A roasting pan is a piece of cookware used for roasting meat in an oven, either with or without vegetables or other ingredients. It is designed to provide even heat distribution and allow the meat to roast and brown evenly. A roasting pan may be used with a rack that sits inside the pan and lets the meat sit above the fat and juice drippings. This promotes airflow for even cooking and allows the drippings to collect in the pan underneath, which can be used to make gravy or sauce. A shallow roasting pan is normally used for roasting small cuts of meat, but large-size roasting pans are also used for cooking large poultry such as turkey or goose, or for larger cuts of meat. A deep roasting pan can hold vegetables and other ingredients that meat can sit on rather than a rack, letting the vegetables absorb the fat and juice from the meat while cooking. A deep roasting pan can also be used as a baking dish or basin, holding smaller baking dishes that must be surrounded by boiling water.
Roasting pans are made in various materials that offer different benefits. Aluminum foil is inexpensive and disposable after one use. Stainless steel may have a non-stick coating. Coated enamelware has a non-stick surface and is easy to clean.
If you dont have a roasting pan, there are several alternatives you can use, such as a casserole dish, broiler pan, or foil roasting pan. However, one of the most definitive features of a roasting pan is its high walls, which are designed to capture the falling juices from cooking meat.
