If you are making a deep-dish pizza, then choosing the right pizza pan is crucial. Here are some best deep dish pizza pans that help you make the best Chicago deep-dish pizza.
I love deep dish pizzas and I have made some really thick pizzas at home, so here are the 7 best deep-dish pizza pans you can use.
You have to use a deep dish pan for a Chicago deep-dish pizza and you cannot use a usual pizza screen because of the layers of toppings on this pizza.
You get to put a lot of the toppings that you love on the pizza to make it even tastier.
Deep-dish pizza was made popular in Chicago and it is famous for the slightly thicker crust that holds a large amount of topping that is layered specifically so it does not burn from the heat.
The perfect blend of a nice dough, pizza sauce, and mozzarella cheese along with pepperoni and veggies makes the best deep dish pizza.
There are also other kinds of pizzas using deep dish pans to put more on the pie.
It is easier than you think as you only need to cook the pizzas just like any other pizzas.
Although they take longer to cook because of the pile of ingredients on the crust, you can still get that crispy result on the crust.
That is if you use a proper pizza pan that cooks the bottom part properly.
So with this list, we will be looking at the best pizza pans on the market that you can use to cook deep-dish pizzas at home and put your favorite toppings on the recipe.
Best Deep Dish Pizza Pans
1. LloydPans 12×2.5 Chicago Style
This pizza pan is the standard of most pizza pans when cooking deep-dish pizzas. It is durable so you can use it as a commercial deep dish pizza pan.
It has just the right height and is also large enough to cook 12-inch pizzas easily in the pizza oven. So, you can use this 12-inch deep-dish pan and it has great heat retention.
Pros
- It has aluminum which means it absorbs heat quicker than stainless steel.
- It can make the crust crispy because of the heat that it gathers from the oven.
- It is also good for proofing dough or letting the dough rise before cooking.
Cons
- It does not have any handles so you need to use gloves when carrying it.
This pizza pan is perfect for cooking 12-inch pizzas with its thick high-grade aluminum build.
It heats up quickly and will cook the pizza evenly once it is heated properly.
This aluminum pan does not need to be pre-seasoned as the company does that for you. You can even season it just like one would season a pizza stone just to be on the safer side of things.
It easily gives your pizza the right platform to cook and will not stick on the pan.
2. Chicago Metallic Deep Dish Pizza Pan
This product from the Chicago Metallic Store emphasizes the crispiness of your crust with the heat that the pan collects. It heats up quickly and will cook the pizzas perfectly.
If you are looking for a 14-inch deep-dish pizza pan that would make large Chicago deep-dish pizza for your family then go for this one.
I have a 14-inch pan and it is the best thing because I can make larger pizzas at one go. It saves time and I don’t need to make two small ones rather I use this pizza pan to make a larger deep dish pizza.
You can use this as a commercial deep-dish pizza pan as it seems durable and has good heat retention.
Pros
- It has heavy-duty carbon steel which means that it does not rust or corrode.
- It can resist high temperatures and does not break with sudden temperature changes.
- You do not have to deal with residuals as it is really easy to clean.
Cons
- It does not have handles and it also struggles with too much moisture.
This pizza pan made from high-quality carbon steel is perfect for pizzas.
It has a non-stick material coating which means that you can easily release the pizza once cooked.
It is also non-porous which means that you can easily clean it by wiping off the food residuals.
This, however, makes it difficult for the moisture under the dough to escape.
3. Chicago Metallic Professional Perforated Mini-Deep Dish Pizza Pan Set
Another product from the Chicago Metallic Store and is sold in sets. This is a stainless steel deep dish pizza pan which means it has great heat retention.
This pan makes sure that the pizza is crispy when done as it removes all the unnecessary moisture.
Now, these pans are small and you can make 7-inch deep-dish pizza in them but you can cook two deep-dish pizza pans at one go.
I like the fact that this deep-dish pizza pan set has a perforated base which means that the bottom gets cooked well because of the heat going through the perforation present at the bottom of the pan.
Pros
- The pans are perforated which means that there is an escape route for the moisture in the pizza.
- Made with stainless steel which means that it will last for a very long time.
- It is also dishwasher safe so there is no hassle when cleaning it.
Cons
- The pans are a little too small to cook a pizza enough for 4 people.
The perforated pizza pan set from Chicago Metallic Store is perfect for making pizzas with the kids.
It cooks the pizza perfectly and even makes some good charring on the crust.
The rolled rims on the pans are good for durability and I tested them on long baking periods to prove that.
It is dishwasher safe but you still need to hand wash them to clean the holes.
4. Chef Pomodoro Detroit Style Pizza Pan
This pizza pan is a little unique especially when it comes to its shape. This is a Detroit deep dish pizza pan that you can use to make Detroit-style pizzas.
It is rectangular, which is perfect for your Sicilian pizzas and I like that it is big so if you want to make larger pizzas you can do it with this deep-dish pizza pan.
This is a 14X10 inch pizza pan and you can try making Chicago-style pizza in this but it would be rectangular instead of circular.
I think I would like to try a rectangular Chicago-style deep dish pizza on this aluminum deep-dish pizza pan.
Pros
- It is a large pan that will cook pizzas for up to 6 people at once.
- It is aluminum which means that it is durable and it absorbs heat efficiently.
- It is lightweight and will not be hard to manage in the oven.
Cons
- It does not have a handle and the sloping edges do not help when carrying it.
This pizza pan can cook authentic Detroit-style pizza with its rectangular shape.
The anodized aluminum build not only makes sure that it is durable but also conducts heat well.
It is preseasoned and it has a developed non-stick coating which means that the pizza will release easily.
The thin aluminum also helps a lot in making golden-brown pizza crusts.
5. Chef Pomodoro Chicago Deep Dish Pizza Pan
Another product from Chef Pomodoro holds the standards of what a true pizza pan should be.
This deep-dish pan is not only aesthetically pleasing but is also able to make perfect pizzas.
Pros
- It has anodized aluminum for maximum durability and heat conduction.
- It has a decent size that can cook a meal for a small family or a small group of people.
- It is perfect for other recipes as well so you can use it with your baked goods.
Cons
- There are concerns that the pizza dough sticks to the pizza pan too often.
This pizza pan is perfect for making that beautiful golden-brown finish on your pizza crusts.
It absorbs a lot of heat which means that it can help cook the pizza quickly.
You can also use this pizza pan with cookies, cakes, bread, cinnamon rolls, and other baked goods as it has the perfect surface and heat conduction for baking many types of food.
6. LloydPans Kitchenware 14” Perforated Hard-Anodized Deep Dish Pan
This is another product from LloydPans that you can use to cook pizzas with. This is a 14-inch perforated deep dish pizza pan and is ideal to cook Chicago deep-dish pizza.
This pan has a perforation at the bottom that helps you get a nice crispy base while the toppings cook through the layers of the pizza along with the melted cheese on top.
This is a better option than the first one on the list because of its perforated cooking surface.
You can make larger pizzas with this one and if you are looking for aluminum perforated deep-dish pizza pans then this is your perfect fit.
Pros
- It is a large pizza pan that can cook 14-inch pizzas for small parties and gatherings.
- It has a permanent non-stick coating to release the pizza easily.
- It can also heat up to help cook the pizza quicker and with a crispier result.
Cons
- Reviews say that the non-stick coating can fall off easily.
This pizza pan ensures a golden-brown color on your crust and a crispy texture.
It is made possible by the holes that lift to make sure that the dough does not stick to it.
There is no pre-seasoning needed nor do you need to coat it as it has a permanent non-stick coating.
It even gets better after several uses as the non-stick coat develops further.
7. Wilton Excelle Elite Non-stick Springform Pan
This pan is perfect for your deep-dish pizzas with its high edges and textured bottom part. If you are looking for a deep-dish pizza pan with removable bottom then this one is an excellent option.
For a beginner, a deep-dish pizza pan with removable bottom is the best pizza pan as you do not have to remove the pizza from the pan and simply remove the sides and you are good.
I have similar pans and I sometimes use them when I’m not sure about the deep dish pizza recipes, so basically when I try new Chicago deep-dish pizza recipes, I prefer to go with these pans.
You can even cook other recipes in this deep-dish pizza pan with its large capacity.
Pros
- Made with alloy steel to give it durability and heat conduction for cooking pizzas perfectly.
- It can cook baked goods such as cookies, cakes, bread, and many more.
- It is dishwasher safe but I do recommend washing it by hand.
Cons
- It is pretty small and can only cook 10.5-inch pizzas
Cook the best pizzas with the crispiest crust with this pizza pan.
The bottom of the pan is textured which means that it has space for moisture to escape and make the crust crispy.
The pizza pan is durable as it has alloy steel.
This material also does a good job of absorbing heat quickly so you do not have to preheat it in the oven for too long.
What Kind Of Pan Is Best For Deep Dish Pizza?
You can choose from any of the ones listed above.
However, if I were to choose, I would go with perforated pizza pans or pans that have holes or textures at the bottom.
The perforations on the pan allow the heat to enter it and a two-way street where it releases all the unnecessary moisture from the pizza you are cooking.
I have observed that deep-dish pizzas become crispier when cooking with perforated pans.
This means that the pizza heats up quickly and releases the moisture from the dough.
You also have various options when it comes to the different Pan materials.
You have carbon steel, stainless steel, aluminum steel, and cast iron pans.
There are different advantages to each and it really depends on how you want to use your pan and all of them pretty much have similar results, although I would choose steel, aluminum, and cast iron pans.
Perforated Pizza Pans are Better Or Non Perforated Pizza Pans?
A pizza pan without holes does not distribute heat as quickly as perforated pizza pans.
That means that you need to wait for it to heap up to cook the crispy crusts on your pizza.
On the other hand, perforated pizza pans can allow heat to enter from the bottom to cook the dough.
So if you want crispy results on the crust, then a perforated pizza pan is the better choice.
If you love soft and chewy pizza crusts, then pizza pans with no holes will do the job for you.
Although, if you are seasoning your pan well, then you might actually be able to achieve pretty good results with both.
We have discussed more on how to season pans in the next few sections of this post.
Seasoning of the pans can really make the difference hence we recommend using good quality pans as they would last a long time.
Seasoning a pan means you are putting it through a lot of heat abuse but the results are definitely worth it.
Do You Need A Special Pan For Deep Dish Pizza?
There are no special requirements for a pizza pan when making deep-dish pizza.
You can use the pans for baking cakes as long as the oven heats up quickly and reaches high temperatures.
I have used my cake tin and made some amazing deep-dish pizzas in them.
I wanted something larger and hence got a larger pan specifically for making pizzas.
Also, I wanted to season my pan which I could do when I had a separate pan to cook deep dish pizzas.
I have a family of four and when I cook for them, I usually get the larger deep-dish pizza pan because there are some who take more than two slices.
Make sure you use an ample amount of butter to grease the pan so that the crust comes out crispy, delicious, and buttery and it is even easier to remove the pizza from the tin.
With that said, a deep-dish pizza pan should have a high heat conduction property.
This is because you need it to heat a lot to cook the crust and prevent it from becoming soggy.
Stainless steel pizza pans do well with absorbing heat but I would suggest aluminum-based pizza pans as they conduct heat better than steel.
Also, remember lighter-colored pans do not burn the crust as often as the darker-colored pans.
How Do You Season A Deep Dish Pizza Pan?
Pizza pans are usually not that big so it is easy to season them. If you are a first timer then you should read this small guide on how to season a deep dish pizza pan so you do it right.
I usually season all of my pizza pans even if they say it is preseasoned just to be on the safer side of things.
First, wash them thoroughly with soap and rinse with water to remove any contaminants on the pan’s surface.
Allow them to dry and then place them in the oven at 450 degrees Fahrenheit for at least 1 minute.
As it heats up, remove it from the oven and then use a brush to coat the inside with oil.
You can use any type of oil you want but make sure that it has a high smoke point.
Place the oiled pizza pan back into the oven for another 20 minutes to make the oil stick to it.
Once this is done, you need to then take out your fan and it should have a golden finish to it.
You never wash a seasoned pan, ever. When you cook your pizza next time, just use this pan with a little oil at the bottom and cook it.
Also, for seasoning your deep dish pizza pan, you can use salad oil, corn oil, soyabean oil, and even canola oil.
If you want to clean your seasoned pan, you need to heat it up in the oven for 20 minutes and then take it out and wipe it with a clean cloth.
That’s it.
How Deep Is A Deep Dish Pizza Pan?
The thing about deep-dish pizza pans is that they do not need to be too deep. You have pizza pans that are 10 inch, 12 inches, 14-inch deep-dish pizza pans but these are the sizes of the pizza in terms of diameter.
The thickness of the pan can also vary and if you want a thick pan then make sure you check the dimensions before buying a pizza pan.
They are only lifted on the edges so that your pizza can hold more toppings than usual.
If your pan is too deep, you will have a hard time getting the pizza out of it.
The usual height for a deep-dish pizza pan is around 1 and a half inches to two inches.
There are pizza pans that can reach up to 3 inches but they rarely go higher than that.
It depends on how you are planning to layer your pizza. If you want a pizza with multiple layers then you can definitely go with higher pizza pans.
But if you want a pizza pan for a deep-dish pizza with fewer layers then you are going to like the one with an inch height but if you want to layer it up with veggies and meat then go for a pan higher.
You can always buy a pan that is higher since you can use it to make deep dish pizzas that are high or not so high.
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