Pizza enthusiasts, rejoice! This festive season, elevate your homemade pizza game with the best deep dish pizza pans on the market.
Whether you're a fan of Chicago-style, Detroit-style, or Sicilian-style pizzas, having the right pan can make all the difference. In this guide, we’ll break down the best options available, highlight what makes them special, and provide tips for selecting the perfect pan. Let’s dive into the world of crusts, toppings, and deep-dish perfection.
Why Deep Dish Pizza Deserves a Special Pan
Pizza may have originated in Italy, but the United States has turned it into a culinary art form, with each region offering unique styles. Deep dish pizzas, with their thick crusts and hearty toppings, are among the most beloved variations. Whether it's the cheesy, crispy edges of Detroit style, the savory, pie-like layers of Chicago style, or the focaccia-inspired Sicilian style, these pizzas require specialized pans to achieve perfection.
While you can use cake pans or sheet pans in a pinch, dedicated deep dish pizza pans are designed with the ideal shape, material, and coating to enhance heat conduction, create crispy crusts, and ensure easy release.
Top Picks for Deep Dish Pizza Pans
1. Detroit-Style Deep Dish Pan
- Winner: LloydPans Kitchenware 10- by 14-Inch Detroit-Style Pizza Pan
- Price: ~$39-$41
- Material: Hard-anodized aluminum with a nonstick coating
- Features: Sharp right angles for crispy edges, spacious size for perfect dough thickness
Why It’s the Best:
The LloydPans Detroit-Style Pizza Pan is the go-to choice for creating authentic Detroit-style pizza at home. Its dark, nonstick coating ensures even heat distribution, giving the crust a golden-brown, crispy texture while the interior remains chewy and airy. Plus, the nonstick surface allows the pizza to slide out effortlessly, even when cheese caramelizes in the corners.
Care Tip: Avoid metal utensils to prevent scratches on the nonstick coating. Hand-wash for longevity.
Related: Top Kitchen Gadgets You Need for Cozy Fall and Winter Meals
2. Sicilian-Style Deep Dish Pan
- Winner: LloydPans 12x12x1.5-Inch Sicilian Style Pizza Pan
- Price: ~$40
- Material: Coated aluminum
Features: Rolled edges for easy handling, evenly baked crust
Why It’s the Best:
This square-shaped pan is a must-have for making Sicilian-style pizza with its soft, focaccia-like crust and crispy bottom. Its nonstick surface ensures hassle-free cleanup, and the rolled edges provide better grip, making it easier to handle even with oven mitts.
Bonus Use: The 12x12 size is versatile enough for baking dinner rolls or cakes, making it a multi-functional addition to your kitchen.
3. Chicago-Style Deep Dish Pan
- Winner: LloydPans Deep Dish Pizza Pan
- Price: $36-$40
- Material: Coated Aluminum
- Features: Extra-tall sides for layering toppings, wide size range
Why It’s the Best:
The LloydPans Chicago-Style Deep Dish Pizza Pan boasts high, straight sides—ideal for creating the thick, pie-like layers of cheese, sauce, and toppings synonymous with this style. The pan’s dark coating ensures even baking, and its design allows for easy removal of even the thickest pizzas without sticking.
Sizes: Available in a variety of diameters (6–16 inches), making it perfect for everything from personal pies to family feasts.
4. Best Ceramic Option for Chicago-Style Pizza
- Winner: Emile Henry French Ceramic Deep Dish Pizza Pan
- Price: ~$77-$78
- Material: French ceramic
- Features: Elegant design, oven-to-table presentation
Why It’s the Best:
For those seeking a stylish yet functional option, the Emile Henry pan delivers. Its ceramic construction retains heat well, resulting in uniformly golden crusts. With convenient handles, it’s easy to move from oven to table. While not as deep as traditional Chicago-style pans, it excels as a versatile baking dish for other savory or sweet creations.
Dishwasher Safe: Unlike most metal pans, this ceramic option is dishwasher-friendly, making cleanup a breeze.
Testing the Best Deep Dish Pizza Pans
To determine the top contenders, each pan was put to the test across three pizza styles:
Detroit-Style Test:
- Aimed for crispy, cheesy edges and chewy interiors.
- Result: The LloydPans 10x14 Detroit pan delivered flawless results with a uniformly crispy crust.
Sicilian-Style Test:
- Evaluated for soft, focaccia-like dough and evenly cooked crust.
- Result: The LloydPans Sicilian pan baked evenly with no hot spots or burnt edges.
Chicago-Style Test:
- Checked for flaky, buttery crusts and layered fillings.
- Result: The LloydPans Chicago pan excelled with its tall sides and dark-coated surface.
Cleanup and Usability:
- Nonstick coatings on LloydPans ensured minimal effort during cleanup.
- Ceramic Emile Henry pan was easy to clean and offered aesthetic appeal.
Why LloydPans Stands Out
LloydPans are the industry standard for a reason. Known for their durability, excellent heat conduction, and nonstick surfaces, these pans are favored by both professionals and home cooks. Their anodized aluminum construction absorbs and distributes heat evenly, ensuring consistent results every time. Moreover, their tall sides make them ideal for deep-dish pizzas of all kinds.
What to Look for in a Deep Dish Pizza Pan
When selecting a deep-dish pizza pan, consider the following:
- Material: Dark metals like carbon steel or anodized aluminum conduct heat efficiently, essential for crispy crusts.
- Nonstick Coating: A good nonstick surface ensures easy release and eliminates the need for excessive oil or scrubbing.
- Height: Tall sides (2.5 inches or more) are crucial for Chicago-style pies, while slightly shorter sides work well for Sicilian or Detroit styles.
- Size: Choose dimensions that suit your preferred pizza style. Rectangular pans are ideal for Detroit and Sicilian pizzas, while round pans suit Chicago-style.
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How To Perfect The Deep Dish Pizza?
What is Detroit-style pizza?
Detroit-style pizza features a rectangular shape, crispy cheese edges, and a dough that fries in olive oil. Toppings go directly on the dough, followed by cheese and sauce.
What is Chicago-style pizza?
This deep-dish classic is baked in a round pan with high sides, allowing for layered fillings of cheese, toppings, and sauce. Its buttery crust is thick and flaky.
What is Sicilian Pizza?
Sicilian pizza has a thick, focaccia-like crust and is baked in a square or rectangular pan. It’s topped with tomato sauce, cheese, and sometimes breadcrumbs or hard cheese.
Honorable Mentions
- Winco Rectangular Sicilian Pizza Pan: While affordable, its thin construction led to uneven baking and hot spots.
- Ooni Detroit-Style Pizza Pan: Great for smaller pizzas, but its size limited its versatility.
Related: Bake Like a Pro: Essential Tools Every Home Cook Should Own
A Holiday Worthy of Deep Dish Perfection
This Christmas, give the gift of authentic, homemade deep-dish pizza by investing in a high-quality pizza pan. Whether you’re craving the cheesy edges of Detroit style, the layered decadence of Chicago style, or the focaccia-inspired Sicilian style, the right pan will elevate your baking experience. LloydPans reigns supreme, offering unparalleled performance and durability, while the Emile Henry ceramic pan adds elegance to your kitchen.
Whichever style you choose, remember:that great pizza starts with great tools. Let your culinary creativity shine this festive season!
