The 7 Best Frying Pans We've Tested for Searing, Sautéing, and Simmering

How We Tested Frying Pans

Since we test frying pans in various materials, such as cast iron, stainless steel, carbon steel, and ceramic, the way we test them can vary slightly. Certain criteria such as heat conductivity, ease of use, durability, cleaning, and care considerations were basic tests with all the frying pans we tested. All pans in all tests were subjected to durability checks, such as hitting them with cinder blocks or putting them through thermal shock.

However, different pans have different uses. The searing and browning capability was super important with cast iron and stainless steel skillets, so we cooked proteins in fat to evaluate how evenly they cooked. We wanted to test the nonstick capabilities of the carbon steel and ceramic pans, so we made eggs, skillet cookies, and onion tarte tartines to see how they fared.

Factors to Consider

Material

The best frying pan material comes down to your cooking style and what you want the pan for. Different materials have different advantages, so you’ll likely want more than one type of frying pan to complete your kitchen setup.

• Stainless steel pans are perhaps the most popular and versatile, as they can typically handle a wide range of cooking styles, from high-heat searing to the gentle simmering of pan sauces.
• Nonstick pans are a must-have for cooking foods that stick, like eggs, crepes, and pancakes, but do not do well with high-heat applications. They also tend to have shorter lifespans than other pans, as regular use can wear out their coating.
• Ceramic pans, or ceramic-coated pans, are a popular alternative to traditional nonstick cookware. Most start with an aluminum base that's coated with a silica (sand) formula for a slick cooking surface. Unlike nonstick, most ceramic cookware can handle high heat, though it isn't known for longevity, either, as the coating can chip over time.
• Cast iron pans are the best performers when it comes to heat retention. They shine when searing steaks or baking cornbread since they keep a consistent temperature. They have a reputation for high maintenance, but really, you can easily fix sticky or rusty pans with a little know-how. Cast iron is also durable enough for outdoor use.
• Enameled cast iron pans naturally resist sticking, but they're not up to par with true nonstick coating. Yet, they can handle higher heat and acidic ingredients, like tomatoes. They're also easy to clean and can last decades with proper care.
• Carbon steel pans perform similarly to cast iron, achieving high temperatures, but since the material is thinner and lighter, it’s more responsive to changes in heat. I
• Copper pans conduct heat quickly and easily, which makes them great for searing, but they're also ideal for low-heat cooking, like making sauces, caramel, and jams.

Size

Frying pans can come in all sizes, but the average size is around 10 inches, which is large enough to cook a frittata, four burger patties, or to sear a decent-sized cut of meat. An 8-inch frying pan is a great size for toasting nuts and spices or frying a single egg, while larger families might opt for a 12-inch or 14-inch pan. 

Cleaning

The material of your pan will determine how you should clean it. For example, cast iron and carbon steel should be cleaned by hand with hot water and a non-abrasive scrubber to avoid stripping off any existing seasoning. Nonstick pans typically last the longest when cleaned by hand, as dishwashing detergent can deteriorate nonstick coating. Stainless steel is often dishwasher-safe, but will usually benefit from being hand-washed to avoid any staining or pitting that the dishwasher cycle might cause.

Other Frying Pans We Tested

Strong Contenders

Misen Stainless Skillet ($100 at Amazon)

We love this stainless steel pan almost as much as we love the Made In version, thanks to its excellent heat distribution, easy clean up, and a lower price tag. It’s a bit heavier than its competitors, and we did notice some minor warping at the base during our durability test. But, it still did much better than the dozens of other pans we tested. 

Le Creuset Nonstick Pan ($160 at Amazon)

This pan did extremely well in our tests, with a slick surface that gave us a no-fuss performance when dealing with pan-frying salmon, melting marshmallows, making omelets, and more. It’s well-built, durable, and induction-ready — about everything you can ask for. The one con? It’s one of the most expensive nonstick pans we’ve tested.  

Mauviel M'Steel Black Carbon Natural Nonstick Frying Pan ($120 at Amazon)

This French-made model came very close to our top carbon steel pick in performance and cleanup. But it needs to be seasoned before use, so if you’re not used to stripping and seasoning a carbon steel pan, you’ll have to learn.

Made In 10-Inch Blue Carbon Steel Fry Pan ($119 at Amazon)

We liked the nonstick aspect of this pan since it made scrambling eggs easy. We also found it very easy to maneuver since it’s lighter and has an ergonomic handle. It’s oven-safe up to 1,200°F — higher than a home oven could ever get — so you can use this under the broiler to turn out picture-perfect frittatas.

Smithey Carbon Steel Farmhouse Skillet, 12 Inch ($300 at Smithey)

This gorgeous skillet is hand-forged, making it just as much of a piece of art as top-performing cookware. We liked how quickly and evenly this pan heats, though we suggest seasoning it a bit more to make it a little more nonstick. It is pricey, but it’s an heirloom-quality piece that should last for generations.

Stargazer 10.5-Inch Cast Iron Skillet ($155 at Amazon)

We liked this skillet particularly because of its comfortable curved handle and the larger helper handle that made it easy to transport on and off the stove. Though we did detect a little unevenness during searing, we found this to be a pretty versatile performer in our tests when it came to all-around cooking. 

Staub Enameled Cast Iron Traditional Deep Skillet ($252 at Amazon)

Costing a little more than the Le Creuset version, the Staub skillet is an investment. We like its thick (but not overly heavy) construction, tall sides, and dark interior finish for deep browning and searing. In our tests, it heated evenly and released food easily, from fish to cornbread. Our main criticism was that its handle felt too short to comfortably hold.

What Didn't Make the List

A frying pan may seem like a simple design, but many we've tested missed the mark, whether heating unevenly, scratching too easily, or clinging to food excessively. The lowest-scoring skillets we've tested typically come from value brands like Amazon Basics, Utopia Kitchen, Goldilocks, and Hamilton Beach. Skillets from mid-range brands have also disappointed us, such as the Green Pan Reserve Ceramic Nonstick Fry Pan, Great Jones Deep Cut stainless steel pan, and the Our Place Cast Iron Always Pan. Finally, not even the priciest brands earn a spot on our list if we find their performance to be underwhelming.

Our Expertise

Bernadette Machard de Gramont is a Los Angeles-based writer specializing in food, wine, cookware, and other kitchen products. After a two-year stint at Williams Sonoma headquarters in San Francisco, she now researches and tests a variety of cookware, bakeware, and wine tools and interviews field experts for their insight.