Best Loaf Pan for Banana Bread
The best loaf pans for banana bread are those that will cook your baked goods evenly and release them easily. The pans should be made of heavy-duty materials.
From our loaf pan reviews, it is clear that the Wilton Recipe Right Bread Loaf Baking Pan is the top choice. This pan has a non-stick coating that ensures the bread does not stick on it when baked. Moreover, it has a wide lip that makes it easy to rotate. Finally, the loaf pan comes at an affordable price.
If you like to bake meatloaf or bread at home, you need a good-quality loaf pan. Generally, the best loaf pans measure 9 x 5 x 2.5 inches. However, the exact dimensions of the pans will vary, depending on the manufacturer or brand.
Since the goods you will be baking (cakes, breads, etc.) are so thick, it is important that the loaf pan you use cooks slowly and evenly to prevent burning.
Ideally, you should choose a loaf pan that is made from glass, aluminized steel or stainless steel. All these materials bake slowly. If you prefer a loaf pan with a lighter exterior, get one with a lighter color.
If you are concerned about how your bread will end up looking, check the size of the loaf pan you use as well as the amount of flour recommended in the recipe. Most of the time, you will have to do some trial-and-error sessions before you finally get the shape right.
However, generally, you should use a pan measuring 8.5 x 4.5 inches for a recipe that requires three or less cups of flour. Recipes that require 3.5 cups of flour should be baked in a pan measuring 8.5 x 4.5 inches or 9 x 5 inches. Recipes that require 3.75 cups or more of flour would be best prepared in a loaf pan measuring 9 x 5 inches. Finally, for recipes that require four or more cups, you should use a pan de mie pan, which is also known as a Pullman loaf pan.
Best Loaf Pan for Banana Bread
In this review of the best loaf pans for banana bread, we considered the features of the pans, versatility, durability and performance.
Below are our top picks for the best loaf pans for making banana bread.
| Loaf Pan | Weight | Dimension | Review |
|---|---|---|---|
 | 9.6 ounces | 8.5 x 4.5 x 2.5 inches (and other sizes) | |
 USA Pan Bakeware Aluminized Steel Loaf Pan | 1.05 pounds | 5 x 4.5 x 2.75 inches (and other sizes) | |
 Pyrex 1.5-Quart Clear Basics Glass Loaf Pan | 2.6 pounds | 8.25 x 4.5 x 2.5 inches | |
 Farberware Nonstick Bakeware Bread and Meat Loaf Pan | 1 pound | 9 x 5 x 3 inches |
Best Loaf Pan Overall – Wilton
The Wilton Recipe Right Bread Loaf Baking pan is a cheap, non-stick loaf pan. The pan is made of stainless steel and is, therefore, durable. The metallic body is covered by a non-stick coating to ensure your banana bread does not stick when baked and for easy cleaning.
The most popular Wilton loaf pan measures 8.5 x 4.5 x 2.5 inches. However, the pan is also available in other sixes, including 5.25 x 3 x 2.125 inches and 9.25 x 5.25 x 2.75 inches.
The Wilton pan is dishwasher safer. However, it is advisable to wash them by hand to increase their lifespan.
Wilton loaf pans come with a five-year warranty.
Why We Love It
The Wilton Recipe Right Bread Loaf Baking Pan is easy to grip and offers excellent value in terms of price. The pan bakes gorgeous golden loaves of bread. The baked bread does not stick on the pan and cleaning is a breeze. Finally, the pan lip allows for easy rotation.
What Could be Improved
However, the pan feels a little bit flimsy and the handles are not large enough to prove their usefulness.
Best Aluminized Steel Loaf Pan – USA Pan
The USA Pan Bakeware Aluminized Steel Loaf Pan is made of durable materials that promote even cooking. The material is also easy to clean.
The USA Loaf Pan has two features that contribute to its non-stickiness. To begin, the pan is made of corrugated aluminized steel. The ridges on the pan make baked goods release easily. Moreover, they add to the durability and integrity of the pan and allow better airflow between the pan and the goods during baking.
The top and bottom of the USA Pan are covered by a layer of Americoat. This is an eco-friendly, PTFE- and PFOA-free silicone coating that has unrivaled non-stick properties.
The loaf pan is available in three sizes:
- 5 x 4.5 x 2.75 inches (for making 1-pound loaves)
- 9 x 5 x 2.75 inches (for making 1- to ¼ -pound loaves)
- 10x 5 x 2.75 inches (for making 1- ½ – pound loaves)
USA Loaf Pans are made in Pittsburgh, PA and are sold with a lifetime warranty.
Why We Love It
The USA Bakeware Aluminized Steel Loaf Pan is an excellent appliance for baking tall cakes and breads. The pan features heavy-duty construction and bakes evenly-browned breads. The baked goods pop out easily and look tall rather than vertical. To use the pan, you only need to wipe it with a damp paper towel before adding the dough. There is no need to use any oil.
You can use the 1-pound loaf pan for dough with 2 cups of flour or less, the 1- ¼-pound loaf pan for recipes that require 3 to 4 cups of flour, and the 1- ½ pan for any recipe requiring more than 4 cups of flour.
The USA Loaf Pan bakes goods without any trouble, browns them evenly and is easy to clean.
What Could Have Been Improved
The USA Bakeware Loaf Pan does not come with any handles. We would prefer it to have some handles to easy holding.
Best Glass Loaf Pan – Pyrex
The Pyrex loaf pan features a see-through glass construction and is an excellent solution for anyone that prefers to see how the baking process is going on.
The Pyrex 1.5-Quart Clear Basics Glass Loaf Pan is not the most durable loaf pan, given the use of glass for its construction. Moreover, it does not cook as quickly as its metal counterparts. However, you can see how your bread is being baked without having to remove the appliance from the oven.
The Pyrex Loaf Pan is made of soda lime glass and has handles for easy manoeuvrability. The dimensions of this pan are approximately 8.25 x 4.5 x 2.5 inches. The appliance is oven-, microwave-, freezer- and dishwasher-safe. However, you should avoid putting it inside a preheated oven as it could experience “thermal shock” and burst into pieces.
One of the benefits of the material used to make the loaf pan is that it is stain-free and resistant to odors.
Why We Love It
The Pyrex 1.5-Quart Clear Basics Glass Loaf Pan distributes heat inside your baking goods evenly. Since it’s made of glass, the pan allows you to see the bottom of the loaf while it is still baking to determine whether it is ready or not.
The Pyrex Loaf Pan is durable and can withstand being bumped against a sink. Moreover, it cooks beautiful bread and casseroles.
We recommend greasing the pan before adding ingredients because items tend to stick to it.
What Could Have Been Improved
The Pyrex Loaf Pan is quite heavy than most of the best loaf pans on the market. Moreover, the pan is not indestructible like the company claims it to be. Some people have reported that their pans started chipping after some time.
Best Loaf Pan With Handles – Farberware
The Farberware Nonstick Bakeware Bread and Meat Loaf Pan cooks food evenly and is easy to grab. This pan comes with wide handles for easy manoeuvrability when you are wearing thick oven mitts. The handles are not too wide and, therefore, will not make storage an issue.
The Farberware loaf pan measures 9 x 5 x 3 inches and can take oven temperatures of up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit. This appliance is made from heavy-duty steel and has a rolled rim, which helps to prevent warping and ensures its durability.
While the loaf pan is dishwasher safe, the manufacturer recommends handwashing.
Why We Love It
The Farberware Nonstick Bakeware Bread and Meat Loaf Pan is larger than other loaf pans. While most brands’ loaf pan measurements tend to go to the outer edges, Farberware’s appears to use the inner edge. This pan is sturdy and its silicone-coated handles are easy to grip, it is warp-resistant and cooks bread and other goods evenly.
We recommend spraying the pan before adding your dough. Apart from this, consider using non-metal utensils to protect the nonstick coating.
What Could Have Been Improved
The sides of the pan flare out wide, making your loaf come out in an odd shape. Moreover, the non-stick coating is not always effective.
Which is the Best Banana Bread Loaf Pan?
From our loaf pan reviews above, it is clear that the Wilton Recipe Right Bread Loaf Baking Pan is the top choice. This pan has a non-stick coating that ensures the bread does not stick on it when baked. Moreover, it has a wide lip that makes it easy to rotate. Finally, the loaf pan comes at an affordable price.
