Your taste buds deserve a treat every once in a while. Sure, you try to eat healthy as much as possible, but every so often, you deserve a delicious and savory meal. Spice up your week by making a Spanish deal like paella. Paella is a rice dish that is typically filled with seafood, shellfish, and or chicken that can really punch up an evening. Typically one that takes a long time to create, paella is best made in a larger pan that allows you to cook everything together to better immerse the flavors. A paella pan is larger than regular pans and is higher on the sides, so you can swirl ingredients around. If you’re looking to impress your dinner guests at your next party, consider picking up any of the five paella pans we’ve highlighted below. Then make sure to treat them to a delicious and savory dinner that’ll make them think they’re in the Catalonia region of Spain.
Best Overall Paella Pan
Providing you with plenty of surface area to cook on, the Garcima C-15 RED 15-Inch Carbon Steel Paella Pan is made in Spain. The carbon steel is durable and conducts heat really well, as it can provide your food with an even surface for cooking. This measures 15 inches in diameter, which is ideal for a paella dish for three to five people. It’s safe for the stove top, oven, or grill, so you can have so many different ways of using it. Not only can you use it on many different surfaces, but purchasing this gives you an informative pamphlet for how to use it. This comes with two recipes, as well as tips for how to get the perfect paella. Plus, you’ll learn how to care for your pan, as it does require a little bit of maintenance after washing it. The carbon steel enhances the flavor of the paella.
Best Paella Skillet
You’ll be able to get perfectly seared seafood when you have the Lodge CRS15 Carbon Steel Skillet. This comes in multiple sizes, but the 15-inch one is best for the paella dish. It takes high heat for the perfect browning and searing. This is made from 12-gauge carbon steel that heats quickly and it also retains heat for a more even surface. The fact that it’s pre-seasoned means that you don’t have to do as much when you first get it and it’ll be ready to use fresh out of the box. It can be used on gas, electric, induction stove tops, outdoor grills or even on open fires. It’s seasoned with oil for a natural and easy-release finish that improves each time you use it. You’ll need to hand wash it and dry it immediately.
Best Cast Iron Paella Pan
Seasoned with 100% Kosher seasoning, the Victoria SKL-313 Cast Iron Paella Frying Pan comes in many sizes. The largest size it comes in is 13″, which has excellent heat retention. This is seasoned with 100% non-GMO flaxseed oil, so the coating is taken care of before you get it. This will keep your food hot for up to 15 minutes and there are double loop handles for an easy time for carrying. Trace amounts of iron are naturally released when cooking with it, so you’re boosting your minerals each meal. This is a versatile pan that can be cooked with indoors or outdoors.
Best Large Paella Pan
Boasting a huge amount of cooking area, the Garcima 22-Inch Carbon Steel Paella Pan will feed your entire dinner party. This has 22 inches in diameter to work with but the pan is thin, so it will heat quickly. The hammered dimpled bottom is a unique feature and the carbon steel is the traditional material for paella. You’ll be able to serve seven to 12 people with this pan. If the pan does rust at all, you’ll be able to take a few passes on it with some steel wool to fix it.
Best Everyday Paella Pan
If you want a paella pan that can be used everyday, check out the Cuisinart 625-30D Chef’s Classic Nonstick Hard-Anodized 12-Inch Everyday Pan. This nonstick pan is perfect for one dish meals, so you’ll be ready to cook everything together. Made from quantanium and reinforced with titanium, this product is durable and easy to use. It features a riveted, stainless steel handle and a break-resistant domed glass lid. The heat distribution is perfectly even every time.
