best pan set overall: Kuhn Rikon all-round 3-piece saucepan set, £199.95 Best non-stick pan set: Ninja Zerostick stainless steel 3-piece pan set, £149.99 Best stainless-steel pan set: HexClad Hybrid Pot 6-piece set, £399 Best of the rest Best premium pan set: Our Place Titanium Pro cookware set, £420 Best stylish pan set: ProCook Soho Cookware Set, £69.30 Best ceramic pan set: Joseph Joseph Space folding-handle 6-piece cookware set, £492 Best hard-anodised pan set: Circulon Style Anodised 3-piece saucepan set, £179.99 Best-looking pan set: Our Place Essentials Complete Cookware Set, £370 Best value pan set: Stellar 7000 5-piece pan set, £129 Jump to: Best pan sets to buy in 2026 Good Food in partnership with Tower pan sets How to choose the best pan sets How we tested pan sets I put a range of pan sets to the test by cooking a variety of foods in the appropriate sized pan. I started with breakfast foods and cooked custardy scrambled eggs in the smallest pan to see how well I could control the heat, and if I was able to reach into the edges to ensure everything was fully incorporated. I also cooked notoriously difficult-to-clean porridge in the smallest pan. In the medium-sized pan, I cooked fried onions to see if they could cook slowly and caramelise evenly. I also played around with the temperature on this test to see how well the pan responded to changes. Finally, in the largest pan, I cooked pasta. I brought the pan up to a boil from cold to see how quickly it heated up and how evenly the pan distributed heat. After adding the pasta, I popped the lid on, as I wanted to see whether the pan would bubble over and if I could still see through the lid. For the pan sets that also came with frying pans as standard, I cooked American pancakes and omelettes. As well as how the sets looked together on the hob, there was a long list of attributes on my list of must-haves: Efficient cooking: crucially, the pans had to have excellent, non-stick linings and efficient heat distribution, with responsive heating and cooling when I adjusted controls. Weight and balance: heavy-based pans are great for cooking, but they couldn’t be so weighty that I'd struggle to move one from hob to sink, or so light they could tilt easily on the stove. Build quality: the pans had to be built to last, with firmly welded or riveted handles, which had to feel comfortable to grip when the pan was full. Storage: finally, I looked at how the sets stacked together for storage, marking down any that were likely to topple over and cause cupboard chaos. Why you can trust Good Food reviews Across Good Food's team of expert product testers, we've reviewed a wide range of cookware over the last five years and have tested around 20 pan sets from various brands. Every pan set in this list was tested in the Good Food Test Kitchen, which is set up to mirror the average home kitchen rather than a laboratory-like environment. Plus, we only ever use Good Food's triple-tested recipes when reviewing products, so you can rest assured that if a pan set performs well in our kitchen, it should in yours, too. We also operate independently and don't share any reviews with retailers or manufacturers before publication. We don't accept payment in exchange for positive reviews, either. Best pan sets to buy in 2026 Cuisinart Ceramica XT non-stick cookware set Available from Amazon (£79.99) Best pan set if you don't use induction Pros: Light yet robust Fast heating Great conductivity Stay-cool handles A comprehensive set Cons: Not induction compatible Star rating: 5/5 Our first impression when testing the Cuisinart Ceramica XT non-stick cookware set was surprise: it's not induction compatible, which is quite unusual for modern cookware. However, if you're specifically looking for a non-induction set or simply have no need for it, this one might be ideal. With 11 pieces, the set covers all bases for stovetop cooking from boiling to braising, sautéing and steaming. The pans are oven-safe but limited to a maximum temperature of 175C for no more than 20 minutes. We found the pans light but sturdy, perfect for anyone struggling to lift heavy items. They have excellent conductivity thanks to the aluminium core and a sensational non-stick ceramic coating free of PTFE, PFOA and PFAS. The test results were excellent and the only thing we were less than happy with was that the American pancakes were quite dark each time. Nevertheless, for the quality and functionality, this comprehensive set is excellent for the price. Set contains: 1.4L and 2.4L saucepan with lids, 2.8L sauté pan with lid, 5.7L stockpot with lid, 20cm and 25cm skillets and an 18cm steamer insert Materials: Aluminium core Warranty: 3 years Oven-safe: Yes, but only to 175C and no longer than 20 minutes Induction-compatible? No Available from: Amazon (£79.99) undefined Stellar Stay Cool 4-Piece Draining Saucepan Set Available from Stellar (£90) Best fast-heating pan set Pros: Superb quality at the price Rapid, even heating So easy to clean Easy drain lids Cons: Only oven-proof to 180C Star rating: 5/5 The Stellar 4-piece pan set is impressive. Made from stainless steel, it comes from the box, all shiny and promising. Even at first glance, it is a serious set claiming to be safe with handles that stay cool, and they do. Further claims highlight their effortless usability. The lids, with silicone rims, fit securely onto the pan, while draining spouts on both sides make draining remarkably easy. Additionally, the firm-fitting lids help lock in nutrients during cooking, making meals healthier. All of these were borne out in the test, as everything I cooked from the eggs, onions and porridge was excellent, and I was blown away by the speed the pans heated up with pasta water boiling in 1 minute 40 seconds; so, they're also economical to use. The only slight niggle is that they're only oven safe to 180C, which most of us can live with for this quality. Specifications: Set contains: 16cm non-stick milk pan, 18cm draining saucepan with lid, 20cm draining saucepan with lid, 24cm non-stick frying pan Materials: Stainless steel Warranty: Lifetime guarantee Oven-safe: Up to 180C Induction-compatible? Yes undefined Kuhn Rikon All round 3-piece saucepan set Available from Kuhn Rikon (£179.95) Best pan set overall Pros: Excellent quality for the price Glass lids with steam vent Strainer function in the lid Oven-safe to high temperature Cons: None Star rating: 5/5 This Swiss-designed pan set certainly impresses on first viewing. The three pans come in generous sizes and are made in a hefty 18/20 stainless steel, so they have an almost professional feel. They're solid rather than heavy, and easy to handle even when filled with food. The thick, solid base makes them suitable for all cooking surfaces, including induction, and I was impressed by their ability to heat super-fast and respond instantly to lowering the heat. This was essential when caramelising the onions, which came out a delicious, even golden brown. Likewise, when cooking the porridge, the heat had to be lowered once the porridge thickened and the response was immediate. The handle was comfortable to hold and never became hot while using on induction, though this may not be the case if the pans are used on a high gas flame, and they'll most certainly get hot when used in the oven. The lids are glass, which also meant I could see what was happening without removing a hot lid. Specifications: Set contains: 1.9L saucepan with lid, 2.7L saucepan with lid, 3.7L saucepan with lid Materials: 18/20 stainless steel Warranty: Lifetime guarantee Oven-safe: Up to 240C Induction-compatible? Yes undefined Ninja Zerostick stainless-steel 3-piece pan set Available from Argos (£149.99) Best non-stick pan set Pros: Robust pans Glass lids Stay Cool handles Oven-safe to 260ºC Exceptional non-stick Cons: Edging towards heavy with food Star rating: 5/5 These stainless-steel Zerostick pans from Ninja come with several promises, including being 20x tougher than traditional non-stick, with no flaking or peeling; being dishwasher- and metal utensil-safe, plus scratch-resistant; being oven-safe to 260C; and having a 10-year replacement guarantee, including the Zerostick coating. I was able to test out at least some of these promises, especially the non-stick, when cooking both the onions and the porridge. Nothing stuck, the pans heated super-fast and were responsive to the raising and lowering of the heat. And, though there is no need to put the pans in the dishwasher because a quick hand-wash was more than sufficient, I was happy with the dishwasher results. With the pasta, I heated the 1.5 litres of cold water to boiling in an impressive four minutes. I couldn’t test Ninja’s longevity claims, but the pans certainly feel sufficiently well made to bear this out. They were sturdy and well balanced on the stove and edging towards heavy when filled with food, so they may not suit some. But if you are after well-made, efficient pans that refuse to have anything stuck inside or out, these are the pans for you. Specifications: Set contains: 16cm saucepan with lid, 18cm saucepan with lid, 20cm saucepan with lid Materials: Stainless steel with aluminium core Warranty: 10-year replacement guarantee Oven-safe: Up to 260C Induction-compatible? Yes undefined HexClad Hybrid Pot six-piece set Available from HexClad (£399), Amazon (£399) Best stainless-steel pan set Pros: Commercial standard hybrid pans Includes a generous 26cm stock pot Oven-safe to 260C (lids 240C) Dishwasher-safe Metal utensil-safe Hexagonal steel ridges for better searing High-grade, non-toxic Japanese coating for toughness Cons: Expensive Need seasoning before use Star rating: 5/5 If it was possible to fall in love with a pan, it could easily be the hybrid HexClad. They're extremely handsome, with a shiny, heavy-gauge stainless steel exterior, and signature laser-etched hexagon design on the inside. Each hexagon is a hybrid of stainless-steel ridges and non-stick valleys, giving superb searing potential coupled with total non-stick on the bottom and partly up the sides. Above this, the hybrid continues with a zigzag pattern and lines up to the rim. The result of all this patterning is that the HexClad pans are incredibly robust, and claimed to withstand all metal utensils, including spatulas, whisks and even electric mixers. Despite the hefty robustness of these pans, they do need a little TLC with seasoning before use, much like a cast iron pan, and this does need to be repeated from time to time. Also, unlike some non-stick, using a little oil when cooking is recommended as you're cooking on steel and non-stick. On the test, the pans were sublime. The 1.5 litres of water boiled in three minutes and five seconds and stopped dead when I switched off the heat. The gentle simmering of the onions was on the lowest heat. It produced soft caramelisation in 20 minutes instead of the expected 40, and the porridge similarly cooked super-fast, with zero sticking. Cleaning was a doddle and despite these being totally dishwasher-safe, they only needed a quick rinse. The pans may be expensive, but with just a little TLC, they will pay back in bucketloads with their ease of use, fast, quality cooking, and stunning appearance. You will not want to put them back in the cupboard. Read more about HexClad in our guide: Is HexClad worth it? Specifications: Set contains: 1.8L saucepan with lid, 2.8L saucepan with lid, 7.5L saucepan with lid Materials: Stainless steel with aluminium core Warranty: Lifetime Oven-safe: Up to 260C Induction-compatible? Yes Available from: HexClad (£399) Amazon (£399) undefined Our Place Titanium Pro cookware set Available from Our Place (£420) Best premium pan set Pros: Wide range of pan types and sizes included Oven-safe up to 260C Easy to clean Fully recyclable packaging Cons: Expensive Shows fingerprint marks easily Pan surfaces leave an imprint on some foods Star rating: 4.5/5 For fans of the viral cookware brand Our Place and its Titanium Pro range, this bundle is undoubtedly one of the most stylish options on this list. Better yet, if you were considering buying each pan individually, you can also save £240 by purchasing them as a set. Expanding beyond its signature pastel hues, Our Place's Titanium Pro range has a sleek chrome finish that shines on the countertop – though it is susceptible to fingerprint marks. Each pan also has a chemical-free non-stick surface that's suitable for utensils and even the dishwasher, and the pans heated quickly and evenly during our tests. The pans are weighty and feel high-quality, too, with comfortable handles and well-fitting lids – though the smaller pans gets a little hot at the base. The hexagonal surface also left behind an imprint on our omelettes and pancakes, which didn't look very appealing. Cleaning them, however, is a breeze, and for home-cooks seeking pro-level performance with a bit of flair, the Titanium Pro set delivers style and substance in equal measure. Specifications: Set contains: 27.6cm Titanium Always Pan Pro, 21.6cm Titanium Mini Always Pan Pro, 27.6cm Titanium Perfect Pot Pro, 21.6cm Titanium Mini Perfect Pot Pro, metal spatula, silicone spoon Materials: Stainless steel with aluminium core Warranty: Limited lifetime Oven-safe: Up to 535C Induction-compatible? Yes undefined ProCook Soho cookware set Available from ProCook (£69.30), Amazon (£132.95) Best stylish pan set Pros: 10-year warranty Super non-stick coating Choice of three great colours Cons: Excessive heat must be avoided Star rating: 4.5/5 From the box I was impressed by these stylish, contemporary-looking pans from ProCook. The pans are light and easy to lift, and on all our tests, they passed with flying colours, especially the delicious shakshuka. The non-stick was silky, smooth and tough, with a ten-year guarantee. ProCook, however, does not recommend using excessive amounts of heat when cooking with these pans. But you shouldn’t need to, as they are made from aluminium and stainless steel and heat up fast and evenly. This is an excellent set of pans that's perfect for those just starting to cook and an astonishing price for the quality. Specifications: Set contains: 18cm saucepan with lid, 26cm sauté pan with lid, 24cm frying pan, 24cm casserole dish with steamer insert Materials: Stainless steel and aluminium Warranty: 10 years Oven-safe: Up to 260C Induction-compatible? Yes undefined Joseph Joseph Space folding-handle six-piece cookware set Available from Joseph Joseph (£492) Best ceramic pan set Pros: 20-year warranty Quality non-stick ceramic coating Innovative fold-in handles Excellent quality Cons: Hot spots in the centre of the pans Some non-recyclable packaging Star rating: 4.5/5 If you're after practical pans for everyday tasks, but space comes at a premium in your kitchen, this ceramic set from Joseph Joseph is an excellent investment. Each pan (with the exception of the casserole pan) has a fold-in handle that reduces its footprint in storage. Even with the handles folding inwards, they can be stacked, too. It's a large set, comprising a range of saucepans, frying pans and a casserole dish, as well as three felt pan protectors. All the pans are robust and nicely balanced, and come with tempered glass lids that fit well. The heat distribution was relatively even but with some hotter spots in the centre. I was, however, impressed by how quickly the pans reacted to temperature changes, and the non-stick performed well too: even stubborn residue left behind by porridge lifted easily with light scrubbing. As there are six pans included, the price tag is naturally higher than others on this list – but the 20-year warranty and premium design assured us that this is a cookware set built to last. Specifications: Set contains: 15cm saucepan with lid, 19cm saucepan with lid, 20cm frying pan, 24cm frying pan, 28cm sauté pan, 28cm shallow casserole dish, three felt pan protectors Materials: Stainless steel and aluminium Warranty: 20 years Oven-safe: Up to 232C Induction-compatible? Yes undefined Circulon Style anodised three-piece saucepan set Available from Amazon (£179.99) Best hard-anodised pan set Pros: Stylish flared shape Attractive stay-cool handle on pan and lid Oven-safe to 260C Non-stick lasts 15 times longer than others Dishwasher-safe Cons: Expensive Star rating: 4.5/5 There's a good reason why these pans from Circulon are called Style, being by far the most stylish on our test, with their tall, black, flared sides which make for excellent pouring from any angle. I particularly liked the beautifully contrasting stainless steel lids with distinctive S-shape stay-cool handles, which are very comfy and secure to hold. The Circulon pans offer a non-stick that lasts 15 times longer than others and guarantees nothing will stick, and they are three times more resistant to the dishwasher. All of this bore out well in our test. Nothing stuck, not even the porridge which is a chief sticking culprit – the pan was almost clean after use and hand-washed quickly and easily. The anodised pans are robust and not heavy, and even with food, they were well balanced and secure to carry around. Our test results were excellent: fast heating (1.5 litres of water took 4½ minutes to boil for the pasta), responsive to raising and lowering the temperatures, which worked well when caramelising the onions, and the porridge cooked in minutes with no sticking. These pans are expensive at full price, but given the lifetime guarantee, excellent quality and great cooking results, they are a good investment and should give years of use. Specifications: Set contains: 16cm saucepan with lid, 18cm saucepan with lid, 20cm saucepan with lid Materials: Hard-anodised aluminium Warranty: Lifetime Oven-safe: Up to 260C Induction-compatible? Yes undefined Our Place Essentials Complete Cookware Set Available from Our Place (£370) Best-looking pan set Pros: Effective non-stick Good-looking Fully recyclable packaging Cons: Heavy Some pans are too large for standard-sized hob rings Star rating: 4/5 Much like the rest of Our Place's cookware range, this is a pan set that's made for keeping out on display – be it on the hob or as part of the 4-piece storage system that's included. There are four colours to choose from (blue salt, char, cream and terracotta), and the stylish gold handles and knobs on the lids add to the premium feel. Most of the pans are very weighty and relatively well balanced, though the larger ones could do with an additional handle to aid with lifting and cleaning. The 3.8L sauté pan does come with an extra handle, but in test this was too hot to touch so wasn't particularly useful. If buying this set, it's worth checking the dimensions of your hob rings, too, particularly if cooking with induction or electric. I found most of the pans were too big for our kitchen's standard-sized hob rings, so they took much longer to heat up (even when on the highest heat). Once they'd finally hit temperature, though, I thought the cooking results were good – both the pancakes and omelettes were evenly browned, slipping from pan to plate with ease, and the diced onions caramelised nicely without burning. The non-stick performance was also impressive and after whipping up a batch of porridge, which is notoriously stubborn to clean, only a light scrub with a sponge was needed to lift off the residue. Specifications: Set contains: 20cm frying pan, 27cm frying pan, 31cm frying with lid, 2L saucepan with lid, 2.8L saucepan with lid, 3.8L sauté pan with lid, 6.6L stock pot with lid, nesting stainless-steel strainer basket for stock pot, 4-piece storage system Materials: Thermakind® ceramic nonstick coating, pressed aluminium body Warranty: 2 years Oven-safe: Up to 232C (glass lids up to 220C) Induction-compatible? Yes Available from: Our Place (£370) undefined Stellar 7000 five-piece pan set Available from Stellar (£129), Harts of Stur (£129.95) Best value pan set Pros: Helpful draining holes in lids Big pouring lips on pans Handles are long and comfortable Cons: Handles get hot Star rating: 4/5 With its striking high-shine finish, this five-piece set from Stellar is professional-looking, but comes at a reasonable price. These pans come with added extras like draining holes in the lid, which means there are no frantic searches for a colander or sieve. Very little stuck to these pans either, so clean-up was a doddle. The milk pan and frying pan are useful additions, particularly if you’re looking for a complete set. The non-stick coating on both of these pans is effective, too. Water came to a boil quickly and, for added ease and versatility, they’re all dishwasher- and oven-safe up to 210C. Read our full Stellar 7000 five-piece saucepan set review. Specifications: Set contains: 14cm milk pan, 16cm draining saucepan with lid, 18cm draining saucepan with lid, 20cm draining saucepan with lid, 26cm non-stick frying pan Materials: 18/10 stainless steel Warranty: Lifetime guarantee with 10 years for the non-stick Oven-safe: Up to 200C Induction-compatible? Yes undefined Other pan sets tried and tested Circulon C Series SteelShield three-piece saucepan set review, £119.99 Salter Megastone three-piece pan set review, £39.99 Good Food in partnership with Tower 3-piece stainless steel saucepan set Available from Amazon (£99.99) The Good Food three-piece saucepan set – created in partnership with Tower – makes family mealtimes a breeze. Ideal for cooking sauces and soups, boiling veg, melting chocolate and so much more, this handy set has been Tried and Tested by Good Food’s recipe development team, and includes one 16cm pan, one 18cm pan and one 20cm pan, each of which has been crafted with high-quality stainless steel. The pans also have internal markings to help you can measure ingredients with ease, and are oven-safe up to 230C. Available from: Amazon (£99.99) Good Food in partnership with Tower hard anodised 3-piece saucepan set Available from Amazon (£179.99), Tower (£179.99) – save 30% with code GOODFOOD30, Very (£180) Whether you’re a culinary novice or a seasoned cook, the Good Food three-piece saucepan set – created in partnership with Tower – will bring versatility and efficiency to your kitchen. Tried, Tested and Trusted by Good Food experts using our rigorous testing methods, the pans (16cm, 18cm and 20cm) are crafted with ultra-durable hard-anodised aluminium, combined with a non-stick coating for easy food release and guaranteed durability. They’re also suitable for use on induction hobs and in the oven up to 220C, while the pouring lids offer simple serving without risk of spillages. Available from: Amazon (£179.99) Tower (£179.99) – save 30% with code GOODFOOD30 Very (£180) Good Food in partnership with Tower 5-piece cookware set Available from Amazon (£249.99), Tower (£249.99) – save 30% with code GOODFOOD30 Comprising everything you need to cook classic weekday meals, Sunday roasts, or speedy lunchtime recipes, the Good Food five-piece saucepan set is the ideal piece of kitchen kit to have in your arsenal. Created in partnership with Tower, the set includes two frying pans (20cm and 28cm) and three saucepans (16cm, 18cm, and 20cm), each of which is crafted with 3.5mm forged hard-anodised aluminium and a ceramic non-stick coating. All of the pans can also be used in the oven up to 220C, are induction compatible, and like the other sets in this list, have earned our Tried, Tested and Trusted seal of approval. Available from: Amazon (£249.99) Tower (£249.99) – save 30% with code GOODFOOD30 Good Food in partnership with Tower TriPly 3-piece saucepan set Available from Amazon (£124.99), Tower (£124.99) Every kitchen needs a quality pan set. The Good Food Tri-Ply three-piece saucepan set, in collaboration with Tower, includes 16cm, 18cm and 20cm saucepans, each with a tempered glass lid featuring steam vents and two sizes of straining holes for easy, spill-free serving. Made from 2.5mm tri-ply stainless steel with an aluminium core, these pans offer excellent heat retention and durability. Oven safe up to 220C and suitable for all hob types, including induction, this set is designed to work seamlessly with our extensive library of recipes. Plus, it's dishwasher safe for hassle-free cleaning. Available from: Amazon (£124.99) Tower (£124.99) Good Food in partnership with Tower Tri-Ply 5-piece cookware set Available from Amazon (£189.99), Tower (£189.99) The Good Food five-piece Tri-Ply cookware set, in partnership with Tower, brings versatility and durability to your kitchen. The set includes 16cm, 18cm and 20cm saucepans with tempered glass lids, along with 20cm and 28cm frying pans, providing everything you need for everyday cooking. Crafted from 2.5mm tri-ply stainless steel with an aluminium core, these pans ensure even heat distribution. The superior ceramic non-stick coating means you’re able to cook with less oil. With a sleek satin interior and mirror finish exterior, this set is oven safe up to 220C and compatible with all hob types, including induction. Available from: Amazon (£189.99) Tower (£189.99) How to choose the best pan set There’s a lot to consider before choosing a pan set. If you’re starting out, a three-pot set will give you everything you need to cook most meals. All your hob needs for a Sunday roast are covered – there will be a pan for potatoes, vegetables and gravy. As with any equipment you use daily, buy the best you can afford. A thin aluminium set with plastic knobs may be binned in a few months, but higher-grade stainless steel pans will last and save you money in the long run. If you’re a seasoned cook, consider what gets used most in your kitchen (we all have our favourites) and look for a set that incorporates that style of pan in its wider range, if not already included in the box. You should also think about how much room you have to store pans. A heavy base is crucial for distributing heat efficiently. Consider the lining – we all love non-stick properties but some need to be oil-seasoned every month and may not be suitable to go in the dishwasher. Well-fitting lids are important, too, as are comfortable handles. In terms of size, ask yourself if that giant casserole is going to languish on the shelf, or whether you really need a tiny milk pan. A number of the sets on this list form part of a wider collection of pans, like frying pans and sauté pans, meaning you can add to your set later on. Stick to the basics, with at least two 16-20cm pans, and you can grow your kitchen collection from there. What to look out for when choosing a pan set The majority of the pan sets we’ve tested include three different sized saucepans. Some sets also come with a frying pan and milk pan, while others also come have sauté pans. Consider what you need and what you already have – you don't want to buy a set with a frying pan if you already have a much-loved one in your kitchen. Weight: depending on the material used, the pans can get very weighty when full. Look for lug-handles for extra support. At the other end of the spectrum, a lightweight pan isn’t necessarily a good thing; they tend to be unbalanced on the hob and can be easily knocked. Hob suitability: choose a set that’s suitable for your hob. Ideally choose one suitable for all hob types, so there’s no risk of the set becoming redundant if you move from gas or electric to induction. Oven-proof: a pan that can go from hob to oven offers added versatility. It's simpler to cook dishes like oven-baked risotto, that start on the hob and move to the oven, in a pan that can do both, and there’s less to wash up after. Check the maximum temperature the pan is ovenproof to – anything above 180C is ideal. Easy to clean: in an ideal world, pans would always be washed by hand, but we’re all busy and it’s uber convenient to be able to pop the pans in a dishwasher once you’ve finished cooking. Always check whether the pans are dishwasher-safe before washing. More pan reviews and related content Best non-stick frying pans Best cast iron skillet pans Best pancake pans Best griddle pans Best sauté pans Best paella pans Best woks Best casserole dishes Best stainless-steel frying pan Always pan: First-look review Smeg cookware range: First-look review How to store pans How to care for non-stick cookware Is Our Place worth it? Best eco dishwasher tablets Best stainless steel frying pans More appliance reviews Best air fryers Best stand mixers Best food processors Best multi-cookers Best bean-to-cup coffee machines Best coffee pod machines Best espresso machines Best ice cream makers More deals Air fryer deals Microwave deals Dishwasher deals Pizza oven deals If you have any questions, suggestions for future reviews or spot anything that has changed in price or availability please get in touch at goodfoodwebsite@immediate.co.uk.