Nordic aluminum baking pans (2 for $28 at Amazon), they also come in quarter sheet size, 2 for $22.

Aluminum. Commercial quality. Closed bead. I ordered off A. I had half sheets for years, just ordered 1/4 sheets.

What does closed bead mean?

USA pans are the best, most long-lasting, non-warping pans I've ever owned.

For higher temps, a heavier pan weight, say 13 gauge is good. You might be able to get this at Sam’s or Costco. Aluminum is standard. Webstaurant store is a good site to purchase from.

Interestingly, Serious Eats says that just because a pan warps a bit in a hot oven does not mean low quality and many will pop back.https://www.seriouseats.com/best-half-sheet-pans-6385742

I think that closed bead means that the rolled rim curls fully around so you will grab a rounded surface. some people feel that an open bead is more cleanable. I’ve never used one like that.

Yes, closed bead is rounded all the way. It is much better. The first one I got, before internet was a closed bead. I ordered another and it was an open bead. It is okay, but not as nice as the closed bead, and I think it is harder to clean. The two 1/4 sheets I just ordered are closed bead.

Thick aluminum and nothing fancy. They only live a certain time before they are too much trouble to clean, then they get recycled or used as drip pans, potting pans, etc.

It depends on the use, though light colored, bare metal, always. I like large flat open edged shiny sheets for cookies, steel or aluminum. For the not-baking, the veg and whatnot you asked about, I like a heavier gauge aluminum with a closed bead all the way around, quarter or half, but I also have enamelled steel which come with with my oven and fit on the rack supports and I used them instead of half sheets in this kitchen. They're dark, but the enamel is different from bare metal, and a sheet of parchment makes up the difference. I also really like a quarter sheet, shiny stainless pan with a turned up edge (not rolled, just plain edge facing up, 90 degrees, with a curved corner) for things like sheet pan meals. It keeps stuff in better because the sides are taller, and seems to work better for reasons I can't quantify.

Agree with light-colored, heavy duty. Both Sam’s and Costco have good deals on 2-packs. About $15 last time I checked.

I use Nordicware and USA Pan both made in the US. I also line with parchment so minimal clean up as I really like sheet pan dinners. Costco has had great prices on Nordicware Pan sets and I found great deals on vairous sizes at Home Goods. I have quarter, jelly roll, half and 3/4 sheet pans sizes.

Mine are mostly the two pack half sheets available at Costco or Sam's Club. Some are USA and some are PolarWare, I don't detect a noticeable difference. Both have closed bead edges. I don't have any flat cookie sheets, although I had some of those AirBake sheets that I threw away, those were just terrible.

I use parchment paper when baking cookies but my half sheet pans are used for everything from baking Texas Sheet Cake to Vegetable Pizzas to 24 cinnamon rolls to a double batch of fudge, as well as roasting vegetables. I'm a little picky about it and want them to look clean, so they get well scrubbed after every use, I'm not one of those "use 'em and let 'em turn black" people.

Some of my sheet pans are at least 15 years old and they are still fine, clean and shiny and usable.

I also have one NordicWare quarter sheet pan which I find I use more than I ever thought I would, it came in an auction box with some other items I wanted.

Annie