Spending your money on the best non-stick frying pans? With a pandemic continuing to sweep across the globe, home cooking has never been so important.
This in mind, the need for a non-stick frying pan should be a very high priority for you, if you want to up your cooking game.
This guide will run through seven of the best non-stick frying pans on the market, that will improve your meals, and also, just as importantly, help with the cleaning up process.
These particular pans will be the perfect choice for a variety of foods that can be notoriously difficult to clean off a pan including fish, eggs and vegetables.
While also covering a variety of non-stick frying pans out there, such as ceramic, Teflon and aluminium.
See more: Best induction pans – the top pans for induction hobs
Best non-stick frying pans
A good place to start this guide is with the GOURMEX Toughpan, which is perfect for cooking meat, fish and veggies.
Appearance wise it’s a smart square-shaped skillet that is made from heavy-duty cast-aluminium, which means this non-stick frying pan is rust and warp free.
It can stand the test of all heat sources, making it a durable option to consider, and is also 100 percent PFOA free, making it an eco-friendly option too, while the coating will never wear according to the manufacturers. To back up this, GOURMEX offers a full guarantee meaning if you don't like it you get your money back or a replacement.
It’s quite compact in size so storage shouldn’t be a problem, even for those with less room in the kitchen. One drawback is arguably that it’s not dishwasher safe, although for best results, hand washing with soapy water is the way to go.
For those on a bit of a budget but also looking to get a non-stick frying pan because they wish to save time cleaning and cooking, this T-fal pan should definitely be considered.
For under $30 the T-fal E76507 Fry Pan is pretty good for what it costs. It ticks the box of being non-stick, while being both oven and dishwasher safe.
But for fish lovers this pan is great as it has a PFOA free non-stick layer, thus eliminating any harmful chemicals sticking to your fish.
Better yet it even has a thermo-spot heat indicator in the middle of the pan to signal that the pan is hot enough and ready to cook. Along with this it’s made from sturdy anodized aluminium so you know it’s going to stand up well.
A slight drawback is that it’s a hefty bit of kit, which might pose a problem when keeping it stored.
Next in the list is the German-manufactured Ozeri 10-inch Earth Fry Pan, which is currently listed on Amazon for $75.
This particular review is about the 10-inch variant, although 8-inch and 11-inch options are also available, while customers have the choice of either a fixed or removable handle.
And while the price might make your eyes wince, this is good effort from Ozeri, and ideal for those that wish to go for a ceramic option over Teflon.
This hand crafted pan is elegant in design and scratch resistant to give an added level of confidence, while Ozeri claims that this frying pan is three times thicker than your average frying pan. It also comes with a magnetized layer for compatibility with induction stoves.
While the product is dishwasher safe, to prolong the life of the pan it’s recommended that hot soapy water and a dry soft cloth are used.
If you wish to go for a green option, then the GreenPan Venice Pro frying pan is likely to be right up your street.
This pan ticks several boxes. It’s put together with ceramic coating and with this, guarantees to be free from toxic fumes, as it avoids PFAS, PFOA, lead and cadmium.
Nothing is compromised here as the Thermolon coating means that the frying pan is a tough piece of kit that is oven, boiler and dishwasher safe. On top of this it comes with a riveted handle that allows for a simple transition from stovetop to oven.
This all-rounder can be used across all stovetops, including induction hobs. Customers can choose between a 10-inch or 11-inch version, but either way the smart gray color will stay the same.
A slight drawback is that the stainless steel ceramic frying pan is quite heavy.
Most of us will enjoy eggs from time-to-time, so this egg specific frying pan is perfect for those catering to a few hungry mouths in the morning.
The unique 4-in-1 design by GXOACKJ looks smart and keeps it simple for those who want to cook multiple eggs at the same time, without the annoyance of sticking together.
This cookware is made from aluminium alloy and features a wooden handle, which does look a bit out of place. Although for $14.99 it does what it is needed to do. And again it can support a variety of different stoves, which is helpful.
Just as a note, this particular comes in packaging with the handle and pan separate, so requires minimal DIY skills to assemble, using a screwdriver.
Sadly there’s no confirmation of any guarantee, or that this product is either oven or dishwasher safe.
For a more heavy-duty choice this Calphalon 13-inch skillet is of interest. It’s made from aluminium and has a durable triple-layer non-stick interior that makes it ideal when cooking a range of food.
Unlike most on this list, there is also a tempered glass lid that can go on top while food is cooking.
It’s oven safe up to 450°F and can also be stuck in the dishwasher to be cleaned up. It's compatible on electric, gas and glass top cookers. It has a long handle that stays cool while on the stovetop.
Although a smart design, it’s a bulky frying pan and while it is dishwasher safe, it may take up a fair bit of cupboard space.
But the lifetime warranty is encouraging for a product that can stand the test of time, which is understandable given the price.
GreenLife’s ceramic jumbo sauté pan rounds up this guide with this non-stick frying pan, a good choice for those looking to make an environmental purchase.
It comes in either turquoise or black and features a ceramic coating that comes from sand and is free from chemical compounds. On top of this it’s made from recycled aluminium.
Similar to the Calphalon frying pan, there is a durable glass lid included so that it’s simple to keep an eye on what’s cooking. For ease of convenience this product is dishwasher safe and oven safe up to 350°F.
On the side of the pan there are stay cool handles, which are softgrip. However this GreenLife frying pan is quite a large pan, so might give you a headache when rearranging all your kitchen clutter.
Overall for the price and for environmental reasons, it’s a solid option to consider.
What frying pans do professional chefs use?
Professional chefs unsurprisingly use a range of different frying pans for varying needs.
These include your standard frying pans made from a range of materials such as cast iron, copper and carbon steel.
While other pans include skillets which are made up of an alloy or iron and carbon. There is also the higher capacity brazier pans, plus sauté pans which are used as they heat up quicker.
Non-stick griddle pans are used and are usually square-shaped and made from either cast-iron or Teflon. Another common type of pan is the wok, which is ideal for those that wish to whip together a stir-fry.
Are ceramic pans better than Teflon?
Teflon cookware has been more commonly used in kitchens, with ceramic options coming to the party in more recent years. But what are the differences between them?
Both types are designed to be non-stick, with Teflon the branded name for the substance PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene). This compound has traditionally made Teflon pans more effective when it comes to cooking and cleaning.
However the ceramic coated pans are seen to be the more environmentally friendly. That is because there is a difference in the composition of the non-stick coating found on both, and it is claimed that ceramic pans produce up to 50 percent less carbon dioxide in processing.
But this isn’t to say that Teflon is necessarily harmful. Teflon pans have been used for years, with no known harm caused to humans, but they have the potential to emit some dangerous toxins if the non-stick coating breaks down.
Teflon pans will minimize the amount of food that sticks to the pan, but ceramic pans also do a good job and are the greener option. Either way both are great for beginners.
How long do ceramic and other non-stick pans last?
Non-stick pans won’t last as long as stainless steel or cast-iron pans. But that’s not to say you shouldn’t go for one.
Typically non-stick pans will have a shelf-life of a few years, but like everything in life it comes down to how they’re maintained.
For instance, ceramic non-stick pans are going to last longer if they’re washed by hand, rather than by dishwasher. While some non-stick pans are dishwasher safe, they will deteriorate in condition after a certain amount of time if continuously washed that way, due to the high temperatures involved.
In short, if maintained well and cleaned by hand where possible, a ceramic non-stick pan could last as long as five years.
