Cooking Techniques Roasting 5 Tools You Can Use In Place of a Traditional Roasting Pan You don't need a $400 pan for the perfect roast. By Julia Heffelfinger Julia Heffelfinger Instagram Website Julia Heffelfinger is a cook, recipe developer, writer, editor, and food stylist. A native of Minnesota, Julia will talk your ear off about her love of her home state and buttered corn on the cob.Expertise: cooking, travel.Experience: After graduating from Wesleyan University, Julia Heffelfinger worked in production for several food-focused television shows, including Cake Boss and Next Great Baker. She attended the Institute of Culinary Education in New York City while working on the line at Daniel Boulud's fine dining Mediterranean restaurant, Boulud Sud. Julia assisted food columnist Melissa Clark at The New York Times before spending four years in the food department at Food & Wine. You can find her work in Food & Wine, Better Homes & Gardens, Condé Nast Traveler, Artful Living, Eater, My Fitness Pal, and Furthermore from Equinox. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines Updated on April 9, 2019 Share Tweet Pin Email A large roasting pan is an investment piece that makes cooking for holidays and large gatherings a little more special, but if you're tight on kitchen space, what do you do with it the rest of the year? Those equipment behemoths meant to roast a turkey are not something you can easily stash away in a small kitchen. Instead, consider one of these useful items that can tackle any of your roasting duties, plus a handful of other cooking tasks. From a durable skillet that costs less than $30 to a compact braiser that looks great on your stove-top, we're all for multipurpose kitchen equipment. These versatile kitchen items that can also be used for baking, broiling, and roasting your favorite meats and side dishes. Cast-Iron Skillet Courtesy of Amazon Every kitchen should have at least one well-seasoned cast iron skillet. Not only are they our go-to for searing steaks or cooking frittatas, but this oven-proof skillet is fantastic for roasting. It has the same thick walls and low sides as a roasting pan (and at a fraction of the cost). The thick cast iron conducts heat evenly and the low walls allow air to circulate, creating even browning. Start a thick piece of meat on the stove top, then pop the whole skillet right in the oven to finish cooking. Plus, a large 12-inch pan, like [tempo-ecommerce src="http://www.amazon.com/Lodge-Seasoned-Cast-Iron-Skillet/dp/B00006JSUB" rel="sponsored" target="_blank">pork loin stuffed with apples and pumpkin seeds. Lodge 12-inch Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet, Starting at $30 from amazon.com Rimmed Baking Sheet Courtesy of Amazon A rimmed baking sheet is thin, lightweight and so much easier to store than a roasting pan. It's also a kitchen essential that we reach for every day. If you're spatchcocking a turkey or roasting a whole fish, this should be your pan of choice. While you can roast meat right on the metal surface, we like to set a wire cooling rack (in place of a roasting rack) inside the baking sheet for recipes like this spatchcocked turkey with pink peppercorns and thyme to help air circulate around the meat. Nordicware Natural Aluminum Commercial Baker's Half Sheet (2 Pack), $20 from amazon.com 7 Essential Tools for Roasting Like a Pro Large Baking Dish Courtesy of Sur La Table A baking dish has a low-profile design that is ideal for roasting. Plus, the handles make it easy to hoist in and out of the oven. We love this oversized baking dish from Le Creuset because you can use it to make lasagna for a crowd or as an impromptu roaster for a Thanksgiving turkey. Because it's made of cast iron, it can also go straight on your stove top when you want to turn those drippings into gravy. Did we mention that the enameled surface also makes clean-up a breeze? Put this pan to the test with this Slow-Cooked Sweet-and-Sour Pork with Pineapple. Shred the meat right in the baking dish and bring straight to the table. Le Creuset 16-by-10-inch Signature Roaster, $250 from surlatable.com Braiser Courtesy of Williams-Sonoma For obvious reasons, everyone turns to a braiser for recipes that require more moisture like braised chicken thighs or stewed greens, but take off that lid and these heavy-duty pans are great for roasting. This chic braiser from Staub is made of enameled cast iron, which transfers and retains heat evenly throughout the bottom of the pan. It also has wide upturned handles, which make lifting it from the stove, to the oven to the table very easy. Try it out with this beef chuck roast rubbed with paprika and herbs, then carve the meat and use this pan as a serving dish. Staub 3 1/2-Quart Cast-Iron Braiser, $330 from williams-sonoma.com Bundt Pan Courtesy of Amazon A Bundt pan might be the most unusual choice for roasting instead of a pan with a rack, but it gives you a phenomenal roast chicken. Similar to beer can chicken, the cavity of the bird slips around the center column creating 360° of crispy skin. Fill the bowl of the Bundt with vegetables, aromatics, potatoes or bread cubes to soak up all of the delicious chicken drippings (and place a sheet pan under the Bundt to catch any rogue juices). F&W Mad Genius Justin Chapple shows us how it's done and gives you a recipe to try out for Bundt pan chicken. We like this durable Nordic Ware Bundt because it has wide handles, making it easy for you to take your chicken in and out of the oven. Nordic Ware 10-inch Bundt Pan, $29 from amazon.com Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit