Every modem kitchen has a broiler and a roasting pan. The two have many similarities, but they are used in different areas. A broiler and a roasting pan also vary several differences you should know. We will look at each of them in detail to help you decide which one you need or whether you need both.
What Is A Broiler Pan?
A broiler pan is also known as a broiler roaster, oven broiling pan, or oven roaster. This cookware is commonly used for broiling different types of foods like poultry, streaks, and roasts. You can also use it for a wide range of fruits and vegetables.
A broiler pan features heavy steel gauge construction and porcelain enamel coating. A broiler pan consists of an upper cooking surface and another low-walled section. It is perfectly sized to suit different cooking.
Broiling pans are shallow compared to roasting pans, and their bases are slotted. Heat is distributed from the top of the oven when using a broiler pan.
What Is A Roasting Pan?
A roasting pan is larger, and it has high walls. It is oven-safe, and chefs use it for roasting food in a conventional or electric gas oven. A roasting pan is ideal for cooking large meat like turkey or if you need to cook your vegetables at high temperatures.
Quality roasting pans are made of strong materials like carbons steel, cast iron mad stainless steel. All these provide effective heat distribution. Additionally, you can use a roasting pan any time when preparing your favorite dishes.
Difference Between A Broiling & Roasting Pan
While the two cooking utensils look similar, they are different in some ways. The following are the major differences between a broiling pan and a roasting pan.
1. Uses:
The main difference between them is how they are used for cooking. You can use both to cook similar foods like seafood, poultry, meat, and vegetables. However, the outcome is different. If you need foods that baste using their juice, a roasting pan is better. Additionally, roasting pans provide juicy and more tender meat. Broiling pans are great if you want your meat to drain the excess fats.
2. Heat Distribution
Another difference is heat distribution. Use a broiler pan when you need to cook food under high temperatures because the heat comes from the top of your oven. On the other hand, roasting pans are made to cook food at high temperatures, but the heat comes from the bottom of the oven.
You should place a broiler pan in your oven and choose the broiler setting. This will enable the heat distribution to come from the top. When cooking with a roasting pan, you should set the oven temperature as you desire.
3. Design & Construction:
If you check the two cookware in detail, you will notice their construction and design is different. Broiler pans are shallower than roasting pans, and it also has two different parts. It has an upper and a lower pan. This provides rapid cooking and gives room for drippings from the food to go to the drip pan.
Contrary, roasting pans are made of a single dip. They feature metal racks that make it easy to elevate the meat. When comparing their depth, a roasting pan has a deeper depth than a broiler pan.
4. Materials
Both of them are made of similar materials. It could be anodized aluminum, stainless steel, or other materials like copper and cast iron. If you would like pans with nonstick capabilities, you can choose stainless steel. Most of them have a nonstick surface that ensures your food doesn’t stick. If you need a disposal roasting or broiler pan, you can choose one made of aluminum foil.
5. Price:
When buying a roasting or a broiler pan, you should be concerned about the price. Both types of pans are reasonably priced. The price difference is very slight on these pans. Roasting pans can start as low as #20 to $200. The broiler price ranges from $15 to $150.
6. Cleaning
You should also consider cleaning before buying a pan. Broiler pans are hard to clean than roasting pans because of fat deposition. Cleaning roasting pans is effortless because they are mainly dishwasher safe.
7. Dimensions:
Consider the dimensions of a pan before buying. Broiler pans and roasting pans are available in different shapes and sizes. The size of a roasting pan is about 8-9 inches, and its height goes up to 21 inches and more. A broiler pan size starts from 10-11 inches, and it also ranges like the roasting pan.
Frequently Asked Questions - FAQs
Q: Can you use a broiler pan as a roasting pan?
A: Yes, a broiler pan can be a better alternative to a roasting pan. However, the design of s broiler pan doesn’t include high sides like in a roasting pan, but it has a dripping rack.
Q: Is a broiler pan the same as a roasting pan?
A: A broiler pan is not the same as a roasting pan. Broiler pans have slotted bases, and they are shallower. On the other hand, roasting pans have a deeper size.
Q: What can I use instead of a broiler pan?
A: There are several broiler pan substitutes you can use. You can use roasting trays, cast iron skillets, cast iron sheets, roasting trays, aluminum foil trays, and baking sheets.
Q: Do I need a broiler pan?
A: Yes, you do. Most of them come with your oven, but you can also buy them separately. If you don’t want to use your broiler pan, you can use the above alternatives.
Conclusion
Before you decide if you need to buy a broiler pan or a roasting pan, it is great to check their features first. This will help you decide the most suitable for your cooking needs. Each has its specialty and uses. We have given you all the contrasting aspects of the two pans. I hope it will guide you to making the right choice.
Hello, This is Annie Walker, a 36-year-old blogger, founder, and editor of Cookware Guider from NY, USA. I am a cookware fanatic and passionate cooker. I love to cook with different types of cooking appliances (example: all types of cookware, rice cookers, slow cookers, etc) almost every day in my kitchen. I love to share my experience with my readers in my blog. Also, I enjoy helping people to solve their problems through my website. You can follow me on Twitter & Pinterest. To know details about my blog please check the about us page.