Do I need a lid for my paella pan? Traditionally Arroz a la Paella is cooked over an open flame and without a lid, however many people like cover the cooked paella to retain heat before serving. Similarly, if cooking in the oven, you may want to cover the paella for part of the time to prevent the rice from drying out. Please note that we offer both vented lids (to cover before serving) and un-vented lids (to cover while oven-cooking.)