The very best non-stick frying pan can last a lifetime. While early non-stick was full of nasties and could be scratched up with the washing up, it’s now a lot more durable and frequently comes without PFOA. Our best non-stick frying pan picks include toughened pans that will allow you to use metal utensils while you cook, without worrying about damaging your pan. It will feel a little weird at first but we promise it’s a game-changer!
Other things we looked out for when reviewing the best non-stick frying pans were the weight and feel of the pans. If you’re going to be using your non-stick pan each and every day, you’ll want to make sure it looks and feels lovely to use. If you’re flipping pancakes, you will want a lightweight pan that’s got brilliant non-stick which will work with minimal oil, but for those who plan on cooking steak or making an omelette, a heavier pan that fills well balanced on the hob will be more of a priority.
See also: the best saucepan sets
Many of the non-stick frying pans we tried come in a variety of sizes, usually from 20cm to 30cm, so we made sure to include these details in our reviews below. Our top pick is the Ninja Foodi Zerostick frying pan, but we also really enjoyed the Le Creuset Toughened Non-Stick for a more premium buy, and were wowed by the quality of the Zyliss Cook Ultimate Induction Frying Pan.
1. Ninja Foodi Zerostick Frying Pan
Best non-stick frying pan overall
Sizes: 20cm, 24cm, 28cm
Features: Zerostick coating, 10 Year Replacement Guarantee
Reasons to buy:
You can use metal utensils
Oven-safe up to 260 degrees
Incredibly durable
Surprisingly lightweight
Reasons to avoid:
None
Ninja has done it again: the brand behind some of the best air fryers and best blenders turned its hand to cookware not too long ago, and this debut wowed us. For a start, the non-stick is very durable, so much so that you can use metal utensils in the pan. It’s also oven-safe up to 260 degrees. We can’t remember the last time we ramped the oven up that high, but it’s nice to know you can!
The non-stick is quite unique, and in the months we put this one to the test it’s not had so much as a scratch of damage. The non-stick texture feels more like a skillet, but your stir-fries or steaks will lift away with no sticking. It can also go in the dishwasher, and for an entirely aluminium design, it’s not too heavy.
Ideal Home’s rating: 5 out of 5 stars
2. Le Creuset Toughened Non-Stick Shallow Frying Pan
Best non-stick frying pan for toughened finish
Sizes: 20cm, 22cm, 24cm, 28cm, 30cm
Features: Toughened non-stick, can be used on grills
Reasons to buy:
Can be used with metal utensils
Works on grills or in the oven
Available in a selection of sizes
Lifetime guarantee
Reasons to avoid:
The handle feels a little flat
You can dial down the amount of oil you use with this non-stick pan from Le Creuset. Made of textured toughened non-stick that can be used with metal utensils, it’s perfect for flipping burgers. The design is pretty hefty, so it’s not best for flipping pancakes, but we do really enjoy the durability and the accompanying lifetime guarantee.
The handle was a little flat for our liking, and we preferred more of an arch when comparing the best non-stick pans. However, the riveted design will mean that the handle never comes loose, and it can also go in the oven due to the plastic-free finish.
Ideal Home’s rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
3. Zyliss Cook Ultimate Induction Frying Pan
Best value non-stick frying pan
Sizes: 20cm, 24cm, 28cm
Non-stick: Yes
Features: Thre layers of non-stick
Reasons to buy:
Amazing quality for the price
Metal tool safe
Durable non-stick needs next-to-no oil
Reasons to avoid:
Weighty
The Zyliss Cook Ultimate Induction Frying Pan punches well above its weight with astonishing value-for-money and a really great handle. The non-stick is triple coated, with a holding primer, ceramic reinforced middle, and a sealing layer. It’s slightly textured, but not as much as the Ninja pan, and you can also use metal tools when cooking.
The handle is very sturdy and it feels secure when cooking, which is useful because this frying pan is quite heavy. It can go in the oven up to 180 degrees, but as with many plastic handles, it won’t go as high as metal. Zyliss claims that it doesn’t need oil or butter, and we did agree that we were able to move things around the pan pretty effortlessly with little oil.
Ideal Home’s rating: 5 out of 5 stars
4. Samuel Groves Tri-Ply Stainless Steel Non-Stick Frying Pan
Best quality non-stick frying pan
Sizes: 20cm, 26cm, 28cm, 32cm
Non-stick: Yes
Features: Tri-ply stainless steel, aluminium core
Reasons to buy:
Incredible quality
Hand crafted in the UK
Ergonomic handle
Oven-safe up to 200 degrees
Reasons to avoid:
An expensive choice
Not dishwasher-safe
The Samuel Groves Tri-Ply Stainless Steel Non-Stick Frying Pan screams of quality, thanks to its hand-crafted stainless steel construction right here in the UK. The non-stick is particularly impressive, so it’s no wonder that the brand recommends you don’t put it in the dishwasher, where you could limit its lifespan.
We really enjoyed the handle, which is very ergonomic, and reminiscent of something straight out of a professional kitchen. You can put the pan in the oven up to 200 degrees, which is a big win for foodies who want to sear their salmon and finish it in the oven.
Of course, the price will be a barrier for some barriers, but if there’s one frying pan we’d recommend splurging on, this is it.
Ideal Home’s rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
5. Our Place Always Pan
Best non-stick frying pan for multi-functional design
Sizes: 25.4 cm diameter only
Non-stick: Yes
Features: A sturdy lid and steaming basket
Reasons to buy:
Iconic, colourful design
Excellent quality non-stick
Works on all cooktops
Nesting spatula
Reasons to avoid:
It can’t go in the dishwasher
It’s not oven-safe
If you’ve not seen the Always Pan online you’re part of a very select group. It’s been an Instagram and influencer favourite for years, and it recently launched in the UK. As cookware lovers, we were excited.
First and foremost, the non-stick is top tier. Fried eggs slide around the pan, and it even makes a mean scramble, which is a tough task for many frying pans. The large capacity is great for cooking for the whole family, and thanks to the removable steamer we were able to cook noodles or steam broccoli and easily lift it out from the water once cooked.
It’s not a conventional frying pan as it’s designed to replace a saute pan, steamer, skillet, saucier, and saucepan too. It also has a built-in groove to rest your spatula on, and the beechwood spatula is included in delivery.
The range of colours is another big win, and we’re quite keen on the Sage. If you want to buy a frying pan as a gift, or simply to treat yourself, you’ll never want to take this one from the pride of place on the stove.
Ideal Home’s rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
6. Prestige Eco Non Stick Frying Pan Set
Best non-stick frying pan set
Sizes: 20cm, 26cm
Non-stick: Yes
Features: Eco-conscious design, five-year guarantee
Reasons to buy:
Great price
Easy to clean in the dishwasher
Made from recycled aluminium
Five year guarantee
Reasons to avoid:
Only oven-safe up to 150 degrees
We didn’t have the highest of expectations for a set of pans at such as reasonable price, but after months and months of use, this frying pan set has really impressed us. It’s got a genuinely excellent and very durable layer of non-stick, and cleaning in the dishwasher is a breese.
As part of Prestige’s Eco range, it’s made of recycled aluminium, and one tree is planted for every pan sold. The induction base is great for all hob types and completely scratch-free.
Ideal Home’s rating: 4 out of 5 stars
7. Zwilling Forte Duraslide Frying Pan
Best non-stick frying pan for searing
Sizes: 20, 24, 28, 30cm
Non-stick: Yes
Features: Abrasion-resistant non-stick coating
Reasons to buy:
The non-stick cooks like cast iron
It’s a sturdy and well-balanced pan
Outstanding heat distribution
Reasons to avoid:
Only oven-safe up to 180°C
The Zwilling Forte Duraslide comes in four sizes, and we enjoyed that the entirety of the pan felt like it was coated in the ultra-durable Ti-X (extreme titanium) non-stick. This pan heats very evenly, and once heated, it will sear your steaks or char your vegetables like cast iron. That’s thanks to the textured non-stick, which coats a forged aluminium core.
If you love washing your frying pan in the dishwasher but aren’t keen on cheaper non-stick, which can sometimes feel like it’s not built to last, this is a brilliant solution.
Ideal Home’s rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
8. GreenPan Barcelona Ceramic Non-Stick Frying Pan
Best frying pan for quality of non-stick coating
Sizes: 20cm, 24cm, 28, 30cm
Non-stick: Yes
Features: PFAS-free, lightweight design
Reasons to buy:
Amazing non-stick
Very ergonomic handle
Dishwasher and oven safe
Designed to last
Reasons to avoid:
A more expensive choice
GreenPan paved the way for healthy non-stick, and the Barcelona Frying Pan is a classic example. It’s noticeably high quality as soon as you hold it, with a lightweight design that doesn’t feel cheap. The handle is easy to hold and perfect for flipping pancakes, and the thick aluminium design evenly distributes heat.
The riveted handle is very durable and we’re confident that this frying pan will continue to stand the test of time. We also found the non-stick very durable, and our fried eggs and bacon slipped around the pan in testing.
Ideal Home’s rating: 5 out of 5 stars
9. BergHOFF Leo Non-Stick Frying Pan
Best non-stick frying pan for those on a budget
Sizes: 20, 24, 28cm
Non-stick: Yes
Features: Super lightweight design
Reasons to buy:
Brilliantly low price
We love the entire range of cookware
It’s got a grippy, ergonomic handle
Reasons to avoid:
Because it’s so light, it’s not the sturdiest
The BergHOFF Leo Non-Stick Frying Pan, like the rest of the BergHOFF line, really impressed us with its value-for-money. Costing as little as £20 for a pan, it’s remarkably well made, and the handle is grippy and ergonomic.
You can use this frying pan on all cooking surfaces, but it can’t go in the oven. What we loved the most was the slippy non-stick which had zero issues in frying eggs and bacon. It’s very lightweight, the lightest in this guide by far, so if you want something easy to lift it’s a good shout (great for flipping pancakes!) What you may find is that this leaves it with a lack of balance while on the hob, meaning it’s maybe better for induction and electric than gas.
Ideal Home’s rating: 4 out of 5 stars
10. Stellar S327B 24cm Forged Frying Pan
Best non-stick frying pan for cooking meat
Sizes: 20, 24, 26, 28, 30cm
Non-stick: Yes
Features: Lattice non-stick
Reasons to buy:
Great for searing
Easy to clean
Heat-safe handle
10 Year Non-Stick Warranty
Reasons to avoid:
Not the best for eggs
With a unique non-stick lattice-style pattern, the Stellar S327B 24cm Forged Frying Pan is like no other non-stick frying pan we tried. It has a heat-safe silicone-coated handle that can go in the oven up to 180-degrees, and comes in a wide range of sizes.
Most non-stick frying pans have a sleek, flat non-stick coating, but we really like this lattice alternative for frying meat and fish. It adds depth of flavour and different cooking textures, which will give you a finish that’s comparable to a standard frying pan. However, if you like making sauces or scrambled eggs in your frying pan, be prepared to scrub the hexagonal grooves in the Stellar pan to clean it up after use.
Ideal Home’s rating: 4 out of 5 stars
11. Kuhn Rikon New Life Frying Pan
Best non-stick frying pan for induction cooking
Sizes: 20, 24, 28cm
Non-stick: Yes
Features: Sustainability-focussed line
Reasons to buy:
Made of 100% recycled aluminium
Very even base with added induction layer
Five-year guarantee
Works on all hob types
Reasons to avoid:
The handle wasn’t our favourite
The Kuhn Rikon New Life Frying Pan is made of 100% recycled aluminium and is guaranteed for five years, so you know it’s built to last. The non-stick is extremely durable, and like the Zwilling Forte Duraslide frying pan, it’s slightly textured. We really like this for browning meat and vegetables with plenty of flavour, and it also speaks to the durability of the coating.
The base is 8mm thick, and is clearly designed to work perfectly on induction cooktops. It’s also dishwasher-safe, but we didn’t love the plastic handle, which was not as ergonomic as some of the pans we tested.
Ideal Home’s rating: 4 out of 5 stars
How we tested the best non-stick frying pans
All of the best frying pans in this guide were tested by our Small Appliance and Cooking Editor, Millie Fender. Millie also tested all of our best woks and best knife sets, so she knows a thing or two about frying and how to tell when cookware is worth your money.
Millie tested these frying pans in her day-to-day life. She cooked a lot of eggs and bacon, some sauce-based dishes, and oven-baked salmon when testing these frying pans, looking for signs of even cooking and considering how well the frying pans held up when used and cleaned on a regular basis. The best non-stick frying pan should hold up for years and years, which is why Millie spent months preparing for this comprehensive frying pan roundup. She also took into account the design of the pans, considering the weight and handle shape when using them.
The post Best non-stick frying pans 2022: for perfect pancakes appeared first on Ideal Home.
