"Karen" > wrote in message
...
>>
>
> Jaclyn, Vox is right on the money. Buy pieces as you need them. To
> start off with, though, I HIGHLY recommend you get three aluminum
> half-sheet pans and maybe one quarter-sheet pan from a restaurant supply
> place. They are so versatile!! I bake cookies on them (using a silicone
> baking mat. Silpat is one brand name and is even available at Wal-mart
> now. I highly recommend getting at least two baking mats.). I also use
> them to roast vegetables; put under a pie that might bubble over; can be
> used as a jelly-roll pan, etc. The quarter-sheet isn't absolutely
> necessary but I find it comes in handy if you only have a few biscuits or
> cookies to bake at a time. But, since these are not expensive at all, why
> not have one on hand.

I agree with this. If the OP has access to a warehouse club like Costco,
she can find good prices on half-sheet pans. I have three and I use them
more than anything else. The club store often have them packaged in sets of
two or three; sometimes with cooling racks and/or lids. Heavy is the key
word. A heavy aluminum pan will be a good conductor of heat without hot
spots and it won't warp in a hot oven. I also use my Silpat for roasting
vegetables and under meatloaf, etc. In fact, I seldom use Silpat for normal
baking needs but use parchment instead. Parchment is worthless under foods
that exude liquid or when there is a lot of sticky, caramelized liquid.
Silpat is far better.