Le Creuset vs MasterPro Non Stick Roasters

Non-Stick Roasting: Two Different Pans Put To The Test

I’ve been looking for a good excuse to test out my MasterPro Airflow Non-Stick Roasting Tray again. I want to see how a whole fish would fare in this tray that creates airflow circulation around food in the same way a rotisserie oven does. As for Le Creuset, I’m no stranger to this brand as it has never failed me! I am familiar with the quality Le Creuset Toughened Non-Stick coating so when I heard about the new compact Le Creuset Toughened Non-Stick Square Roasting Pan, I was excited to try it out. I put both these roasters to the test with a healthy dinner: Spiced Rubbed Roasted Mackerel and Chickpeas with Coriander Lime Aioli. Both of these pans are excellent for non-stick roasting. I know many people have preconceived notions about non-stick cookware, such as concerns that the non-stick coating damages easily, wears off over time, or worse, leaches into your food. Firstly, let me explain that non-stick cookware has drastically changed in the past decade. PFOA is a suspected carcinogen that can be potentially harmful if ingested. It's no longer on any non-stick cookware on the market in Australia. Many non-stick materials are now ‘toughened ‘ or infused with diamonds or sapphire particles, allowing you to use them with utensils without scratching the cooking surface. Read Everten’s guide to the best non-stick cookware and you can also read about my experience with testing the new wave of toughened non-stick cookware with a wok comparison.

Which Roaster to Use: Le Creuset Square Roasting Pan or MasterPro AirFlow Roasting Tray?

First Impressions

Le Creuset Square Roasting Pan: I love the size of this pan. It is definitely on the smaller side for a roasting tray, although it makes up for its deep sides. It is ideal for side by side roasting in the oven or for smaller ovens in apartments with limited space. The pan holds a lot of volume without being one of those huge and heavy pans that are a pain to even bring out of the cupboard, let alone cook with. I love the high handles as it allows me to grasp and hold the hot pan effortlessly with pads. Cons: Storage space could be an issue if you only have drawers or thin cupboards. MasterPro AirFlow Roasting Tray: This tray is sturdy and incredibly lightweight. There is a roasting rack on top with a pan underneath to catch juices and air holes to channel heat and air upwards creating a constant air circulation in the oven. Cons: There are two separate pieces to keep together. Like Le Creuset's roaster, MasterPro Airflow has an odd shape, which could be challenging to store as it is not stackable with other trays or roasters. The built-in air circulation with bumps and holes and the tray on top may be tricky to clean. But with a simple, sturdy dish brush like the White Magic Eco Coconut Bristle Dish Brush will ease the effort of removing food scraps.

Cooking Performance

Le Creuset Square Pan: The roaster was easy to use. The deep sides held everything snuggly and both the spiced chickpeas and mackerel turned out perfectly tender and brown on the outside. I love the bottom cooking surface on this tray – go from stovetop (even induction) to oven, to table. The heat conductivity was superior ensuring even cooking results and moisture retention. Cons: The high handles meant that I needed to rearrange my oven racks for it to fit.

MasterPro AirFlow Roasting Tray: Everything browned much easier in this tray. The mackerel was noticeably browner with crispier skin and darker spice rub. However, in this instance, I didn’t actually notice a major difference in taste. The vegetables were a perfect tender-crisp texture with lovely browned edges.

Clean Up

Le Creuset Square Pan: The toughened non-stick meant that the food residue slid right off the pan. No remnants remained of the spice colour or smell.

MasterPro AirFlow Roasting Tray: My original thoughts were right – it is a little faffy to clean with all the nooks and crannies built-in for the airflow. I wouldn’t recommend putting both pans in the dishwasher in order to extend the non-stick shelf life.

Conclusion

Both roasters are a little awkwardly shaped but features two very different cooking vessels. Both pans are different cooking vessels. Use these pans for different reasons: Choose Le Creuset Square as an excellent casserole or all-in-one dinner roasting pan. Perfect for lasagnas, layered casseroles such as Potato Dauphinoise or Biryani. This roaster is for ease of use – stovetop to oven to table, it is perfect to save on washing up and looks great to serve straight from the pan. The Masterpro AirFlow is your meat roasting dish. Use this when you need to roast a large joint with plenty of fat such as lamb shoulder, and/or you want crispy exterior, such as with roast chicken or pork crackling, and for fat and juice drainage. This allows you to make fantastic gravy and sauces! I would love to try a roast turkey in this pan for Christmas.

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