If you've ever made a cheesecake, you know that it's a labor of love and that it requires a special pan. The best cheesecake pan releases from the cake cleanly, giving you a showstopping dessert.
But choose the wrong cheesecake pan, and you're in for a disaster. So what makes one type of cheesecake or springform pan better than the others?
Springform pans come in a range of sizes, materials and even shapes. For this review round-up, we stuck with round pans, as they are the most versatile of the bunch. You probably won't be making heart-shaped cakes all that much, after all.
Most of the cheesecake pans we looked at measured 9 inches in diameter, which is a standard size and what you're most likely to see called for in recipes.
Top Picks For Best Cheesecake Pan
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Ranking |
Name |
Price Range |
Retailer |
|---|---|---|---|
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Farberware 46406 Nonstick Bakeware Round Springform Pan |
$10 - $15 |
Amazon Price
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Nordic Ware Leakproof Springform Pan |
$15 - $20 |
Amazon Price
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Norpro Silicone 9 Inch Springform Pan with Glass Base |
$15 - $20 |
Amazon Price
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Wilton Perfect Results 3 Piece Springform Set |
$25 - $30 |
Amazon Price
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Kuhn Rikon PushPan, 10-Inch |
$25 - $30 |
Amazon Price
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Farberware 46406 Nonstick Bakeware Round Springform Pan
Price range: $10 - $15
*at the time of publishing
ABOUT THIS PRODUCT
The Farberware 46406 Nonstick Bakeware Round Springform Pan seems to tick all of the boxes when it comes to being the best cheesecake pan. It's a decent size (9 inches), it's made of a light-colored metal with a non-stick finish, and it's heavy enough to resist warping when exposed to hot oven temperatures.
The one drawback of the pan is that its base has a lip along the edge, which can make removing the cake from the bottom difficult. You'll need to wiggle your spatula between the lip on the base and the bottom of the cake, which can cause some damage.
Otherwise, people who have bought and used the pan praised its high quality. One person noted that the non-stick coating seemed particularly long-lasting and believed that it would be able to withstand lots of use.
WHAT WE LIKED
- Made of a heavy-duty, light-colored metal that resists warping and helps cakes bake evenly.
- Non-stick coating helps cake release from the sides without making a mess.
- Non-stick coating also helps to make the pan easier to clean.
WHAT WE DON'T LIKE
- Not dishwasher safe, you'll need to hand wash it.
- Pan does leak when placed in a water bath.
Nordic Ware Leakproof Springform Pan
Price range: $15 - $20
*at the time of publishing
ABOUT THIS PRODUCT
Is the Nordic Ware Leakproof Springform Pan really leakproof? No, at least according to some users of the pan. You'll still need to wrap the base in foil if you're going to bake your cheesecakes in a water bath.
The fact that the pan isn't leakproof aside, it has some things going for it. The base of the pan is raised, which makes it easier to slide the cake off of it or to serve the cake right from the bottom.
The coating on the pan is non-stick, but some have noted that you'll get better results and less sticking overall if you spray the pan with a thin layer of oil first.
WHAT WE LIKED
- Standard 9-inch diameter means you can use the pan with most cheesecake recipes.
- Pan has deep sides, which makes it easier to build a cake in it and easier to remove from the oven without burning your fingers.
- The raised base makes it easy to slide cake off or slice cake.
WHAT WE DON'T LIKE
- Despite having "Leakproof" in the name, the pan isn't entirely leakproof.
- Dark color can lead to browning in areas or uneven baking.
- Material feels a little lightweight and flimsy.
Norpro Silicone 9 Inch Springform Pan with Glass Base
Price range: $15 - $20
*at the time of publishing
ABOUT THIS PRODUCT
Cook's Illustrated might give silicone pans the thumbs down, but other users seem to like them.
The Norpro Silicone 9 Inch Springform Pan with Glass Base is 9 inches wide and 2.5 inches high. The silicone sides are supposed to be non-stick, so that you can easily remove them after the cake is finished, without destroying it. The glass base is also meant to double as a serving platter.
Those who have used the pan and liked it claimed that the silicone sides were more non-stick than most other non-stick products and that they didn't even need to use spray oil on the pan. They also noted that the pan is dishwasher safe.
One of the drawbacks of the pan is that the silicone can be a bit fussy. You have to be careful when handling the pan. Otherwise, you can "stretch out" the silicone or damage the pan.
WHAT WE LIKED
- Silicone is genuinely non-stick.
- Dishwasher safe.
- The glass base is attractive enough for serving cake
WHAT WE DON'T LIKE
- Silicone sides can stretch out and fall off base if not handled "just so."
- The pan leaks a lot.
- The glass base is fragile and can crack or chip if you mishandle it.
- Silicone sides are flimsy -- you need to pick this pan up by the bottom or else your entire cake can fall out.
Wilton Perfect Results 3 Piece Springform Set
Price range: $25 - $30
*at the time of publishing
ABOUT THIS PRODUCT
Why buy one springform or cheesecake pan when you can buy three for the same price? The Wilton Perfect Results 3 Piece Springform Set includes three pans of varying sizes (8, 9, and 10 inches). Of course, you might need to ask yourself if there will ever be a point in your life where you will need to have three cheesecake pans ready to go at once.
The pans are made of a non-stick metal with a darker coating. The darker color might mean the pans are more prone to burning than lighter colored options. The metal also seems a bit lightweight and flimsy. For example, one user noted that her pans arrived dented.
As far as leaks go, the larger pan seems more prone to leaking than the smaller sizes. Users of the pans also noted that they weren't so great at holding in cake batter. The pans might be okay for cheesecake, especially if you wrap them in foil, but might not be able to hold in liquid batters.
WHAT WE LIKED
- Three pans for the price of one.
- Three different pan sizes give you plenty of options when baking cheesecakes.
- The non-stick coating is actually non-stick.
WHAT WE DON'T LIKE
- The pans leak a lot.
- Darker metal can cause burns or hot spots.
- Pans aren't dishwasher safe and will rust easily.
Kuhn Rikon PushPan, 10-Inch
Price range: $25 - $30
*at the time of publishing
ABOUT THIS PRODUCT
The Kuhn Rikon PushPan, 10-Inch is the only non-springform pan to make our list. It's also one of the largest pans we've looked at, as it measures 10 inches across and nearly three inches high.
The removable bottom has a silicone ring around the edge, which helps to reduce leaks. Some users of the pan believe that the ring does prevent leaking. Others are more skeptical of the ring's abilities. Some users point out that the silicone ring makes the bottom of the pan difficult to remove, so you better make sure the pan is well-greased to reduce the risk of damaging the cake.
WHAT WE LIKED
- Non-stick coating helps the cake release easily from the pan.
- Silicone ring makes the removable bottom less leaky than similar style pans.
- Heavy-duty metal resists warping
WHAT WE DON'T LIKE
- Some users note that the silicone ring wears out easily, leading to leaks.
- The bottom can be difficult to remove, which defeats the point of the pan.
Why Do You Need a Cheesecake Pan?
There are myriad reasons not to bake cheesecake all that often. For one thing, most recipes take a long time, requiring hours of prep and hours of backing. Although many people enjoy cheesecake, the dessert is very rich and filling and isn't something you want to eat daily.
But perhaps the number one reason not to bake cheesecake all that much, if at all, is that you need a special pan. While there are plenty of recommendations out there about how to prepare a cake without a springform pan, at the end of the day, having the right pan makes all the difference.
So why do you need to use a springform pan when making cheesecake? The main reason, according to Baking Bites, is that the design of a cheesecake pan makes it very easy to remove a fragile cake from the pan.
With a standard cake pan, you have to flip the entire pan over to take the cake out. That's fine for a sponge cake or other more durable dessert. But it can mean a smashed cake and a big mess if you try to flip out a cheesecake.
What to Look for in a Cheesecake Pan
Now that we know why we're going through the hassle of getting a special cheesecake pan let's take a look at the features the best cheesecake pan will have to offer. Here are a few things to look for when picking out a pan:
Color. Metal cheesecake pans can have either a dark or light-colored finish. Usually, darker pans help baked goods turn brown, according to the Kitchn. Since browning isn't something you typically want with cheesecake, a light-colored pan is usually preferable.
Material. Cheesecake pans can be made from metal, silicone or a combination of metal and ceramic or glass. Usually, metal pans perform better than silicone, glass or ceramic, according to Cook's Illustrated.
Size. The size of your pan determines the size of your cakes, as well as how much of each ingredient you'll need. While you can find jumbo cheesecake pans that measure 14 inches across as well as mini cheesecake molds, the more versatile pan size is usually between 8 and 10 inches.
Height. A taller pan is going to be easier to grab out of a hot oven and easier to hold on to while you're building the crust and the cake itself.
Base shape. Whether the base is flat or has a rim plays a role in determining how easy it is to remove the cake from a pan.
Push-Up vs. Springform Pan
Although a springform pan might be synonymous with a cheesecake pan in many people's minds, it's not the only option. Some pans feature a removable bottom, rather than removable sides.
A push-up or removable bottom cheesecake has a few disadvantages when compared to a springform pan. For one thing, it's much more likely to leak when placed in a water bath compared to a springform pan, because there's no seal between the sides of the pan and removable bottom.
Removable bottom pans also have more limited use compared to springform pans. You can use a springform pan to make crumb cakes or even standard sponge cakes. But if you pour batter into a removable bottom pan, it's very likely to leak out, making a mess.
What to Do About Leaks
The open secret when it comes to making cheesecake is that all types of cheesecake pans, whether they are springform or push-up, are going to leak somewhat when you put them in a water bath. Some springform pans seal better and leak less than others, but they still leak.
The only way to 100 percent prevent leaks is to bake your cheesecake in standard cake pan, according to Food 52. But then you're stuck with the cake in the pan, which is an entirely new problem.
For that reason, it's usually recommended that you wrap the bottom of a springform pan or cheesecake pan in aluminum foil before baking. According to the Seattle Times, the layer of foil adds an extra layer of protection, keep your cake from getting wet and soggy during cooking.
Conclusion
With its heavy-duty metal, light color and versatile size, the Farberware 46406 Nonstick Bakeware Round Springform Pan is clearly the best cheesecake pan out there. It's not entirely leak-proof, but then again, no springform pan is. If you're looking for an evenly baked, beautiful looking cheesecake, this is the pan that's the most likely one to give that to you.