Regardless of your cooking skill level, frying pans are a basic staple for every home’s kitchen. Frying pans are metal, flat-bottomed skillets with long handles that are placed atop stoves for searing and cooking food in oils or fats. Whenever you’re scrambling eggs, making grilled cheese, tossing together a stir-fry, or browning pork chops, reaching for a reliable frying pan is crucial for tasty results. Shopping for frying pans can be more difficult than you’d think with so many different weights, materials, coatings, sizes, and heating styles available though. Therefore, we’ve created the following list of the top 10 best frying pans for 2017 that provide quality for reasonable prices.
1. T-fal B363S3 Specialty Nonstick 3-Piece Cookware Set
Covered by a lifetime limited warranty, the T-fal B363S3 Specialty Nonstick 3-Piece Cookware Set includes 8-inch, 9.5-inch, and 11-inch frying pans with long-lasting aluminum construction for even heating. Featuring silicone handles that are guaranteed to stay cool, the frying pans have nonstick interiors free of PFOA and cadmium for safety. Available in black or gray, the T-fal three-piece set can withstand 350 degrees Fahrenheit for oven or broiler use and easy dishwasher cleanups.
2. T-fal E93808 Professional Total Nonstick Thermo-Spot Fry Pan
Suitable for all cooktops except induction, the T-fal E93808 Professional Total Nonstick Thermo-Spot Fry Pan has a unique heat indicator to show novices when the surface is ideally preheated. Measuring 12.5 inches, the pan is constructed with the Prometal Pro interior to avoid scratches from metal utensils and protect from sticking. Backed by lead- and cadmium-free guarantees, this T-fal product has riveted handles for ergonomic gripping and a stainless steel base for even frying.
3. Copper Chef 5-Piece Cookware Set
Boasting Ceramic-Tech nonstick technology for less grease, the Copper Chef 5-Piece Cookware Set comes with a 9.5-inch frying pan, square frying pan, glass lid, fry basin, steam rack, and recipe book filled with Chef Eric Theiss’ delicious delights. Durable enough to withstand 800 degrees, the cookware has stainless steel induction plates to avoid hot spots and uneven browning. Certified PFOA- and PTFE-free, the Copper Chef set also has the Helper Handle for easy lifting without strain.
4. Ewei’s Homeware 12-Inch Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet
Making one-skillet meals like frittatas, lasagnas, and even s’mores dip is virtually effortless with Ewei’s Homeware 12-Inch Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet. Measuring a depth of 2.7 inches, the thick, heavy skillet only requires a slight layer of vegetable oil to prevent the cast iron from sticking. Given 4.5 stars on Amazon, this Ewei’s frying pan promises even heat conduction, PFOA-free coatings, durable pan scrapers, and easy hand-washing with paper towel.
5. Gotham Steel 9.5-Inch Nonstick Titanium Frying Pan
Endorsed by Chef Daniel Green on TV, the Gotham Steel 9.5-Inch Nonstick Titanium Frying Pan is famous for providing an ultra-durable, scratch-proof surface for cooking healthily without oil or butter. Weighing just 1.8 pounds, the easy-to-lift pan is constructed without PFOA or PFOS for a ceramic interior that’s reinforced by titanium. Safe up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit, the Gotham Steel product has a 90-day guarantee for use on any heat sources except induction.
6. OXO Good Grips Nonstick 12-Inch Open Frying Pan
Constructed with hard-anodized aluminum, the OXO Good Grips Nonstick 12-Inch Open Frying Pan was the highest rated skillet in Cook’s Country Magazine for superb heat retention and drip-free pouring off rolled edges. Equipped with non-slip silicone handles, the German-engineered, sloped pan features a three-layer coating for effortlessly releasing food without scraping. Safe for dishwashers, the OXO Good Grips skillet also comes with a clear, tempered glass lid to curb splashes.
7. Cooks Standard Multi-Ply Stainless Steel 13-Inch Wok
Manufactured in the USA, the Cooks Standard Multi-Ply Stainless Steel 13-Inch Wok is one of the biggest frying pans designed to hold four quarts for safe cooking up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit on any surface. Accompanied by a secure-fitting dome lid, the pan features 18/10 stainless steel construction around an aluminum core for superior heat control. Verified dishwasher-safe and PFOA-free, the Cooks Standard wok also uses special air-flow technology on a V-shaped handle for cool touches.
8. Cuisinart 622-30G Chef’s Classic Nonstick 12-Inch Skillet
Inspired by French chefs three decades ago, the Cuisinart 622-30G Chef’s Classic Nonstick 12-Inch Skillet features a durable, hard-anodized exterior finish and aluminum-free Quantanium cooking interior strengthened by titanium to thwart warps. Large enough to hold two quarters with 0.5-inch headspace, the wear-resistant pan offers cool grip handles, a tapered rim, and a glass cover. Please note that Cuisinart also offers eight-inch, 10-inch, and even 14-inch models for meals of every size.
9. T-fal E76507 Ultimate Hard-Anodized Scratch-Resistant Titanium Fry Pan
Applauded for its TechnoResist anti-warp base, the T-fal E76507 Ultimate Hard-Anodized Scratch-Resistant Titanium Fry Pan is the least expensive of our top 10 best frying pans that’s offering the durability of aluminum. Safe up to 400 degrees in ovens and dishwashers, the skillet ensures proper preheating with the Thermo-Spot heat indictor. The T-fal Ultimate 12-inch pan has a lifetime limited warranty for long-lasting performance with titanium coating that won’t stick.
10. GreenPan Lima 12-Inch Ceramic Nonstick Covered Fry Pan
Perfect for low-oil cooking, the GreenPan Lima 12-Inch Ceramic Nonstick Covered Fry Pan delivers a thermolon coating over a hard-anodized aluminum body that’s twice as durable as stainless steel. Outfitted with an cut-out, contoured handle for easy hanging, the black pan features a convenient glass lid and oven-safe surface up to 420 degrees Fahrenheit. The GreenPan Lima collection is particularly well-known for using natural materials derived from sand to avoid toxic fumes, cadmium, PFOA, and PFAS.