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Answer two questions and get one tested skillet. Every pick comes from independent test results, mostly America’s Test Kitchen, plus Chef Tamás’s rule for which pan does which job. Gerzsi wanted to pick the pan by tapping each one with his tail. Please use the buttons.
Two taps
What will you cook in it most?
A nonstick skillet. What matters most?
A stainless skillet. How much do you want to spend?
A cast-iron skillet. Can you lift 8 pounds comfortably?
Best for most people · ATK Best Buy
T-fal Experience 12.5″ nonstick
America’s Test Kitchen’s Best Buy: a spacious, slippery surface, 2.5 lb, and it works on induction.
Chef Tamás: In his kitchen each pan has a job: stainless for pan sauces, cast iron for steak and hard searing, nonstick for eggs and fish. If a home cook can only buy one, he says buy stainless.
$25–50
Skip it if you cook with a thin film of oil. The slightly domed surface lets it run to the edges.
Testers’ favorite · ATK Highly Recommended
All-Clad Stainless 12″ Nonstick
America’s Test Kitchen’s favorite nonstick skillet: slick, durable and induction-compatible, with a 9.25-inch cooking surface.
$100–200
Skip it if you are on a budget. ATK calls it quite expensive, and the T-fal does the job for a fraction.
Lightest · The Kitchn favorite
OXO Good Grips Non-Stick Pro 12″
A favorite in The Kitchn’s skillet testing: nothing stuck to it, and at about 2.5 lb it is one of the lightest nonstick pans they tried.
$50–100
Skip it if you have an induction stove. It does not work on induction.
Best for most people · ATK winner
All-Clad D3 Stainless 12″ Fry Pan with Lid
America’s Test Kitchen’s winner: it heats responsively, browns evenly, and came through their abuse tests without a scratch or dent. 2.8 lb, lid included.
Chef Tamás: In his kitchen each pan has a job: stainless for pan sauces, cast iron for steak and hard searing, nonstick for eggs and fish. If a home cook can only buy one, he says buy stainless.
$100–200
Skip it if you want the cheapest option. Reviewed also found the handle uncomfortable.
Five-ply, still light · ATK Highly Recommended
Heritage Steel Titanium Series 12″
America’s Test Kitchen found it lighter than expected for a fully clad five-layer pan: 2.9 lb with a 9.5-inch cooking surface.
Check price
Skip it if you want the pan that came out of the abuse tests spotless. This one picked up minor dents.
Budget · ATK Recommended with Reservations
Tramontina Gourmet Tri-Ply 12″
The cheapest pan in America’s Test Kitchen’s lineup. It barely dented and didn’t warp, but the cooking surface is the narrowest they tested, at 8.38 inches.
$50–100
Skip it if you sear big batches of meat. The smaller surface means more batches.
Best for most people · ATK Best Buy
Lodge 12″ cast-iron skillet
America’s Test Kitchen’s Best Buy, with performance equal to their winner at a bargain price. The Kitchn’s Best Budget pick too. About 8 lb.
Chef Tamás: In his kitchen each pan has a job: stainless for pan sauces, cast iron for steak and hard searing, nonstick for eggs and fish. If a home cook can only buy one, he says buy stainless.
$25–50
Skip it if you want a smooth surface on day one. It starts out a little rough and builds seasoning with use.
Upgrade · ATK winner
Smithey No. 12
America’s Test Kitchen’s winner: roomy, slick from the start, and it stayed slick through testing. Just under 8 lb.
About $200
Skip it if you want the most pan for the money. ATK found the Lodge cooked about as well for far less.
Lighter · ATK Recommended
Lodge Blacklock 39 12″
About 2 lb lighter than the classic Lodge, and a pleasure to handle in America’s Test Kitchen’s test. The Kitchn’s Best Lightweight pick.
$50–100
Skip it if you want the most even sear. The thinner bottom cooked slightly unevenly.
Every skillet pick on one page
Already know which kind you need? Here is the short version, one pan per row.
| The job | Best for most people | The other pick | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nonstick (eggs, fish) | T-fal Experience 12.5″ ($25–50) | All-Clad Stainless 12″ Nonstick ($100–200) | Guide |
| Stainless (sauces, everyday) | All-Clad D3 12″ with Lid ($100–200) | Tramontina Tri-Ply 12″ ($50–100, budget) | Guide |
| Cast iron (steak) | Lodge 12″ ($25–50) | Smithey No. 12 (about $200, upgrade) | Guide |
Which pan first?
Chef Tamás uses all three every day, and his answer for a home cook with room for one is stainless. Add cast iron when you start searing steak, and nonstick for eggs and fish.
How we choose: How we pick. Looking for a knife instead? Take the knife quiz.
Prices change often, so tap the button for today’s price. Gerzsi is a made-up beaver. The test results and Chef Tamás’s notes are real.
