This $15 OXO Pan Is My Go-To For Baking and Meal Prep (It Comes With a Lid for Easy Storage!)
Sweet treats help me get through the day, so naturally, baking is what I love to do most in my kitchen. Prior to this year, though, the counter space in my studio apartment was basically nonexistent, so a stand mixer was out of the question. I’ll admit it: Stirring ingredients by hand isn’t really my cup of tea, so I didn’t whip up my favorite baked goods nearly as much as I would’ve liked to. However, since snagging my trusty, secondhand KitchenAid mixer last year, I’ve been baking way more than I ever did before.
My point is that something as simple as having the right tools can make all the difference and it might even inspire you to spend more time in the kitchen like me. And if there’s one brand I know I can always go to for affordable and reliable tools, it’s OXO. Besides myself, tons of other Kitchn editors swear by OXO when it comes to everything from food storage containers to coffee makers. In my case, their Loaf Baking Dish has totally won me over. In fact, from now on, it’ll be the only pan I ever use for banana bread, lasagna, and more.
OXO Good Grips Glass Loaf Pan With Lid
What is the OXO Loaf Baking Dish?
Ideal for making breads, pound cake, meatloaf, and casseroles, this baking dish is no-frills, but it’s far from your typical loaf pan. The sturdy glass is built to withstand extreme temperature changes, meaning that it can go from the freezer to the fridge to the oven to microwave. Either side of the pan features a handle you can grab onto, so taking it out of the oven and even transporting it to someone else’s house is painless. With a 1.6-quart capacity and 6- by 10-inch size, it serves one or two people and takes up little space on your refrigerator counter. That brings me to the best part: When you want to save your leftovers, you can pop the airtight lid on top and the contents will stay fresh longer.
Why I Love the OXO Loaf Baking Dish
I put this dish to the test with banana bread, and it impressed me during every stage of the baking process. As expected, the glass turned out to be a bit hefty, and after greasing the inside with cooking spray and pouring the batter, it was a little bit more so. Still, it’s far from unwieldy, thanks to the easy-to-grab handles. They made it effortless to pull the dish out of the oven after I’d spent some time watching it brown evenly. (Another benefit of the glass? You’ll always know what you’re storing inside of it at just a glance.)
My banana bread came out just right — moist, soft, and light — and after cutting it into slices and cleanly removing a piece, I snapped the lid on and placed it right on my fridge shelf. I will say, since I’ve gone back to grab more, it takes a decent amount of force and prying to remove the lid. However, there’s no question that it’s absolutely airtight, and that makes the slight extra effort worth it to me. I don’t need to waste plastic wrap anymore, and I can stack other fridge items on top of it to save space. It’s a win-win.
Now, I have breakfast ready to go for the rest of the week, and once I’ve run out, I’m planning on trying my hand at meatloaf. I can’t wait — honestly, I might even grab another dish before then so that I can bake and store two dishes at the same time. At only $15 each and given how often I know I’ll use them, I’ll get my money’s worth in no time.
Buy: OXO Loaf Baking Dish with Lid, $14.99
