There is nothing quite like the sweet, sharp taste of a fruit tart with its delectable fruity filling and buttery pastry crust. To get the most mouthwatering tart you need the best tart pan on the market. This can feel like an impossible task when trawling through the internet to find one.
Fear not, baking enthusiasts, we’ve done that work for you and compiled a list of five of the best tart pans complete with reviews of each of them and a handy little Buyers’ Guide telling how to choose the best tart pan for you.
As well as this, we have also picked out the very best one of them all and written a short piece at the beginning of the article for those of you who are in a rush to get those tarts in the oven.
So keep on reading for our recommendations for a terrific tart pan. After all, as Mary Berry says, when it comes to tarts, no one likes a “soggy bottom”.
In a hurry to get those tarts baked?
For those eager beavers who want to buy the best tart pan out there right away without reading through the whole article, look no further. We’ve found the best tart pan out there.
The wonderful FoxRun Removable Bottom Non-Stick Pan is:
- 9 inches in diameter and 1 inch in depth making it ideal for a deep filled tart
- It boasts a durable carbon steel material with a high-quality non-stick surface
- It is an excellent conductor of heat ensuring even cooking throughout the tart
- It is dishwasher safe for ease of cleaning and has a removable bottom
Top 5 Best Tart Pans
OUR TOP PICK
FoxRun’s nine-inch round tart pan is a best seller, and it has even been featured in Cook’s Illustrated. It is also one inch thick, allowing for a deep filled tart. It has a high-quality carbon steel material.
The material ensures it is durable, even after repeated use. The steel is of a heavy gauge which makes it an excellent conductor of heat to ensure your tart comes out cooked and browned to perfection.
It is dishwasher safe which means it can clean up even the jammiest of tarts, although it is recommended that handwashing is used where possible due to the harshness of dishwasher detergent which could decrease the quality of the pan faster.
The removable bottom gives ease of use so you don’t need to maneuver a sticky tart out of a pan. Just slide the outer ring off and voila - pie perfection!
Pros:
- Non-stick for ease of movement
- Removable bottom for quicker cooling and serving
- Dishwasher safe for easier cleaning
- Durable carbon steel material for longlasting use
- Excellent conductor of heat to perfect cooking
Cons:
- Repeated dishwasher use may decrease the life of the tart pan due to harsh dishwasher detergent
EDITORS CHOICE
Wilton is a leading brand in the cookware community and has been around since 1929, proving time and again that they are passionate about baking. Their Excelle Elite Tart Pan certainly demonstrates this.
It comes in at eleven inches in diameter and one inch deep, producing a larger tart than some other leading products. It is made from durable, heavy-duty steel with a reinforced non-stick surface to ensure easy removal of the tart from the pan.
The material is also strong enough to ensure the pan will not warp after high heated use. The bottom is removable to ensure the cooling process is speedy, meaning you will be able to eat your delicious baked goods faster than ever.
It is dishwasher safe for convenience as well as being easy to clean by hand washing.
Pros:
- Eleven inches in diameter for a bigger tart
- Durable, heavy-duty stainless steel to prevent warping
- Non-stick surface so no need to grease before use
- Removable bottom for ease of tart removal and cooling
- Suitable for the dishwasher and handwashing
- Comes with a recipe
Cons:
- Slightly bigger than some other leading brands’ pans, so may not suit everyone’s needs
- Pan may be better suited for those who are cooking a pastry base as the removable bottom means liquid can seep through it
BEST VALUE
Zenker is a very popular German brand that has been in business since 1885. They are well established in the baking world.
Their Non-Stick Carbon Steel Tart Pan is eleven inches in diameter, again making it slightly larger than some other popular brands. It has a depth of almost one and a half inches. This size is recommended for fruit tarts in particular.
It is heat-resistant up to 450℉ and has an excellent level of heat conduction ensuring perfectly cooked tarts and pies each time. It is PFOA free meaning it does not use harmful perfluorooctanoic in its non-stick surface. Zenker recommends that this Tart Pan should be cleaned by hand washing only.
Pros:
- A larger tart pan at eleven inches which makes it perfect for fruit tarts as well as strawberry shortcakes and quiches.
- Environmentally friendly due to being PFOA free
- Non-stick coating and removable bottom to ensure tarts can be easily removed and cooled
- From a trusted retailer with hundreds of years of experience
- Heat resistant to very high heat (450℉)
- Excellent heat conduction
Cons:
- Not recommended for dishwashing use so may not be as convenient for some customers
- A little thinner than some other popular products so may be more inclined to warp after repeated use
RUNNER UP
CHEFMADE is a company known for its high-quality kitchen utensils among other things. Their Round Tart Pan, which comes in at nine-and-a-half inches is no exception.
It is just under an inch thick at 0.9 inches. It boasts a non-stick carbon steel material which is sturdy enough to ensure no warping even at high heats. It is proudly PFOA free, as CHEFMADE choose to use organosilicon in their non-stick surface instead.
Their non-stick coating also means you need less cooking oil for your bakes. As with other popular brands, CHEFMADE’s Round Tart Pan also has a removable bottom for ease of tart removal. This also ensures cooling time will be shorter than non-removable bottom pans.
It is coloured with an eyecatching champagne gold color which sets it apart from other tart pans on the market.
Pros:
- Non-stick material made with environmentally safe organosilicon gel
- Sturdy carbon steel to prevent warping after use
- Needs less greasing than others before use due to non-stick surface
- Removable bottom for ease of tart removal and cooling
- Eyecatching unique champagne gold color
Cons:
- Handwash only, and it is recommended to be dried through the oven which may not be convenient for some customers
- It is not recommended to exceed 428℉ which is slightly lower than others on the market
RUNNER UP
HOMOW’s Nonstick Heavy Duty Tart Pan is a generous ten inches in diameter and two inches thick, which makes it the perfect pan for a deep-filled fruit tart.
Like the other popular brands, HOMOW’s Pan boasts an easily removable bottom to ensure ease of tart removable and faster cooling times after baking. It is made from heavy-duty high carbon steel and has a premium quality Whitford Xylan coating to ensure it is non-stick.
The coating is non-toxic and PFOA free making it environmentally friendly. It is easy to clean due to being dishwasher safe.
As well as this, it is suitable for handwashing due to the non-stick coating allowing food to slide off easily without harsh scrubbing! The material is thick and sturdy to prevent warping during use.
Pros:
- A generous size due to being ten inches in diameter
- It has a non-toxic surface that is non-stick achieved by the Whitford Xylan coating
- The material is made from heavy-duty high carbon steel which means it is sturdy enough not to warp after use
- The removable bottom makes it easier to remove your baked good and to cool them faster
Cons:
- Due to its removable bottom, it is recommended to use a pie crust, as any liquid may leak
Best Tart Pan Buying Guide
Consider the Size
Most tart recipes call for at least a 9.5-inch tart pan, sometimes even bigger up to 10 or 11 inches.
It really depends on your personal needs and the recipes you tend to follow. Another thing to consider is the depth of the pan. If you want a deep filled fruit tart you will want your pan to be at least 1 inch or higher. If you prefer a slightly thinner tart, there are also options available for you which come in under just under 1 inch.
The deeper the pan the deeper your pie will be, therefore, you need to consider how deep you would like your crust and your filling to choose the right one for your needs. You can find thinner and thicker depths in the reviewed items above.
Shape and Design - Does this matter?
Traditionally, tarts are round and have fluted edges giving the pretty scalloped effect - this is how most of the tart pans on the market are sold. Indeed, all of the items reviewed above follow this shape and design too. This gives your tart a more professional and traditional look. Of course, it is a personal preference and there are other shapes and designs available.
Typically, a tart pan goes straight up rather than having sloping sides, however, it is becoming increasingly common to buy both of these and the reviewed products above reflect that. Whether you choose a straight or sloped edge tart pan is a personal choice and does not affect the quality of the tart you bake.
Removable Bottom or Not?
The majority of tart pans out there do include a removable bottom as this makes it far easier to remove your baked goods ready to cool and serve.
Pans with a sturdy, non-removable bottom may work better for crustless pies and quiches as they won’t leak. However, for tart baking, it is far more beneficial to have a pan with a bottom you can just pop out. This will ensure your pastry crust stays intact and the appearance of your tart will be fruity perfection.
A removable bottom certainly ensures the tart you make is of both high quality and appearance and is, therefore, an important consideration to make.
Material and Coating
It can feel like going down a rabbit hole trying to decide what material to choose for your tart pan. You should choose a material that is sturdy and thick, as well as being an excellent conductor of heat to ensure all cooking is even and that it browns your pastry well. The particular materials that make for the best pans are carbon steel that is of high, durable quality.
In terms of coating, you should look for non-toxic, high-quality, and non-stick surfaces. Most brands are now PFOA free, meaning they are environmentally friendly as they don’t contain harmful perfluorooctanoic acid. Typically non-stick coatings are made from organosilicon or Xylan. These are safe, non-toxic, and ensure that your tarts, pies, and quiches can be easily removed without worrying about them sticking and being difficult to clean.
Ensuring the material and the coating of your tart pan is of high quality is an important consideration when purchasing as both can seriously affect the quality of the tart pan. A material that is not sturdy can cause warps, affecting the shape of your tarts. As well as this, any material that is not non-stick or a good conductor of heat risks your tart getting stuck to the pan or not cooking completely.
Cleaning Method
Speaking of cleaning, this is a big consideration to make when purchasing a tart pan! Nowadays, dishwashers are an increasingly essential commodity and those of us who rely on them due to our busy lifestyles do not want to be spending a lifetime handwashing our tart pans.
On the other hand, not everyone has or likes dishwashers, in which case you would look for a tart pan that is suitable and easy to handwash. Some tart pans are handwash only due to the harsh detergent that can sometimes be used in dishwashers.
Therefore, anyone looking for a dishwasher suitable pan should take a due care to ensure it is safe to use in their appliance. Of the products reviewed above, the majority are dishwasher safe.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need to grease a tart pan?
Generally, if you have chosen a tart pan with good quality, non-stick coating, you will not need to grease your tart pan.
However, some people still choose to grease their pan for ease of mind. If you are working with an old tart pan that does not have a non-stick coating or perhaps the coating of your pan has worn off, it is recommended that you line your pan with fat (oil or butter) or use some baking paper.
Do you need a tart pan to make a tart?
A tart pan makes the process of baking a tart far easier than other types of pans such as a pie dish or cake tin.
Tart pans have been specially designed to encourage even cooking of your tart base, the fluted pattern, and easy removal of your tart from the pan. Pastries can be cooked in other pans, however, they may not have the same appearance as a traditional tart.
What is the difference between a tart, a pie, and a quiche?
Typically a quiche is a savoury custard-like food that is made with eggs. They have a pastry bottom but an open top. Pies can be both sweet or savoury (for example a meat pie or an apple pie) and tends to have pastry on both the top and bottom.
Tarts are typically sweet, often made with fruit such as berries. Although they have a pastry bottom like a pie they do not typically have pastry on the top.
What is PFOA (Perfluorooctanoic Acid) and how is it harmful to us and the environment?
PFOA is a byproduct of the manmade Perfluorochemicals. These are manufactured due to their water-resistant properties. They are used in many non-stick products as Teflon, particularly kitchen tools such as frying pans and other cooking utensils.
It does not break down in the water and has been identified in different natural water sources across America, as well as in a number of animals. There have been studies that show that PFOA is associated with higher cholesterol, thyroid issues and hypertension disorders.
Many companies no longer use PFOA for their non-stick surfaces, preferring more environmentally friendly materials like those in the reviews above.