A 9 x 13 Baking Pan is a great all purpose baking pan. You can make lasagna, casseroles, pasta, gratin and more. If you intend to use a oven on a daily basis, a 9 x 13 Baking Pan is a necessity. However, there are quite a bit of variation on the market. Its ranges from glass, to nonstick to bare aluminum. They all have their advantages and disadvantages, what you choose should really depend on your need.

Best 9 x 13 Baking Pan List

Below you will find a list of some of the Best 9 x 13 Baking Pan on the market. It ranges from glass to metal. I have arranged the list based on material.

USA Pan Bakeware Rectangular Cake Pan (Best Overall)

USA Pan is one of the best bake ware on the market. It has a corrugated nonstick finish that is one of the most durable on the market. Since it uses aluminum, its one of the conductor of heat on the market. If you plan on making brownies or other food that needs a crust, this is the way to go. You wont be disappointing by its performances.

OXO Good Grips Freezer-to-Oven Safe 3 Qt Glass Baking Dish with Lid (Best Glass Option)

If you are looking for a Glass 9 x 13 baking dish, oxo is the best choices. They use borosilicate glass as its material. Borosilicate glass are the best glass for baking. They avoid thermal shock unlike the lime glass used by other manufacturer. At the sides there are very wide so that you can get a firm grip. It also comes with a convenient lid. Great for storing left overs and protecting it from containment.

Nordic Ware Natural Aluminum Commercial Cake Pan with Lid (Best Metal with Lid)

If you want a aluminum bake pan with a lid, nordic ware is the best choice in this category. Their pans resembles the type of pan professional baker use. It has no nonstick coating so you do not have to worry about it wearing down. This model is also made in usa for the best quality possible.

Emile Henry Made In France 9 x13 Large Rectangular Baker (Best Ceramic Option)

Emile Henry is the classic french bake ware. They have been crafting their bake ware since the 1850. You have a wide range of color choose from and they are the perfect oven to table bake ware. On the sides, there are easy to grab handle for transportation. However, they are vulnerable to thermal shock. If you intend to serve it on the table, be sure that you lay a cloth down.

What is a 9 x 13 Baking Pan?

The 9 x 13 is the dimension of the pan. It has the width and length of 9 inch by 13 inch. Its one of the most standard baking dish that you can find. The height will vary depending on the manufacturer. Since the height will vary, so will the volume. If you must get an accurate measure on the cups per pan, I recommend you input it in a calculator. However, most will hold approximately 3 quarts or 12 cups of volume.

How Pan Size Affect Baking Time?

Depending on the size of the pan and the type of food, baking time will vary. Why this occurs is due to the thickness of the food. Since heat needs to be conducted outward to inward, it takes time for it to permeate. If you have a baking pan that is really tall, you will need to bake food at a lower temperature at a longer time interval. Pans that are longer and more flat will require less baking time.

Bundt pans with a tube in the center has a much lower baking time. The center has a empty cavity for heat to travel through. Since the food will have more surface area, it bakes food a lot quicker. If you bake cheesecake in a tube type of pan, you need to reduce the overall baking time.

Is a Lid Important?

When baking, no its not important. However, if you intend on storing food in it, then yes. When you stick it in the fridge, this lets you stack food on top of another. You also dont have to waste syran wrap packing it.

Different Materials Available

One of the most commonly used material is glass. Its clear and you can watch the food cook. However, glass is a poor conductor of heat. They cant brown as well as the metal alternative. Another thing you should be aware of is that glass can shatter due to temperature shock. When a really hot glass object touch a cold surface, the sudden shift can cause it to crack. This is true for ceramic and stoneware bake ware product as well.

Metal baking pan comes in nonstick and bare aluminum. Both are better conductor of heat than glass. Metal pans will get a better crust than glass. If you want brownies with a good crust, then a metal pan is a better choice.

The nonstick pans are usually made of aluminum with a nonstick layer. That layer makes everything nonstick and in general easier to clean. As time goes on, the nonstick layer will ware down.

Aluminum pan is not nonstick but can be seasoned. If you ever see a pan from a professional bakery, its brown in color. Some think its dirty but its actually a layer of fat that makes it nonstick. Its very much like the seasoning that cast iron have.

Best 9 x 13 Baking Pan Thoughts

If you intend on baking, then a 9×13 baking pan is a must. There are quite a few options on the market. Each of them have their own quirks. I personally believe that the metal nonstick option are the most durable and best performing. However, I also see the allure of the ceramic and glass bake ware. They are beautiful to look at and great for on the table presentation. What you get really depends on your need.

Thinking about getting Emile Henry? Check out our review on Emile Henry Dutch Oven.