Any home chef looking to build out there dream kitchen needs to have a trusty frying pan in their arsenal. A good frying pan will become your go to pan, helping you do everything from scrambling eggs in the morning or searing a piece of fish.
The world of frying pans is a vast one and we’re here to help make it a little smaller. We’ve scoured the market to find the best 8 frying pans on the market. You’re sure to find the perfect pan for you in our list, so let’s get started.
The Top 8 Best Frying Pans of 2021
Tramontina Professional Aluminum Nonstick Frying Pan — Best Overall
All-Clad Stainless Steel Nonstick Fry Pan — Best Value
Utopia Kitchen Nonstick Frying Pan — Best Budget
Lodge Pre Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet
GreenPan Rio Nonstick Ceramic Frying Pan
Amazon Basics Pre Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet
Cuisinart Contour Stainless Steel Open Skillet
All-Clad Hard-Anodized Nonstick Pan
The 8 Best Frying Pans of 2021 – Our Reviews
Tramontina Professional Aluminum Nonstick Frying Pan — Best Overall
Product Specifications:
- Material: Aluminum
- Item Diameter: 10 inches
- Non-stick or natural finish: Non-stick
We found this frying pan from Tramontina the best overall for most home cooks. It’s made from non-stick aluminum material, meaning it holds heat well and is super easy to clean.
With the non-stick coating, you’ll be able to cook up a storm with very little cooking oil needed.
With its amazing interior core, durable material, and even heat distribution, it’s not a surprise that this sits at the top of the best frying pans! This is a must-have skillet for all home cooks!
If you’re looking for the best frying pan overall with a nonstick coating, this would be a great choice.
Pros:
- Great value
- Affordable price
- Cookware designed for even heat distribution
- Durable material
- Easy to clean
Cons:
- Not much to name here!
All-Clad Stainless Steel Nonstick Fry Pan — Best Value
Product Specifications:
- Material: Stainless Steel
- Item Diameter: 10 inches
- Non-stick or natural finish: non-stick
We know you’ve been waiting for it, and we’ve come to serve you with the All-Clad stainless steel frying pan! Literally, how could we not mention All-Clad?
This frying pan is a great addition to any kitchen with its flat base and flared sides, making it easy to cook evenly and also move food around the pan without having to use a spatula or spoon (for the pro home cooks out there).
This stainless steel frying pan has an aluminum core interior bonded with 2 layers of stainless steel, and 3 layers of non-stick coatings. This construction will have this pan holding heat well, while also adding the benefits of non-stick.
This product from All-Clad is also made to be compatible with all types of cookware settings and kitchen tools. You can use it on all types of cooking surfaces, so induction is no issue here.
With top notch heat retention and the high quality construction you would expect from All-Clad, this skillet is sure to last you for years to come.
Pros:
- Even heating all throughout the frying pans
- Handle remains cool and easy to hold
- No hot spots
- Constructed with stainless steel interior and exterior
- Features maximum durability and lifetime warranty
- Compatible with all cooktops and recipes
Cons:
- A little on the pricey side, but I think you get what you pay for
Utopia Kitchen Nonstick Frying Pan — Best Budget
Product Specifications:
- Material: Aluminum
- Item Diameter: 11 inches
- Non-stick or natural finish: Nonstick
If you’re looking for a decent pan at a great price, this would be the choice for you.
The handle is sturdy, doesn’t wobble, and it’s compatible with induction cooktops. In addition to that, its handle is riveted in so it’ll be sure to last a long time.
The non-stick coating is scratch resistant but over time could become scratched if you use it heavily.
If you’re looking for a nonstick skillet that doesn’t burn holes in your pockets yet still provides you quality food, this would be a great choice.
Pros:
- Highly affordable
- Designed with 2 layers of coating
- Handle is riveted to the frying pan
- Dishwasher safe
- Lightweight
Cons:
- Bottom interior of pan is not level
- Can become scratched over time
- Has a cheaper feel to it
Lodge Pre Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet
Product Specifications:
- Material: Cast Iron
- Item Diameter: 10.25 inches
- Non-stick or natural finish: Non-stick
Another one of the products we know you’ve been waiting for … we finally serve you the Lodge Pre Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet!
Sitting at a fairly affordable price, this cast iron skillet gives you more than your money’s worth.
Lodge ensures durability and convenience; it has sloped side and a pouring spout for easy transferring of oils and all other types of liquids. With these features, it will also work well as a sauté pan.
Made with extremely durable cast iron construction, we’re certain this frying pan will last you a lifetime.
Cast iron is also extremely heat efficient and will retain heat very well. This skillet is super durable and can even be tossed in the oven to finish off your dish.
Pros:
- Pre-seasoned cast iron
- Unparalleled heat retention and heat distribution
- Durable coating and exterior construction
- Designed to allow you easily judge the heat of the pan
Cons:
- Can rust if not taken care of well
- Some reports of heat spots
- Handle gets hot during cooking
GreenPan Rio Nonstick Ceramic Frying Pan
- Material: Ceramic
- Item Diameter: 7 inches
- Non-stick or natural finish: Nonstick
There are a ton of non-stick pans on the market, but what about environmentally friendly options?
We all have our preferences for materials we use as our cookware and kitchenware, but what about preferences for chemicals? After all, you’ll be cooking food with your new frying pan.
GreenPan makes sure your frying pan is free from Teflon, lead, and cadmium.
Since it’s ceramic, it’s also perfect for people in the kitchen who wish to lessen their use of oil in their cooking, as ceramic is non-stick.
Aside from being made from a great material, this pan also has even heat distribution and great heat retention.
You could also heat up these nonstick pans in an oven up to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. It works on most stovetops but isn’t compatible with induction cooktops.
Pros:
- Affordable
- Constructed with high quality diamond-reinforced nonstick coating
- Free of potentially toxic agents
- Good heat conduction
- Dishwasher safe
Cons:
- Tendency for only the center of the pan to heat
- Easily marks up with repeated use
- Not induction compatible
Amazon Basics Pre Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet
Product Specifications:
- Material: Cast Iron
- Item Diameter: 12 inches
- Non-stick or natural finish: Natural finish/Pre-seasoned
We have another cast iron skillet option on our list, this time from Amazon Basics. This one is a bit bigger than the Lodge cast iron skillet so you’ll be able to cook for a bigger crowd.
Despite not being a well known cookware brand (more of an everything brand), this pan from Amazon Basics would be a great pick if you’re looking for a cast iron option.
This frying pan has a pouring spout on each side, a secondary handle at the top, and a hole in the main handle for you to be able to hang the skillet up.
This cast iron frying pan is oven safe up to 500 degrees and comes pre-seasoned. Like other cast iron options, you’ll want to hand wash this and make sure it’s dry before storing in order to prevent rusting.
Pros:
- Durable quality material
- Round and flat based construction
- Pre-seasoned
- Versatile use
- Features even heat distribution and retention
Cons:
- Not non-stick
- Not dishwasher safe; hand wash only
- Rough base finish
Cuisinart Contour Stainless Steel Open Skillet
Product Specifications:
- Material: Stainless Steel
- Item Diameter: 8 inches
- Non-stick or natural finish: Natural finish
Cuisinart combines the strength of durable stainless steel with the refined durability of tempered glass in this versatile frying pan.
The tempered glass lids are capable of sealing in the moisture and the flavor of your food.
With the included lid, you won’t need to worry about mixing and matching lids if you want to cover your food during or after cooking.
To make things easier for home cooks, this stainless steel fry pan has a lid and handle that won’t get too hot during cooking.
And while these stainless steel pans won’t work on induction stove tops, it’s oven safe and works on all other cooktops.
Pros:
- Dishwasher safe
- Durable construction
- Versatile use
- The surface does not react with food; keeps natural flavors intact
Cons:
- Doesn’t work on induction
- Not non-stick
All-Clad Hard-Anodized Nonstick Pan
Product Specifications:
- Material: Hard Anodized Aluminum
- Item Diameter: 12 inches
- Non-stick or natural finish: Non-stick
For readers who were looking for a hard-anodized pan, this could be a great option.
Hard-anodized aluminum offers home cooks the convenience of a light aluminum pan while still being extremely durable.
It features fast and even heat distribution and a stainless steel Anti-Warp base for induction cooking.
Because this intelligently constructed PFOA-free coating allows for healthier cooking with LESS fat!
Pros:
- Safe nonstick coating
- Design is optimized for induction
- Dishwasher safe
- Compatible to cook with all cooktops
- Secure fitting lids trap moisture and flavor to food
- Intelligent and durable construction of stainless steel Anti-Warp base
Cons:
- Some home cooks noted the base isn’t super level
How to Get the Best Frying Pan: Buying Guide
There are tons of pans for you to choose from, and it can be quite a dilemma to have to choose just one. Here are some of the things you may want to consider when picking the right pan for you.
Material
The most crucial factor you have to consider: the material construction.
Carbon Steel
For steakhouse quality chars, you’ll want to take a very close look at carbon steel.
On top of this, carbon steel pans are lightweight, versatile, durable, heats up fast, AND it’s affordable.
For anyone who doesn’t mind having to clean up and season their pans, carbon steel is a great option.
Stainless Steel
If you’re looking for excellent heat conduction, induction compatibility, rust-resistance, and dishwasher compatibility pan, stainless steel would be a great choice.
Stainless steel pans have been around for quite some time so you’d certainly be in good company with a stainless steel pan. Food can get stuck on here, but if you take good care of stainless steel it can last a lifetime.
Hard-Anodized Aluminum
Tired of your pans denting and scratching? Hard anodized aluminum may be for you!
Hard-anodized aluminum is extremely durable and is a great conductor of heat.
Cast Iron
Moving on to the ever-durable, inexpensive, and naturally non-stick cast iron!
If you happen to be fond of long and low simmering and browning cooking operations, this would be the BEST choice you could make.
Of course, these abilities of the cast iron are thanks to its even heating and retention. But you do have to know that cast iron is pretty REACTIVE, so it doesn’t go well with acidic food.
Copper
Next up we have the copper frying pans! Now copper pans are nothing short of incredible. In fact, they conduct heat FIVE TIMES better than iron, and about TWENTY TIMES better than stainless steel!
On top of such a performance, copper pans are also highly durable and corrosion-resistant. But just like cast iron pans, copper pans are EXTREMELY REACTIVE. So that’s something you have to note.
The Handle Type
A lot of home cooks tend to overlook the handles of their frying pans. A quality handle can really make or break your experience with your new frying pan. There are 2 main types of handle construction:
Riveted
Riveted handles are the sturdiest handles available. But, you have to keep in mind that dirt and bacteria could reach into the corners of the rivets.
With a riveted pan, you’ll just want to spend some extra time cleaning around the rivets.
Non-riveted
Non-riveted handles are less prone to bacteria buildup. But this also means that with poor construction, you’re in some danger of your handles detaching from the pan itself.
Some extra buying tips:
- A thicker metal pan: 10-gauge construction is a good buy
- For handle types, silicone handles are a preferred choice
- Between non-stick and natural finish, natural finish is perfect if you sear or cook meat a lot. The former is preferred when cooking eggs, pancakes, etc.
Our Top 3: A Recap
We’ve seen the best stainless steel pans and even aluminum pans. And while all of them are great, we believe the top 3 deserve a little recap!
Utopia Kitchen Nonstick Fry Pan — Best Budget
If you’re newer to the kitchen or just don’t plan on having this pan for too long of a time frame, this would be a grat option.
All-Clad Stainless Steel Nonstick Fry Pan — Best Value
As expected from All-Clad, the performance of their stainless steel skillet remains incomparable to all the other frying pans on the market!
With incredible durability, thanks to its classic tri-ply construction, aluminum core interior, 2 layers of stainless steel, AND 3 layers of non-stick coating; this pan is was rated as our best value.
Tramontina Professional Aluminum Nonstick Fry Pan – Best Overall
Looking for ALL-IN-ONE pans at a reasonable price? Tramontina provides you with a professional level of durability, heat distribution, variety, AND convenience!
It’s made with a smart construction of aluminum and stainless steel for withstanding ALL different levels of heat, boasts even distribution, AND ensures you don’t have any hotspots.
Wrapping Up
Even though there are a ton of frying pans on the market, some choices may be better for some cooks rather than others.
By taking some time to think about what you’re looking for in your new frying pan, you can make sure you find a pan you truly enjoy cooking with.
I hope our guide shed some light on all the options in front of you and helped you find the best frying pan for you!
