The 7 Best Frying Pans, Tested & Reviewed

Best Overall

Made In Blue Carbon Steel Frying Pan

$109 at Amazon View on Madeincookware.com

"A carbon steel pan is the industry standard because it is highly seasonable and very versatile," says Sedesh Boodram, culinary director of The Anvil Pub & Grill in Birmingham, Alabama. "It cooks similarly to cast iron without the bulkiness or heaviness." Like cast iron, it retains heat well and gets better with more seasoning and continued use, improving its nonstick qualities. And because it’s thinner than cast iron, it’s more responsive to heat changes, so it’s ready to cook sooner and adjusts quickly when you turn the burner up or down.

We found that this pan did an impressive job when it came to searing steaks thanks to its high heating capacity. We also found that it distributed heat exceptionally well, which meant that food cooked evenly. This Made In pan is deeper than the average frying pan, but not nearly as deep as a saucepan, making it excellent for stir-frying vegetables, shallow-frying chicken tenders, and even reheating pre-cooked rice with just a tiny bit of oil and less risk of food sloshing over the edge. They got an even cook every time with no need to scrape the bottom of the pan.

This pan arrives pre-seasoned to avoid rusting in transit but needs further seasoning before the first use. Despite its many similarities to cast iron when it comes to heating and durability, it's much easier to use one-handed for flipping foods in the pan. This pan is oven safe to an astounding 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit, so there’s never a question that it can handle high heat on the stove or in the oven.

Material: Carbon steel | Oven Safe: 1,200 degrees | Induction Ready: Yes | Dishwasher Safe: No | Sizes Available: 8, 10, and 12 inches

Runner-Up, Best Overall

Lodge Seasoned Steel Skillet

$45 at Amazon $45 at Walmart $50 at Williams-Sonoma

When cast iron is simply too heavy for your taste, the Lodge Seasoned Carbon Steel Skillet is a fantastic alternative. Just like the brand's classic cast iron pieces, this pan is made from an alloy of carbon and steel, but in slightly different ratios. It gives you same the same heat conductivity, but with a much thinner, lighter construction. This model comes pre-seasoned, so it's ready to use right out of the box, but the surface gets even better with time and use.

While we don't think the pan's rustic design was conventionally attractive, we like its responsiveness—it heats and cools quickly, which is useful for when your pan temperature needs to be adjusted while shallow frying or sautéing. Plus, it's a great alternative for those who dislike nonstick coatings and want a good alternative for cooking sticky foods, like eggs. Just like cast iron, it can withstand super-high temperatures, making way for a beautiful sear on steaks and other proteins.

This 12-inch model provides plenty of surface area to cook for a large family or friends, though there are 8-, 10-, and 15-inch options available, as well. Use it on every cooking surface, including induction burners, a campfire, or grill. Maintenance is fairly easy for carbon steel, too, and just like with cast iron, it is durable enough to last a lifetime with proper care.

Material: Carbon steel | Oven Safe: 500+ degrees | Induction Ready: Yes | Dishwasher Safe: No | Sizes Available: 8, 10, 12, and 15 inches

Best Cast Iron

Lodge Cast Iron Skillet

$28 at Amazon $21 at Wayfair $20 at Walmart

"I am a cast iron die-hard," says Diana Manalang, chef and owner at Little Chef Little Cafe in New York City. "Give me my Lodge or give me nothing—I like cast iron because of how evenly it holds the heat, so when frying with oil, I know that the oil will keep at the temperature needed."

This Lodge comes pre-seasoned, so you can use it immediately, but it will become more nonstick with additional seasoning and continued use. Weighing a pound less than competitor models of the same size, it's got great maneuverability, especially when using the helper handle. We've tested it twice in our Lab, and both times, we've loved the performance. Our test cornbread came out golden with minimal sticking, if any. Meanwhile, the skillet's even heat distribution gave a great sear on steak and pork. We did note that even with seasoning, it isn't perfectly nonstick due to its rough surface, so cooking eggs (and other foods that require more surface slip) in this pan may not be ideal—you'll want a true nonstick pan.

This pan can be used on any cooktop, including induction, as well as in the oven, on a grill, or over a campfire. Cast iron has superior heat retention and even heating, but the downside is that the handle can become hot during cooking. Luckily, you can opt for a version that comes with a silicone handle cover, which can be removed to use with other pans. As with most cast-iron pans, it should be hand washed only.

Material: Cast iron | Oven Safe: 500+ degrees | Induction Ready: Yes | Dishwasher Safe: No | Sizes Available: 3.5, 5, 6.5, 8, 9, 10.25, 12, 13.25, and 15 inches

Best Enameled Cast Iron

Le Creuset Enameled Cast Iron Skillet

$220 at Amazon $175 at Wayfair $175 at Williams-Sonoma

While cast-iron cookware is some of the most popular and durable out there, it does require regular maintenance in order to protect the surface from rust. If you want something that has the same durability but is easier to care for, consider this enameled cast iron pan by renowned French manufacturer Le Creuset. The heavyweight frypan has a black enameled interior that requires no additional seasoning and can sear, sauté, and fry with very little oil.

After testing this twice, we can't find much to dislike about this pan, aside from its price and its heft, which might prove challenging for anyone who has a hard time moving heavy cookware. Like traditional cast iron, the heat retention is outstanding, however, the enameled surface means a truly nonstick experience. The large loop helper handle provides easy maneuvering from stove to oven, too (it's oven/broiler safe up to 500 degrees). You'll be able to use this on any cooktop, including induction, and it can be tucked into the dishwasher for easy cleanup.

Material: Enameled cast iron | Oven Safe: Up to 500 degrees | Induction Ready: Yes | Dishwasher Safe: Yes | Sizes Available: 6.3, 9, 10.25, and 11.75 inches

Best Stainless Steel

All-Clad Stainless-Steel Fry Pan

$130 at Amazon $130 at Wayfair $100 at Williams-Sonoma

When it comes to frying pans, small ones are great for cooking a single egg or maybe two, but you need a lot more space when cooking for more people. This generously sized frying pan gives you enough room to cook burgers, pork chops, or steaks for the whole family, and the stainless steel interior will give you a great sear. The polished starburst pattern inside helps to keep food from sticking, and the flared sides make it easy to toss food like a pro.

We liked how this pan was able to achieve a nice, hard sear, creating a golden brown crust on both sides of our meat. It also released quite easily and was mostly easy to clean (though it did require a light scour to fully remove stuck-on debris). This pan is oven- and broiler-safe up to 600 degrees, so you can start cooking on the stove and finish in the oven, and it’s induction compatible. It has an aluminum core on the bottom and up the sides of the pan, which is totally covered with durable stainless steel for fast, even heating and easy cleaning by hand or in the dishwasher. If this size isn't right for you, it is also available in 8, 10, and 14-inch versions to suit your needs.

Material: Stainless steel | Oven Safe: Up to 600 degrees | Induction Ready: Yes | Dishwasher Safe: Yes | Sizes Available: 8, 10, 12, and 14 inches

Best Splurge

All-Clad G5 Stainless-Steel Fry Pan

$180 at Williams-Sonoma

When it comes to frying pans, a light weight is a benefit when you want to get all cheffy and flip food instead of stirring it in the pan. Even when your cooking skills aren’t that acrobatic, a lighter weight makes it easier to move the cookware around, and easier to hold while emptying the pan. The unique graphite layer in this pan makes it lighter than similar all-stainless or copper-core cookware.

But that graphite core also provides another benefit: responsive cooking. That means the pan heats and cools quickly, so it’s ready to start searing within a minute or two, and it cools down fast when the heat is turned down on the eggs so they don’t overcook.

Thanks to the stainless-steel surface, this pan is excellent at searing and other high-heat cooking, so it can sear a steak or stir fry some veggies with ease. It was equally as good for sweating onions and other vegetables, cooking them without any browning at all. When it’s time to clean up, this was easy to hand wash, no matter what was cooked, but it’s also safe in the dishwasher.

Material: Stainless steel with aluminum layers and graphite core | Oven Safe: Up to 600 degrees | Induction Ready: Yes | Dishwasher Safe: Yes | Sizes Available: 8.5, 10.5, 12 inches

Best for Crepes

Le Creuset Cast Iron Crepe Pan

$184 at Amazon $184 at Wayfair $184 at Williams-Sonoma

Crepe pans are a special type of frying pan with very low sides, but you can certainly use them for more than just crepes. They’re great for pancakes and eggs or as a griddle pan for cooking foods that won’t release a lot of moisture that could escape the low sides. This crepe pan from Le Creuset is beautifully designed and durable with a sleek enamel exterior and a high-quality nonstick interior. This nonstick surface doesn't need seasoning like bare cast iron, either. This not only ensures that crepes and other foods won’t stick, but it also makes the pan easy to clean either in the dishwasher or by hand with soap and water.

While crepe-making takes practice, we found one caveat: we had to make the crepes a bit smaller than usual so that the edges cook properly. The areas where the pan overlapped with the burner were noticeably hotter than the outer rim that didn't have full contact. And be careful of the handle—it gets hot with the rest of the pan, so make sure you use a silicone covering or similar protective tool to avoid burning yourself.

Material: Enameled cast iron | Oven Safe: Up to 500 degrees | Induction Ready: Yes | Dishwasher Safe: Yes | Sizes Available: 10.75 inches