A quality nonstick skillet is essential in the kitchen; From stir fry to burgers to omelettes, it does basically everything. However, not all pans are created equal, and with thousands available in all price ranges, it can be difficult to find the best one.
To determine which non-stick pans were really the best, we cooked four different meals with 12 models, evaluating adherence (could an egg really flip without oil or butter and leave no trace?), Ergonomics, cleanability, distribution, and temperature tolerance , durability and general aesthetics. After too many pancakes and too many eggs (yes, we know our job is hard), we come to the three winners below.
The best non-stick pans
Best Overall Skillet: T-fal E76597 Ultimate Hard Anodized Antistick Fry Pan with Lid
Best Eco-Friendly Skillet: GreenPan Levels Ceramic Skillet
Best restaurant-quality skillet: 10-inch HexClad hybrid skillet
A quick look at the winners
If you are a minimalist and prefer to have a single pan in your kitchen, the T-fal E76597 is all you need. The depth of this skillet gives you multipurpose functionality - it cooks foods like eggs and meats, and its 2.5-inch sides are high enough to make recipes you'd normally reserve for pots, like rice dishes and casseroles. It's an affordable, high-quality skillet that outperformed some of the most expensive in our testing range.
GreenPan's Ceramic Skillet features materials that will please any consumer aware of how harmful some chemicals can be. Unlike many nonstick pans, this one is free of materials that can pose long-term health risks, including PFAS, PFOA, lead, and cadmium. The non-stick coating is instead made of sand, so it won't release any toxic fumes in case of overheating.
The 10-inch HexClad Hybrid Skillet feels classy (and yes, it's expensive too), but it's a sturdy piece that outperformed the competition during each of our tests - the food slid off easily, it was super easy to clean, and the heat was evenly distributed while cooking. If you're looking for a professional-level upgrade to your cookware, this is all you need in a well-designed nonstick skillet.
In detail
Best Skillet Overall: T-fal E76597 Ultimate Hard Anodized Antistick Fry Pan with Lid ($ 44.99; amazon.com)
Why we love it in one sentence: Whether you're looking to steam a mountain of veggies or sear a steak, this affordable option can do it all with ease.
This skillet is a bargain. At just under $ 45 (with lid included), you can cook a lot more than your average skillet, and with the ability to boil and stew. Its extended side height helps contain bulky veggies, like kale, that would otherwise overflow before they wilt from the heat.
When it comes to non-stick, the T-fal absolutely delivers. Nothing clings to the surface of the skillet, which is made from anodized aluminum, a term known in the kitchenware world but may not be familiar with. Anodizing and aluminum go together like peanut butter and jelly; an electrochemical process turns the metal into a more durable and corrosion resistant material. Rather than strengthening the skillet's surface layer like a coating would, the aluminum is built-in so it can't come off or chip.
The T-fal model can withstand up to 400 degrees in the oven and comes with a lifetime warranty. In fact, the skillet came out of a 400 degree oven exactly as it came in. The center of the pan is marked with a red "heat spot indicator" that turns solid red when the pan is properly preheated, which works, but feels a bit gimmicky unless you're particularly passionate about preheating.
The handle is made of silicone and is comfortable, light to grip, and most importantly, stays relatively cool when heated. It also has a sizeable hole, allowing you to hang it vertically, a good idea for small kitchens.
The pan is marketed as '2x more scratch resistant', and while that's a pretty vague statement, it stood up well to our scratch tests. We took a real beating with metal utensils, but the pan showed absolutely no evidence. (Still, manufacturers recommend using metal utensils carefully.) The material is non-toxic, so even if you did have to overheat or scratch the pan, you won't have to worry about it poisoning your food.
When it comes to cleaning, the T-fal does not give any problems at all. Soap, water and a sponge are enough.
For less than the cost of a quality restaurant meal, this is the nonstick skillet that does it all. A perfect skillet is hard to come by, and yet the T-fal effortlessly takes the title. In fact, in our tests, it tied in terms of the overall score with the pro-level HexClad that sells for more than double the price.
Best Eco-Friendly Skillet: GreenPan Ceramic Skillet ($ 37.95, originally $ 49.99; amazon.com)
Why we love it in one sentence: True to its name, the GreenPan is a healthier, more environmentally friendly non-stick pan that really works.
Ceramic cookware has become popular in the wellness world; they have a reputation for being "healthier" than those made from Teflon or copper. Ceramic has a benefit, especially when cooking at high temperatures, because there are no possible chemicals that can leach into food. GreenPan did not win our vote for these reasons alone (although they are a bonus); it's just a great frying pan.
Eggs, pancakes, and even a sticky peanut sauce slid across the surface like Kristi Yamaguchi. After cooking, there was close to zero residue left in the pan.
This frying pan is also a true ergonomic delight. At 2 pounds, it's the lightest of our top three picks, making it easy on the wrist and easy to move, whether you're transferring food from a pan to a plate or sautéing. Unlike the other two pans, aesthetically, GreenPan looks basic; Without a distinctive surface pattern, it could easily be mistaken for any ordinary skillet, which is part of its charm.
Like the T-fal, this pan has an anodized aluminum body, which guarantees uniform cooking and the correct temperature distribution. It's also incredibly scratch-resistant - dragging a metal fork across its surface left the same marks as swiping a finger - that is, none. The pan can tolerate up to 400 degrees in the oven, and its silicone-wrapped handle helps keep it cool to the touch. Derived from sand rather than toxic material, the Thermolon ceramic nonstick surface thrives in lower heat environments, but does not release chemical fumes if you cook at high temperatures. On its website, GreenPan claims that 60% less CO2 is emitted during the Thermolon coating process compared to the CO2 emitted during the traditional coatings process, which we assume is what puts 'green' in its name .
Best Restaurant-Quality Skillet: 10-Inch HexClad Hybrid Skillet ($ 109.99, originally $ 131; hexclad.com)
Why we love it in one sentence : You pay a premium but you get a nail-hard skillet you'll find in professional kitchens - nothing you cook will stick, prevent scratches, can withstand the highest oven temperatures of the bunch we tested, and it looks awesome.
Oh la la. Displaying this skillet on top of your burners will make guests think you know what you're doing in the kitchen.
Although significantly more expensive than the other pans on our list, HexClad stands out from the rest for its build quality. It has a black hexagonal topcoat pattern, designed to create a series of "peaks and valleys." According to the manufacturers, the valleys are what give the pan its non-stick properties, while the stainless steel spikes provide even heating while protecting the pan from peeling. For us, the design looks fresh and makes the cleaning and cooking surface smooth. The pan's unique surface texture seems to prevent scratches of any kind - a sharp knife, a menacing fork, and even a metal spatula were no match. (The CEO of the company even made a very compelling video in which he runs a metal pizza cutter and motorized hand mixer through the pan without any damage.) Those corners also seemed to distribute heat well, as the food cooked evenly no matter which side of the pan it was on.
The manufacturers suggest seasoning the pan first, which we did: As directed, we heat a little oil for a couple of minutes and then wash it off. And then we made a cheese omelette and devoured every last remnant as not a single strand of cheese or egg got stuck in the pan. And the same can be said for cooking fish, making pancakes, and creating savory concoctions. Nothing seemed to stick around, and cleanup was a breeze.
Another thing this skillet has above all the others: It is the most durable of our three selections, holding up to 500 degrees in the oven. That means you can bake it for hours without worrying that it will warp. It's called a hybrid for its combination of stainless steel and nonstick, which gives it a high-quality look and will make the part last. (HexClad is backed with a lifetime warranty.) Stainless steel alone is not a great conductor of heat, but this model is constructed with an interlayer of aluminum that perfectly distributes heat for an even cooking temperature.
Unlike many of the other stainless pans we tested, the bottom of the HexCladno burned or changed color when overheated, thanks to the black non-stick design featured here as well. This is a very nice feature for cleaning; if any of your food spills or overflows, a simple scrub will do the trick. Even the molten plastic came out of the bottom with a simple swipe of the sponge.
Other pans we tested
All-Clad 4110 NS R2 Stainless Steel Tri-Ply Bonded Nonstick Skillet ($ 149.99; amazon.com)
This skillet was getting dangerously hot, and maybe we turned the heat up too high, but the bottom of the pan was stained with charcoal-like marks from the first use.
All-Clad B1 Hard Anodized Nonstick Skillet ($ 56.99 for a set of two; amazon.com)
Surprising to us, this less expensive All-Clad model withstood heat better than its more expensive counterpart. Its handle, however, was difficult to handle and awkward to hold while transferring food from the pan to the plate.
Anolon Advanced Skillet ($ 24.99; amazon.com)
This Anolon skillet had wonderful non-stick power. Its handle is almost completely covered in silicone to protect the cook from the heat, but it's a little too easy to approach the pan unprotected and risk burning yourself.
Calphalon Contemporary Hard Anodized Aluminum Skillet, 10-Inch & 12-Inch Set ($ 89.89; amazon.com)
This skillet was also a winner in the nonstick department. Lose points for the small nodes that connect the handle to the pan; they are positioned on the inside of the pan and can trap food, which can make it messy to clean.
Cuisinart MultiClad Pro Stainless Steel Nonstick Skillet ($ 39.99 for an 8-inch skillet; amazon.com)
The bottom of this pan was stained with a burn mark on the second use. This does not affect the ability of the pan to cook something successfully, but for people who are concerned about appearances, this is not the choice.
Oxo Good Grips Skillet, 12-Inch ($ 49.99; amazon.com)
Light but sturdy, this skillet is a sensible option for its price, without many extras. As for scratches, it doesn't go wonderfully with metal utensils, but if you follow the rules (don't use metal), it looks like one that would last.
Tramontina Professional Aluminum Nonstick Skillet ($ 43.88; amazon.com)
This frying pan was runner-up; received high marks for its comfortable grip and scratch resistance. The only downside: Its little rivets where the handle meets the pan created a vulnerable spot for food to get stuck, making it a bit of a hassle to clean. However, you can remove the red silicone grip and clean it separately.
T-fal Professional Total Antistick Thermo-Spot Heat Indicator Fry Pan ($ 30.97; amazon.com)
This T-fal model was very close to the other from the same brand, but the latter finally won for its high sides and lid. For a shallow pan, this is a solid option.
Zwilling Madura Plus 10-Inch Nonstick Pan ($ 49; amazon.com)
A metal fork tore apart Zwilling's non-stick surface, leaving scratches everywhere, and its handle lacked adequate cushioning. Still, the sleek surface of this skillet cooked food evenly and was a breeze to clean.
Note: The above prices reflect the price at the time of publication of the article.
