On Saturday afternoon in Chelsea Market, bakery owner Carla Kim stacked rows of cookies onto a set of aluminum pans. The pans, she said, cost her less than $15 each. Kim and other bakers around the city point to these affordable baking sheets as a kitchen mainstay.
Recent tests by national food publications have confirmed what New York professionals suggest: simple, uncoated aluminum half-sheet pans outperform higher-priced options. The pans, often sold for $12 to $14 in local restaurant supply shops, heat evenly and resist warping at high temperatures.
In Gowanus, home baker Alex Rivera said she replaced her warped nonstick tray with one of the recommended models last week. "The difference was immediate," Rivera said. "Cookies finally bake evenly, and clean-up is easy."
Shop owners along Bowery report a steady demand from both restaurant buyers and home cooks in recent weeks. One staffer at JB Prince cited a spike in sales since early August, with many customers seeking the specific models highlighted in recent reviews.
With summer gatherings and baking projects peaking in August, the popularity of these basic pans is expected to continue. For many, the $15 investment has become a fixture in city kitchens.