Straight to the Point
The best nonstick skillet is the OXO Nonstick Pro Fry Pan. It’s lightweight and durable and priced right. We also like the Cuisinart 622-24 Chef’s Classic Nonstick Skillet for a pick that can withstand high oven temperatures.
A good nonstick skillet can make a big difference in the kitchen. It allows you to cook perfect, over-easy eggs that slide effortlessly onto your plate.
Without a nonstick skillet, you might find egg dishes sticking to the pan, breaking apart, and becoming a frustrating yolky mess. The same goes for flipping pancakes, crepes, or roti—when your pan is up to the task, these foods release smoothly. But if not, you’ll be left with a sticky, doughy disaster. As kitchen gear reviewers and home cooks, we’ve experienced both scenarios.We recently put over a dozen skillets to the test, cooking over-easy eggs, omelets, and crepes.
We also put each pan through durability tests—scratching them with metal spatulas and steel wool—to see which ones could stand up to years of use. Our winning models are lightweight, easy to handle, and can tackle even the stickiest ingredients. Below, you’ll find our top recommendations, any of which could become your new go-to pan. The best part? We found that high-performing nonstick pans don’t have to be expensive—our all-star choices range from $28 to $66, and we have a variety of ones you can choose from. We’ve also added a budget-friendly skillet from our ceramic skillets review for a naturally nonstick option.The Winners, at a Glance
The Best Nonstick Skillet
OXO Non-Stick Pro 10-Inch Frypan
PHOTO: Amazon
$40
$33 at Amazon
This nonstick skillet has a ceramic coating, so over-easy eggs released without a hassle. It’s lightweight and designed with a comfortable stainless steel handle, which makes for easy maneuverability.
Another Great Nonstick Skillet
Tramontina 10-Inch Professional Aluminum Nonstick Restaurant Fry Pan
PHOTO: Amazon
$60
$31 at Amazon
$32 at Walmart
$33 at Target
This Tramontina pick is one of the more affordable models we tested. Despite its low price, it aced our over-easy egg and omelette tests. While some minor scratches appeared during the durability tests, the marks were not prominent enough to give any cause for concern.
The Best Splurge Nonstick Skillet
Misen Nonstick Pan
PHOTO: Misen
$64 at Amazon
View on Misen.com
If you invest in a pricey nonstick pan, choose this one from Misen. Its coating has a textured surface with microscopic peaks and valleys, which, based on our durability tests, helped limit wear and damage from metal spatulas or steel wool.
The Best High Heat Nonstick Skillet
Cuisinart 622-24 Chef’s Classic Nonstick Skillet
PHOTO: Amazon
$40
$38 at Amazon
View on Birchlane.com
This model from Cuisinart has a stainless steel riveted handle that stays cool on the hot stovetop so you don’t accidentally burn your hands.
The Tests
What We Learned
Our Favorite Nonstick Skillets
The Competition
FAQs
Why We’re the Experts
The Kyocera Ceramic Nonstick Frying Pan stands out as the top budget-friendly option in our review. It’s lightweight, which makes it easy to maneuver for quick-cooking crepe batter. In our durability tests, it held up well, showing only minor marks after being scraped with a metal spatula and steel wool.
This nonstick skillet’s most impressive feature is its ability to withstand high temperatures, up to 500F, the highest limit among our reviewed skillets. It’s a great deal for those seeking a high-quality, durable pan without breaking the bank.
In our tests, we evaluated the skillets’ performance in several ways:
– Over-Easy Egg Test: We fried over-easy eggs to check the nonstick coating’s effectiveness, using a metal fish spatula to flip them.
– Omelet Test: We cooked omelets to see how well the skillets sautéed ham and allowed the egg batter to spread evenly, and how they handled sticky ingredients like cheese.
– Crepe Test: We poured crepe batter into the skillets and observed how easily it spread and released after cooking, using a metal offset spatula.
– Durability Test: We conducted scratch tests, scraping the skillets with a metal spatula and rubbing with steel wool to assess their resistance to damage.
– Usability and Cleanup Tests: We noted the ease of holding, lifting, and tilting the skillets, and how well they cleaned according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
From our observations, we learned that lip and handle design significantly impacts usability. A rounded rim and easy-to-grip, cool-to-touch handles are desirable. Lightweight models performed exceptionally well in our tests due to their ease of handling.
Material choice is also crucial; our winning models featured aluminum construction for quick heating, which is beneficial for faster cooking times.
PHOTO: Amazon$67 at Amazon
This material is ideal for recipes that require a quick sear and for maintaining the texture of delicate ingredients like eggs, which can easily get finicky when temperatures are too low. However, we did notice that aluminum skillets can sometimes develop hot spots. For example, the Tramontina Pro Fusion Aluminum Nonstick Fry Pan slightly overcooked certain parts of our crepes. None of our winners are compatible with induction stovetops, as they are made at least in part from aluminum, but we believe the performance benefits outweigh this setback. If induction compatibility is a priority, know that we tested the T-fal Experience Nonstick Fry Pan but it didn’t do well in our durability test.
How Long Do Nonstick Skillets Last?
Let’s face it: Nonstick pans don’t last very long.
Serious Eats / Ashia Aubourg
No matter how well you care for your nonstick skillet, it has a limited lifespan. Its surface—whether ceramic or synthetic—can’t stand up to years of use. That’s why we recommend buying cheap nonstick cookware that can be replaced without much hassle. Of course, there are some great $100-plus nonstick skillets (we’ve reviewed and like HexClad cookware). But if price is a factor in your cookware purchases, it’s hard to justify a pricier option.
Most Nonstick Skillets Weren’t Scratch-Proof
If you use metal utensils on nonstick skillets, your cookware will eventually become scratched.
Serious Eats / Ashia Aubourg
We found that most nonstick skillets gained scratches after being scraped with a metal spatula and steel wool. These skillets are not designed to last forever, and their surfaces naturally wear down over time. For this reason, we don’t recommend purchasing expensive ones like the Made In Cookware Nonstick Ceramic Frying Pan. While subtle damage to your nonstick skillet is inevitable, to extend the life of your skillet, we suggest using silicone or wooden utensils instead of metal ones, and replacing them once they show signs of wear.
How to Clean and Care for Nonstick Skillets
Never use an abrasive scrubber on nonstick skillets—even with stuck-on food.
Serious Eats / Ashia Aubourg
Want to keep your pan in top shape for as long as possible? Follow these rules.
Never put a nonstick skillet in the dishwasher! The high heat degrades the coating.
Choose cooking utensils that are safe for nonstick pans, like silicone spatulas and wooden spoons.
This is not a good pan for high-heat cooking. Instead, use a cast iron or carbon steel.
Place a buffer (like a paper plate or kitchen towel) on the pan’s surface if you’re stacking it with other cookware for storage.
The Criteria: What to Look for in a Nonstick Skillet
Serious Eats / Ashia Aubourg
We recommend lightweight nonstick skillets with heat-resistant, grippy handles, which make them easier to lift and maneuver while cooking. The best skillets heat up quickly thanks to an aluminum-stainless steel composition. Their surface coating should help food release easily, even with sticky ingredients. Our top pick, from OXO, has a rounded rim around its lip, allowing you to lift or maneuver ingredients without them getting stuck in the corners of the pan. A reminder: No nonstick skillet is scratch-proof.
Our Favorite Nonstick Skillets
The Best Nonstick Skillet
OXO Non-Stick Pro 10-Inch Frypan
PHOTO: Amazon
$40
$33 at Amazon
What we liked: This model has a rounded rim around its lip and an aluminum base with a ceramic coating enhanced with diamonds (fancy!), allowing sticky and delicate foods like over-easy eggs to maneuver through its surface easily. The stainless steel handle offered a comfortable grip and stayed cool during use, preventing burns. Weighing just two pounds, it excelled in our crepe tests when we had to tilt and swirl the skillet to spread the batter.
Discover the top nonstick skillets that excel in durability, heat distribution, and ease of cleaning. Our omelets came out evenly cooked, indicating no hot spots, and performed exceptionally well in durability tests, showing no scratches even after scraping with metal utensils. This skillet is safe to use on gas, electric, electric coil, halogen, and ceramic stovetops. Cleaning is effortless, either in the dishwasher or by hand, though we recommend hand-washing for longevity.
Key Specs: Materials: Stainless steel, aluminum, ceramic; Diameter: 10 inches; Weight: 2 pounds; Maximum oven temperature: 430F; Induction compatible: No; Care instructions: Hand-wash, dishwasher-safe. What we didn’t like: Compared to other winners that can withstand up to 500F in an oven, this one can only handle 430F. It is not induction-compatible. Another Great Nonstick Skillet: Tramontina 10-Inch Professional Aluminum Nonstick Restaurant Fry Pan. The Tramontina has an aluminum surface for quick and even heat distribution, successfully completing our over-easy egg and omelette test without uneven cooking issues. Its nonstick coating prevented ingredients from getting stuck. It’s lightweight, weighing under two pounds, and has a silicone sleeve on the cover for easy grip. Cleaning by hand is quick and easy. Key Specs: Materials: Aluminum, stainless steel; Diameter: 10 inches; Weight: 1.97 pounds; Maximum oven temperature: 400F; Induction compatible: No; Care instructions: Hand-wash, dishwasher-safe. What we didn’t like: Some crepes turned out slightly unevenly colored during our tests. Additionally, this nonstick skillet is not compatible with induction cooktops and can only withstand up to 400F in the oven. The Best Splurge Nonstick Skillet: Misen Nonstick Pan. Models with a slightly textured surface, like this one from Misen, excelled in durability. Scratched with a metal spatula and steel wool, it showed no signs of damage. There were no issues with sticking or uneven cooking. Weighing just over two pounds, it’s heavier than some of our other winning picks but still felt light enough and easy to maneuver on the stovetop. The handle stayed cool during use, and hand-washing was straightforward. Key Specs: Price: $64 at Amazon; View on Misen.com. What we didn’t like: It’s not induction-compatible. It’s nearly $30 more than the other winning models that performed just as well.The Best High Heat Nonstick Skillet
Cuisinart 622-24 Chef’s Classic Nonstick Skillet PHOTO: Amazon $40 $38 at Amazon View on Birchlane.com What we liked: This Cuisinart nonstick model lived up to its promise of being nonstick. The aluminum base performed excellently in our tests for over-easy eggs, omelets, and crepes, with no ingredients cooking unevenly. Additionally, its nonstick coating reinforced with titanium helped sticky foods release from its surface. The stainless steel handle stayed cool and was easy to grip when lifting the skillet. One of its standout features is its ability to withstand temperatures up to 500F in the oven. This makes it perfect for tasks like caramelizing the top of stovetop mac and cheese or eggplant Parmesan without damaging the pan. Cleaning is easy, too—just a quick swipe with a sponge is enough to remove any grime. What we didn’t like: While the aluminum material in this pan heats up quickly, we noticed some hot spots during our crepe tests, which caused parts of the pancake to cook unevenly. It’s also not induction-compatible. Key Specs Materials: Aluminum, stainless steel Diameter: 10 inches Weight: 2.6 pounds Maximum oven temperature: 450F Induction compatible: No Care instructions: Hand-wash only PHOTO: Serious Eats The Best Budget Ceramic Nonstick Skillet Kyocera Ceramic Nonstick Frying Pan PHOTO: Amazon $67 at Amazon What we liked: This pan was the least expensive one we tested in our ceramic skillets review, and it refused to show damage after being scratched with a metal spatula. Some ceramic skillets are heavy, but this one was easy to lift and maneuver. Eggs didn’t stick to the pan’s surface. What we didn’t like: The pan’s walls are steeply angled, which made getting a spatula underneath some foods tricky. Key Specs Materials: Ceramic, aluminum, stainless steel Diameter: We tested a now-discontinued 10-inch model; a 12-inch model is still available Weight: 1 pound Maximum oven temperature: 400˚F Induction compatible: Yes Care instructions: Hand-wash only PHOTO: Serious Eats / Madeline Muzzi The Competition T-fal Experience Nonstick Fry Pan 10.5 Inch: We noted major scratches during durability testing, including some shedding of its red logo. All-Clad Nonstick Hard Anodized 10-Inch Fry Pan: The surface of this pan wasn’t nonstick enough to allow the crepe batter to spread smoothly during our tests. And some hotspots resulted in crepes with uneven color. Zwilling Vitale 10-Inch Nonstick Fry Pan: It was difficult to flip an over-easy egg without breaking it in our fat-free performance test.In our review of various nonstick frying pans, we’ve identified the performance and durability of several models. The Made In Cookware 10-Inch Nonstick Ceramic Frying Pan performed well in tests for over-easy eggs, omelets, crepes, and durability; however, its price is significantly higher than other models with similar performance.
Made In Cookware also offers the 10-Inch Pro Coat Nonstick Frying Pan, which struggled in our performance test without fat, making it difficult to flip an over-easy egg. The Viking 3-Ply Nonstick 10-Inch Fry Pan was found to be heavy and difficult to lift, with an uncomfortable handle and a conical rim that caused over-easy eggs to stick, resulting in a test failure. The Calphalon Classic 10-Inch Nonstick Fry Pan failed to deliver an over-easy egg in a dry pan, and hot spots caused certain parts of the crepe to brown excessively. The SENSARTE Nonstick Frying Pan 10-Inch could not pass our over-easy egg or durability tests. The Utopia Kitchen Nonstick Frying Pan Set had issues with over-easy eggs sticking to the skillet’s surface and showed scratches after the durability test. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Should you season a nonstick skillet? Seasoning refers to the buildup of polymerized fat on a pan, creating a nonstick surface. This technique is commonly used on cast iron and carbon steel pans, but there’s no need to season a nonstick skillet with fat. Are nonstick skillets compatible with induction burners? It’s important to check the fine print in your nonstick skillet’s instruction manual, as not all models are compatible. Consider the T-fal Experience Nonstick Fry Pan or the All-Clad Nonstick Hard Anodized Fry Pan if you’re looking for induction-compatible options. Are nonstick skillets safe to use? Most nonstick skillets are made with PTFE, a synthetic material that prevents food from sticking. These pans are generally safe if not heated to excessively high temperatures. Overheating can cause the coating to break down and release harmful fumes. PFOA is considered a carcinogen by IARC, and while more research is needed on PTFE, PFAS in general are considered toxic. The EPA states that exposure to PFAS has been linked to various health issues. Can nonstick pans go in the dishwasher? We recommend washing your nonstick skillet by hand, along with all cookware, including stainless steel skillets. Why We’re the Experts: Ashia Aubourg is a writer with experience researching and testing cooking appliances and working in kitchens and farms. Her work with Serious Eats includes gift guides, educational pieces, and product reviews. For this review, Ashia tested 13 nonstick skillets to find ones that released food easily, were pleasant to hold and move, and had some durability. We’ve also added the winner of our ceramic nonstick skillets review as an alternative option.When it comes to cooking eggs, whether you prefer them scrambled or fried, having the right cookware is essential.
Cookware plays a crucial role in the basic kitchen equipment, ensuring that your eggs are cooked to perfection every time. The latest cookware options available in the market are designed to cater to different cooking styles and preferences. From non-stick to cast iron, the variety in cookware ensures that you can choose the best pan for your cooking needs. Investing in high-quality cookware is not just about the aesthetics; it’s about enhancing your cooking experience and achieving the best results.
