Live Out Your Valencian Dreams With the Best Paella Pans

Best Value: Machika Polished Steel Valencian Paella Pan Check Price Size: 12 inches | Material: Carbon Steel Why we chose it: This carbon-steel paella pan is a good value, at about $50 less than our Best Overall pick, but requires a bit more vigilance during preparation. Like our Best Overall pick, this pan is made of carbon steel and must be seasoned before use.

This pan comes in a big range of sizes, from 10 inches, serving two, up to 20 inches to serve up to 14 hungry paella fans. Best Upgrade: Mauviel M’Heritage Copper Paella Pan Check Price Size: 15.7 inches | Material: Copper Why we chose it: This gorgeous copper pan with brass handles is all you need to make a show-stopping presentation of your paella.

Best For Beginners: Machika Enameled Steel Paella Pan Check Price Size: 12 inches | Material: Enamel-coated Carbon Steel Why we chose it: The enamel coating and relatively low quotation point make this a great option for folks just starting out on their paella journeys. From the same manufacturer as our Best Value pick, this pan (and its polished steel cousin) is also great for folks wanting to make their paella indoors since it comes in a variety of oven-friendly sizes. If you are cooking over a stove top, I recommend using a paella pan no larger than 12 inches and, if you’re cookery for more than four people, it’s better and easier to use two smaller pans at once rather than figure out how to maneuver a 20-inch pan over a single burner.

It can be done, and there are methods for finishing paella in the oven, but trust me… two smaller pans is the way to go. Like the polished steel version from Machika, this pan is on the thinner side and heats quickly, so it requires a bit more vigilance during the preparation process, but this is otherwise a solid choice.

During the preparation process, I paid attention to how easy it was to maneuver the pan over the flame, how long it took to preheat the pan. How well the pan seemed to retain heat as more and more elements were loaded in. Features to Keep in Mind When Shopping for the Best Paella Pan The Right Size This all depends on how many people you’re preparation for and what your intended heat source is.

Pans larger than 12 or 14 inches should generally be used over a grill or some kind of open flame (or a burner built specifically for paella pans). This can also be achieved over a gas or charcoal grill, but if you’re just cookery for a few people, you can use a smaller pan on your stovetop.

Material Carbon steel seems to be the most common material for paella pans, but stainless steel and copper are good options, too. It all depends on how many you’re preparation for and what your heat source is! 10-inch pans are good for two people, and can easily fit on a regular stovetop burner.

Yes— in fact, cooking over an open flame is the traditional method, so most paella pans should be able to handle it. Definitely, especially if you’re planning on cooking on a stovetop and making a small amount for just a couple of people—you can use a 10- to 12-inch skillet as long as it’s wide and shallow, like a traditional paella pan. A good paella pan is made with the paella preparation process in mind, including cooking over an open flame, so it’s best to go with the real deal.

You can use our Best Overall pick over a stovetop, but keep in mind that you’ll need to be moving the pan around near-constantly to keep the heat evenly distributed. The smaller Machika pans are better suited for stovetop use and, if you’re cooking for a big crowd, two 12-inch paella pans on separate burners should do the trick.