Best Frying Pans and Skillets, According to a Professional Chef

Here, we take a look at the seven best frying pans and skillets on the market, according to a professional chef who has thoroughly tested them all.

As a professional chef, I have used every type of frying pan and skillet there is: nonstick, ceramic, stainless steel, cast iron, carbon steel, copper. While there are some pans I am partial to (I wrote a book completely on cast iron cookware and cooking, after all!), I honestly think all of these pans serve a purpose and have all of them in my kitchen. If I’m making scrambled eggs I will pull out the nonstick ceramic skillet and if I want to sear a steak, nothing but cast iron will do. (Now, if you’re not a professional, you certainly don’t need 10 different frying pans. One or two really good ones will do.)

When it comes to the best frying pans and skillets on the market, these are my top choices and pans I use every single week in my kitchen.

If you’re looking for a specific type of cookware, I cover the best skillets from each category. But perhaps you don’t know which type of skillet is best for you, so we’ll figure that out, too.

While most of the best skillets and frying pans that make this list are on the higher end (I do believe that high-quality cookware is worth the investment, and many of these have amazing or even lifetime warranties), I will also include picks for more budget-friendly pans.

But first, which type of frying pan or skillet is best for you?

Types of Skillets

• Nonstick: Nonstick frying pans are ideal for cooking delicate foods like eggs and fish, as they require minimal or no oil and ensure easy food release and cleanup.
• Ceramic: Ceramic skillets offer a non-toxic, nonstick surface that is resistant to scratching and can handle higher temperatures without releasing harmful chemicals.
• Stainless Steel: Stainless steel pans are durable, non-reactive, and provide excellent heat distribution, making them perfect for browning, searing, and deglazing.
• Carbon Steel: Carbon steel frying pans combine the best of cast iron and stainless steel, offering lightweight, quick heating, and the ability to achieve high temperatures for perfect searing.
• Cast Iron: Cast iron skillets excel at heat retention and even cooking, making them ideal for searing, baking, and frying, while also adding a trace of iron to food. If properly seasoned and heated, cast iron can also be naturally nonstick. The downside of cast iron is that it requires a bit more upkeep than most other pans, but they will last a lifetime.
• Copper: Copper skillets provide superior thermal conductivity for precise temperature control, making them perfect for tasks requiring quick and even heating. (Plus, they’re just gorgeous!)
• Hard Anodized: Hard anodized cookware is made from aluminum that has been electrochemically treated to create a durable, non-reactive, and scratch-resistant surface. Hard anodized cookware provides good heat distribution and is often nonstick.

Let’s review my picks for the seven best frying pans and skillets below.

Best Nonstick Frying Pan

Caraway Ceramic Nonstick Skillet

K, here’s the thing. Nonstick cookware is great. It’s convenient, fuss-free, and a breeze to clean. However, I am extremely picky about my nonstick cookware and I think you should be, too. Most nonstick cookware contains forever chemicals ​​like PFAS. I do have nonstick cookware in my kitchen, but it’s ceramic. Sometimes I know a recipe will just perform better using a nonstick skillet, like delicate fish or eggs, for example. The best ceramic frying pan is from Caraway. I love the colors it comes in (shallow, I know), and the non-toxic cookware is free of PFAS, PTFE, PFOA, and heavy metals. I use Caraway’s whole line of cookware almost daily in my kitchen, and their pans are some of the best nonstick skillets you’ll find.

Best Copper Frying Pan

Hestan Copper Skillet

When it comes to the best copper skillet on the market, I have to give it to Hestan, hands down. Hestan’s CopperBond® series is one of my absolute favorites, and many other chefs share this sentiment with me. The series features skillets available in three sizes: small (8.5-inch), medium (11-inch), and large (12.5-inch). Durable Hestan skillets are designed to heat quickly and perform impeccably when it comes to browning and searing. Handcrafted in Italy, these elegant copper frying pans are just as much of a joy to look at as they are to use in the kitchen. I try to serve as many dishes as possible straight-from-the-pan, as this copper cookware collection looks beautiful on the table.

Best Stainless Steel Skillet

360 Cookware Stainless Steel Fry Pan

I have been using 360 Cookware for a while now and I love it for several reasons. These pans are built to last, and have held up incredibly well. Handcrafted in the US, these stainless steel fry pans provide even heating and are made with T-316 Surgical Grade Stainless Steel. But one of the best benefits of these pans is 360’s unique Vapor® Cooking Method. This technology allows you to cook meals faster and lock in nutrients without the use of additional fats or oils. You don’t need to utilize this method to enjoy the pans, though — the 360 skillets are still one of the best stainless steel frying pans on the market.

Best Carbon Steel Frying Pan

Made In Blue Carbon Steel Skillet

Curious about blue carbon steel cookware? Basically, blue carbon steel is as if stainless steel and cast iron had a baby. Treated with a bluish patina that enhances nonstick properties and prevents rust, blue carbon steel cookware combines the heat retention and even cooking characteristics of cast iron with the lighter weight and smoother surface of stainless steel. My favorite blue carbon steel skillet is from Made In (and yours too, apparently — these skillets have a 4.8 rating out of almost 9,000 reviews). Made in Sweden, these pans are naturally nonstick and come pre-seasoned, making them the best carbon steel skillets around.

Best Cast Iron Skillet

Lodge Classic Cast Iron Skillet

You really can’t go wrong with Lodge. Now, don’t get me wrong — I am a sucker for artisan cast iron pans and own a few, including Smithey Cast Iron. But for everyday cast iron cooking? You really don’t need anything more than Lodge, which is amazing, because Lodge is extremely affordable (especially for pans that last a lifetime!). Lodge also offers a vast variety of 9 different sizes, and one of the best large frying pans at 15″.

Best Enameled Cast Iron Frying Pan

Staub Cast Iron Frying Pan

I’m a huge fan of Staub and I love their enameled cast iron cookware. Not only are they high-quality, but the colors are truly stunning. (This lilac color, though? My favorite. Swoon.) Staub’s enameled cast iron skillets come in a regular fry pan, deep skillet, and a double handle fry pan. Made in France, these enameled fry pans provide more convenience than typical cast iron pans. They can be cleaned in the dishwasher and do not require seasoning, and are still ideal for high-heat cooking.

Best Budget Frying Pans

GreenPan Nonstick Ceramic Skillet

I’ve used tons and tons of “budget” cookware in my day, most of which has never lasted more than a couple of months. This is why I stick with high-quality cookware now, as it’ll last me a lifetime in most cases and just provides superior performance. Besides Lodge, I recommend GreenPan as some of the best budget frying pans. Some GreenPan skillets start below $20 on sale, which is an amazing price. GreenPan frying pans feature nonstick ceramic interiors that are free of PFAS, PFOAS, lead, and cadmium. There are several lines of GreenPan skillets with varying price tags, but the Rio line is the most budget-friendly.

Best Frying Pans FAQ

There you have it — our chef-recommended picks for the best skillets and frying pans! Did your favorite make the list? Let us know in the comments below.

Last Updated on June 12, 2024 by Tiffany