Nordic Ware makes two different kinds of bakeware under one name. There are plain aluminum sheet pans that professionals and home cooks buy for their simplicity, and there are decorative Bundts and loaf pans that are half the fun of baking. Its reputation rests mainly on the first and its fame on the second.
This guide is for buyers who have already chosen the brand and want to know which piece to get. To compare Nordic Ware with other makers first, read our baking sheet guide. We have not baked in these pans for this guide. We report what America’s Test Kitchen and others found, and we say plainly where a pick rests only on its listing.
Julia’s earns a commission on purchases made through links on this page, at no cost to you. Recommendations are based on what a restaurant kitchen looks for, product specifications and verified buyer reports.
Quick verdict: which Nordic Ware pan to buy
Start with the Naturals Half and Quarter Sheet Set. The half sheet is America’s Test Kitchen’s winner, and it’s the piece you will use most. Add the Naturals Nonstick 8-Inch Round for cakes and the Formed 12-Cup Bundt if you want the shape the brand is known for. Skip Nordic Ware for muffins; a USA Pan won that test.
Five Nordic Ware pans side by side
One for each kind of baker. Details are from the listings; the last column says what kind of evidence we read.
| Nordic Ware pan | Best for | Surface | Independent report | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Nordic Ware Naturals Half and Quarter Sheet SetBest overall
|
Almost everyone | Uncoated | ATK winner; no warping per Prudent Reviews | View on Amazon |
Nordic Ware Naturals Big Sheet 2-PackBest for big batches
|
Big batches, large ovens | Uncoated | ATK and TechGearLab disagree | View on Amazon |
Nordic Ware Naturals Nonstick 8-Inch RoundBest for cakes
|
Layer cakes | Nonstick | ATK highly recommended | View on Amazon |
Nordic Ware Formed 12-Cup BundtBest first Bundt
|
A first Bundt | Nonstick | Sibling only, per ATK | View on Amazon |
Nordic Ware Naturals Insulated Baking SheetBest for ovens with hot spots
|
Ovens with hot spots | Uncoated | Listing only | View on Amazon |
The Wildflower loaf, 9 by 13 covered pan and Brilliant muffin pan are covered below. Three of these eight picks have a direct independent report behind them.
Our picks for the best Nordic Ware bakeware
Eight different pans for eight jobs, not one pan in eight sizes. All were sold new with a plain in-stock status, and by Amazon, when we checked.
1. Nordic Ware Naturals Half and Quarter Sheet Set – The Pans the Brand Is Known For
If you buy one Nordic Ware item, make it a half sheet, and this listing adds the smaller quarter sheet that handles most weeknight jobs. Both are bare aluminum with a galvanized steel rim. The half sheet measures 17.9 by 12.9 inches outside, with a cooking surface of 17.1 by 12.1 inches. The quarter sheet is 13 by 9.6 inches outside.
America’s Test Kitchen names the Nordic Ware Baker’s Half Sheet its winner among rimmed baking sheets and lists no weakness. Prudent Reviews, updated May 2026, cooked on the half sheet for months and reports that it “didn’t warp at all during my high-heat test.” It also gives the fair warning: “food sticks to the uncoated aluminum surface, requiring more scrubbing during cleanup.” Parchment solves most of that. We repeat this model on purpose. The half sheet alone is on our baking sheet guide, and this set is a separate listing because no Nordic Ware guide is honest without it.
Why we like it
- Half sheet matches ATK’s winner by stated size
- No warping in Prudent Reviews’ high-heat check
- Two useful sizes in one listing
- Sold by Amazon when we checked
Key specifications
| Model | 43145AMZ |
|---|---|
| Material | Uncoated aluminum, galvanized steel rim |
| Size | Half: 17.9 x 12.9 x 1 in; quarter: 13 x 9.6 x 1.1 in |
| Surface | Uncoated |
| Care | Not stated in the listing details we saw |
| Made in | America, of domestic and imported materials |
| Warranty | Limited lifetime, per the listing |
Why we recommend it
It suits nearly every home cook, for cookies, roasted vegetables and sheet-pan suppers, and anyone who is happy to line a pan.
Skip it if you hate scrubbing and won’t use parchment; the coated Brilliant line or a USA Pan sheet releases more easily.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Strongest independent record in the range
- Stays flat, per two reviewers
- Quarter sheet fits small jobs
Cons
- Food sticks to bare aluminum, per Prudent Reviews
- Not for cooks who want a nonstick surface
2. Nordic Ware Naturals Big Sheet 2-Pack – More Room, If Your Oven Fits
This is the oversize pan. Each measures 21 by 15 inches with a baking surface of 20.3 by 14.3 inches, so measure your oven before you buy. The two reviews we read disagree more here than on any other pick.
America’s Test Kitchen rates the Big Sheet highly recommended but adds, “We could only arrange three or four more cookies on it than on the standard size.” TechGearLab, updated July 2023, is much cooler. It lists “Inconsistent baking” and “Hard to wash due to large size,” and says, “After six uses, we could easily pop the surface of the pan with our hands.” We can’t settle that disagreement, so treat this as a pan for people who truly need the space, such as a cook feeding a crowd from a large range.
Why we like it
- Highly recommended by America’s Test Kitchen
- Two pans in the listing
- Steel rim is stated as an anti-warp measure
Key specifications
| Model | 44624AMZM |
|---|---|
| Material | Uncoated aluminum, galvanized steel rim |
| Size | 21 x 15 x 1 in each; surface 20.3 x 14.3 in |
| Surface | Uncoated |
| Care | Not stated in the listing details we saw |
| Made in | America, of domestic and imported materials |
| Warranty | Lifetime, per the listing |
Why we recommend it
It suits a large oven and a cook who bakes in volume, and who has somewhere to store two big pans.
Skip it if you have a standard or small oven, or a small sink, where a half sheet is much easier to live with.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Largest surface in the range
- Backed by America’s Test Kitchen
- Sold by Amazon when we checked
Cons
- Only a few more cookies, per America’s Test Kitchen
- TechGearLab reports uneven baking and a surface that pops
- Awkward to wash
3. Nordic Ware Naturals Nonstick 8-Inch Round – An Easy-Release Layer Pan
For layer cakes this is the Nordic Ware to look at. America’s Test Kitchen places the Naturals Nonstick 8-inch Round Layer Cake Pan in its highly recommended group, saying it “made evenly browned cake layers and pizza crust,” with no weakness noted. It sits on the same list as the 9-inch version, which is that review’s best buy.
The listing gives an interior diameter of 8 inches and a depth of 2.5 inches, with a nonstick surface made without PFOA and PFAS. Hand wash only. It is sold singly, so you need two for a standard layer cake. The 9-inch two-pack is on our cake pan guide and the set options are on our round cake pan set guide.
Why we like it
- Highly recommended by America’s Test Kitchen
- Even browning, per that review
- 2.5 inches deep
- Maker says no PFOA or PFAS
Key specifications
| Model | 46850AMZ |
|---|---|
| Material | Aluminum, encapsulated steel rim |
| Size | 8 in interior, 2.5 in deep |
| Surface | Nonstick |
| Care | Hand wash only |
| Made in | America, of domestic and imported materials |
| Warranty | Lifetime, per the listing |
Why we recommend it
It suits a home baker who makes layer cakes and wants a clean release without flouring every time.
Skip it if your recipes call for 9-inch layers, or you want to buy two pans as a single set.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Direct, favorable review
- Deep sides
- Sold by Amazon when we checked
Cons
- Sold one at a time
- Hand wash only
4. Nordic Ware Formed 12-Cup Bundt – The Classic Shape, Lighter
The Bundt is the shape many people associate with Nordic Ware. This one is the lighter formed aluminum version, not the heavy cast type, in the original fluted design. The listing gives 10.3 inches across, 3.6 inches tall, a 12-cup capacity and a nonstick interior.
We found no review of this exact pan. America’s Test Kitchen reviewed a close relative, the Anniversary 12 Cup Formed Bundt, and recommended it, though its “decorative crests and troughs were a little less well-defined” than the cast winner’s. That’s the trade with formed pans, and it may apply here. If you want the sharpest pattern, the cast pans on our Bundt pan guide cost more and do better. This listing shows no handles in its title or bullets, so check the photos.
Why we like it
- 12-cup capacity
- Lighter formed aluminum
- Nonstick interior
- Sold by Amazon when we checked
Key specifications
| Model | 51167AMZ |
|---|---|
| Material | Formed aluminum |
| Size | 10.3 in across, 3.6 in tall, 12 cups |
| Surface | Nonstick |
| Care | Not stated in the listing details we saw |
| Made in | America, of domestic and imported materials |
| Warranty | Not stated in the listing details we saw |
Why we recommend it
It suits someone who bakes a Bundt now and then and doesn’t want a heavy cast pan.
Skip it if crisp, deep ridges are the whole point for you; go to a cast pan instead.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Lighter than cast
- Familiar shape
- Large capacity
Cons
- No direct review we could read
- Formed pans gave softer detail in a sibling test by America’s Test Kitchen
5. Nordic Ware Wildflower Cast Loaf Pan – A Patterned Pound Cake Pan
This is the decorative side of Nordic Ware: a cast aluminum loaf pan that presses a wildflower pattern into the cake. The listing gives 9.5 by 5.6 by 3.1 inches and a 6-cup capacity, with a silicone nonstick interior made without PFAS and PTFE.
We read no independent review of this pan, so this rests on the listing. One general caution comes from America’s Test Kitchen, which says Nordic Ware’s intricate patterns are harder to grease and clean. Expect to brush every crevice before you pour. It suits pound cake and quick breads far better than a sandwich loaf, for which you want the plain loaf pans on our loaf pan guide.
Why we like it
- Cast aluminum for fine detail, per the maker
- 6-cup capacity
- Made without PFAS and PTFE, per the maker
- Lifetime warranty stated
Key specifications
| Model | 93148 |
|---|---|
| Material | Cast aluminum |
| Size | 9.5 x 5.6 x 3.1 in, 6 cups |
| Surface | Silicone nonstick |
| Care | Not stated in the listing details we saw |
| Made in | America, of domestic and imported materials |
| Warranty | Lifetime, per the listing |
Why we recommend it
It suits a baker who gives cakes away, or who likes a loaf that looks finished without any icing.
Skip it if you want an everyday bread pan; the pattern adds cleaning and does nothing for a sandwich loaf.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Distinctive result
- Sturdy casting, per the maker
- Sold by Amazon when we checked
Cons
- No independent review we could read
- Pattern takes more greasing and cleaning
6. Nordic Ware 9×13 Covered Cake Pan – Bake It, Cover It, Carry It
A plain aluminum 9 by 13 with a lid is an old-fashioned idea that still works, because you bake in it and carry the cake to the party in the same pan. The listing gives an interior of 13 by 9 by 2.5 inches and exterior dimensions of 15.63 by 9.63 by 3.25 inches, a reinforced steel rim, and hand washing only.
It also says nylon, wood or silicone utensils are recommended, so cut slices on a board or with care. We read no independent review of this pan, and America’s Test Kitchen’s 9 by 13 test did not include a Nordic Ware model. Sharper corners and other options are on our 9 by 13 cake pan guide, where ATK’s picks are discussed.
Why we like it
- Lid included
- 2.5-inch interior depth
- Steel rim to resist warping
- Made in the USA, per the listing
Key specifications
| Model | 46320 |
|---|---|
| Material | Natural aluminum, steel rim |
| Size | 13 x 9 x 2.5 in interior |
| Surface | Uncoated, per the listing’s material |
| Care | Hand wash only; no metal utensils advised |
| Made in | USA |
| Warranty | Warranty stated, length not given |
Why we recommend it
It suits anyone who takes sheet cakes, bars or casseroles to other people’s houses.
Skip it if you want a nonstick pan; plan on parchment or careful greasing with this one.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Travels well
- Simple, durable material
- Sold by Amazon when we checked
Cons
- No independent review we could read
- Hand wash only
7. Nordic Ware Naturals Insulated Baking Sheet – A Cushion for Hot Ovens
This sheet has an air layer between two sheets of aluminum. The listing says the insulation guards against over-browned cookie bottoms and overdone pizza crusts, especially in ovens with hot spots. It measures 14.2 by 16.1 by 1 inches outside.
We read no independent review, and the listing doesn’t say how much longer you should expect things to bake, so keep an eye on your first batch. If crisp, well-browned bottoms are what you like, this is the wrong pan, and the plain half sheet above is the better choice. It is a specialty item for a particular oven problem, not a first purchase.
Why we like it
- Air layer stated to limit over-browning
- Uncoated aluminum
- Lifetime warranty stated
Key specifications
| Model | 40100AMZM |
|---|---|
| Material | Two layers of natural aluminum |
| Size | 14.2 x 16.1 x 1 in |
| Surface | Uncoated |
| Care | Not stated in the listing details we saw |
| Made in | America, of domestic and imported materials |
| Warranty | Lifetime, per the listing |
Why we recommend it
It suits a baker whose cookies keep burning on the bottom and whose oven runs unevenly.
Skip it if you like crisp, browned bottoms, or you want one pan for everything.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Addresses a specific problem
- Sold by Amazon when we checked
- Lifetime warranty stated
Cons
- No independent review we could read
- Not an all-purpose pan
8. Nordic Ware Brilliant 12-Cup Muffin Pan – Coated, Unlike the Pan ATK Rejected
The Brilliant line is Nordic Ware’s colored, coated aluminum range. This pan has a silicone-enhanced nonstick surface made without PFAS or PTFE, a steel rim and 12 cavities, each 2.5 inches across at the top. Note the oven limit of 400 degrees F, lower than some rivals.
A warning about Nordic Ware muffin pans in general: America’s Test Kitchen’s August 2026 review ranks the bare Naturals 12 Cavity pan not recommended, citing pale sides and bottoms, some sticking and “very little room along the edges to grab the tin.” This Brilliant pan is coated, so the sticking complaint may not carry over, but its dimensions look similar and we read no review of it. If muffins matter most, the USA Pan that won that test is on our muffin tin guide.
Why we like it
- Made without PFAS or PTFE, per the maker
- Steel rim stated to prevent warping
- Sold by Amazon when we checked
Key specifications
| Model | 13250 |
|---|---|
| Material | Aluminum, steel rim |
| Size | 9.5 x 12.9 x 1.3 in; 12 cavities, 4.5 cups total |
| Surface | Silicone-enhanced nonstick |
| Care | Not stated in the listing details we saw |
| Made in | America, of domestic and imported materials |
| Warranty | Not stated in the listing details we saw |
Why we recommend it
It suits a Nordic Ware fan who wants a coated muffin pan and has read the warning above.
Skip it if you bake muffins weekly; ATK’s winning USA Pan is the safer buy.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Nonstick surface
- Color makes it easy to spot
- Made without PFAS, per the maker
Cons
- No independent review we could read
- 400 degree F oven limit
- A related Nordic Ware pan is not recommended by ATK
Where Nordic Ware falls short, and who to look at instead
- Muffins. America’s Test Kitchen puts the bare Naturals 12 Cavity pan in its not recommended group. Its winner is the USA Pan 12-Cup Muffin Tin, covered on our muffin tin guide.
- Loaf bread. ATK’s loaf pan review doesn’t mention Nordic Ware at all. Its co-winners are USA Pan’s 1-pound loaf pans, and they are on our loaf pan guide.
- Bare aluminum cleanup. Prudent Reviews found food sticks to the Naturals surface. Its easiest pan to clean was the coated USA Pan half sheet, though that pan warped in its test, so each has a cost.
- Detail costs effort. TechGearLab says of the Heritage Bundt that “the deep grooves that make the shape so spectacular are also surprisingly tough to get clean.” The prettiest pans ask the most of you.
- Depth of evidence. Only the half sheet, Big Sheet and 8-inch round here have a direct review we could read. The other pans rest on listings or on a sibling.
How to choose among Nordic Ware pans
1. Decide between bare and coated
The Naturals sheets are bare aluminum, which browns well but sticks without parchment. Coated options, such as the Naturals Nonstick round and the Brilliant line, release more easily but need gentler handling. Follow each maker’s care line, since many of these are hand wash only.
2. Measure the oven first
A half sheet is about 18 by 13 inches outside and a Big Sheet is 21 by 15 inches. Check your oven’s inside width and leave space around the pan for air. An apartment oven may be happier with the quarter sheet, covered on our quarter sheet pan guide.
3. Cast or formed for a Bundt
Cast pans, like the Wildflower loaf, are heavier and hold sharper detail. Formed pans, like the 12-cup Bundt, are lighter. ATK found that a formed Anniversary pan gave less defined ridges than the cast winner, while still earning a recommendation.
4. Think about what you bake most
A household that roasts vegetables and bakes cookies gets more from one half sheet than from a cupboard of specialty pans. Buy the sheet first and add a decorative pan when you have a reason for one. Enchiladas and roasted chiles also work fine on a good sheet or 9 by 13.
5. Check the listing you are buying
Nordic Ware sells many near-identical sizes and packs under similar names. Check the model number, the size and whether it is coated. A few listings for this brand are sold by third parties, so look at the seller as you buy.
How we chose these eight Nordic Ware pans
We started from the Nordic Ware listings the Amazon API returned on November 3, 2026, and kept pans sold new with a plain in-stock status. We skipped scarce listings, which ruled out the cast Anniversary Bundt that ATK likes best. We avoided exact listings already on other pages here. One model repeats in a different listing, the half sheet, for the reason given in its section. We read America’s Test Kitchen’s reviews of rimmed baking sheets, Bundt pans, round cake pans, 9 by 13 pans and muffin tins, along with TechGearLab’s baking sheet and cake pan reviews and Prudent Reviews’ sheet pan comparison. Nothing here was tried by Julia’s.
Nordic Ware bakeware questions, answered
Which Nordic Ware half sheet is the one reviewers praise?
America’s Test Kitchen names the Baker’s Half Sheet, Nordic Ware’s plain aluminum half sheet with a steel rim. The set above includes the Naturals half sheet with the same stated dimensions as the model on our baking sheet guide.
Does Nordic Ware bakeware warp?
Prudent Reviews saw no warping on its half sheet at high heat. TechGearLab, reviewing the larger Big Sheet, could pop the surface by hand after six uses. Size may matter, so take the half sheet as the safer choice.
Is Nordic Ware dishwasher safe?
Several listings here say hand wash only, including the 8-inch round and the covered 9 by 13. Others don’t state it in the details we saw, so read the care line for your pan.
Is Nordic Ware nonstick free of PFAS?
The maker says the Naturals Nonstick round, Wildflower loaf and Brilliant muffin pan are made without PFAS. That is the maker’s statement, not something we checked independently.
Has Nordic Ware been recalled?
The CPSC recall database we searched on November 3, 2026 returned nothing under Nordic Ware or its maker Northland Aluminum as a title or manufacturer. That is not a guarantee, so search cpsc.gov for your own item.
Our final pick from the Nordic Ware range
Buy the half and quarter sheet set first, then add a cake or Bundt pan when a recipe calls for it. For the wider field of pans, see our baking pan set guide. If you would rather leave dinner to someone else tonight, call to order from Julia’s at (346) 546-8283.