Williams-Sonoma Goldtouch Nonstick 1 lb. Loaf Pan

Perfect browning is one of the most elusive goals for bakers, because light and shiny pans tend to produce breads and cakes that are pale in color, while darker nonstick pans can leave baked goods too brown. In one professional test of seven loaf pans, and another roundup of 10 pans, reviewers found that the Williams-Sonoma Goldtouch Nonstick 1 lb. Loaf Pan produced  breads and cakes with an even golden-brown color. Other reviews commend the pan's durability and even baking.

Williams-Sonoma Goldtouch loaf pans are made in the United States by USA Pans, one of the nation's largest commercial bakeware manufacturers. Their nonstick coating is made of ceramic rather than Teflon or a Teflon-like coating that contains the chemicals polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) or perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), which have been associated with health concerns and are being phased out by many companies. Experts like metal loaf pans not only for baking performance but for shape; metal pans usually have straighter sides and sharper corners than ceramic or glass pans, so bread sides and edges have a traditional shape. Because metal scratches, metal loaf pans are better for items that you'll remove from the pan before serving. If you want a loaf pan that doubles as a serving dish, consider a glass pan like the Pyrex Easy Grab Loaf Dish (*Est. $10) or a stoneware bread pan like the Le Creuset Deep Dish Stoneware Loaf Pan (*Est. $30).

The Williams-Sonoma Goldtouch 1 lb. Loaf Pan is included in two professional comparison tests at Fine Cooking magazine and an old review at Cook's Illustrated magazine. A handful of user reviews can be found on the Williams-Sonoma website.