10 Best

Nonstick Pans

of March 2024

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Nonstick Pans--Less Cooking Oil, Easy Cleanup

Yehudah Posnick

(From Pixar’s Ratatouille (2007))

Nonstick frying pans allow you to cook with little to no cooking oil, and also allow for an easy cleanup afterwards. They typically employ a thin layer of Teflon, which has a very high melting temperature, helping to distribute the heat evenly. That way, it doesn’t degrade due to the high temperatures of frying. And, Teflon’s slippery nature prevents food from sticking. But, the amazing thing is that the idea of nonstick cookware came from a housewife!

Back in 1954, French inventor Marc Gregoire employed Teflon to fishing gear in order to prevent the fishing line from getting tangled. His wife suggested applying Teflon to cookware--and the revolutionary idea gradually spread from France to the rest of the world.

But, there are still differences among nonstick pans, depending on the number of layers of Teflon that have been applied. There are also ceramic pans, with an additional layer of silica, to protect the non-stick coating. And, if you have an induction stove, you’ll need cookware that heats up by induction--another thing to be aware of when shopping.

We’ve composed this buyer’s guide to help you make the right decision when selecting a nonstick frying pan. It'll help you:

  • Choose the right type of nonstick pan for your preferences,

  • See useful tips about that particular type of nonstick pan,

  • Read reviews of different nonstick pans, and what customers are saying,

  • Select the right brand of a nonstick pan, and

  • Compare prices and find the best deals.

Types Nonstick Pans

  • Teflon-coated nonstick pans: These were the first non-stick pans, and are the most widely used. With proper care, they’ll last 2-3 years until they start to lose the Teflon coating. They are best for cooking at low and medium heat.

  • Ceramic coated pans: Some pans have a ceramic coating instead of Teflon. Although they don’t have the health risks of Teflon if they get too hot, and it can be heated to higher temperatures (as much as 840 ℉), the coating is more brittle. They can usually hold up for a year of use.

  • Porcelain or enamel coated pans: You can find cast-iron cookware with a porcelain or enamel coating. These can withstand temperatures as high as 1500 ℉, and don’t have the health risks associated with Teflon. But, they tend to be heavy, and the coating may chip over the course of use.

What Reviewers Have to Say

  • People grateful to use less oil: Non-stick pans allow you to use little or even no cooking oil. Customers said that they’re happy to cut down on unnecessary fat or oil in their food.

  • Eventually starts to stick: Even with all the precautions to protect the non-stick coating, eventually the coating gets compromised. The higher-priced products, such as the Tefal 12-piece cookware set, will have more layers of Teflon, and may be more durable. But, eventually, you’ll either have to settle for it no longer being non-stick, or buy a new frying pan.

  • Induction stove cookware: If you have an induction stove, you’ll need cookware that heats up by induction. For example, the Koch Systeme CS nonstick frying pan set is suitable for induction stoves. It uses a ceramic titanium coating.

  • Ergonomic handle: A long handle to a skillet allows you to get a better grip, and keeps you from getting burned. Look for pans which advertise an ergonomic handle.

Important Features

  • Care during use: There are special utensils for non-stick cookware, which ensure that you don’t scrape the surface. They will typically be made of wood, silicone, or plastic. Also, even though Teflon has a high melting temperature, you don’t want to take any chances. If the pan reaches a temperature of over 464 ℉, the Teflon may start to release cancer-causing chemicals. So, don’t “preheat” a non-stick Teflon pan, because it may become too hot if there is no food in the pan. And make sure to remove the non-stick pan from the fire as soon as you finish cooking.

  • PFOA-free: You might see statements that Teflon coatings can release a chemical called perfluorooctanoic acid, or PFOA, which is feared to be cancer-causing. Since 2013, PFOA is no longer used in the manufacture of Teflon.

  • Care when cleaning: Using Scotchbrite or metal scouring pads on a non-stick surface will scratch it and damage it. Over time, the Teflon coating will tend to peel off. It’s preferable to use a sponge to clean the pan, which is less likely to scratch.

  • Care in storage: It’s best to avoid stacking non-stick cookware, because the other utensils can scratch the coating. If you want to conserve space, try to place paper towels between the cookware, to protect the coating.

Top-Rated Brands

Carl Schmidt Sohn was founded in 1829 in Solingen, Germany, by the blacksmith and sword-maker Carl Schmidt. They started producing cutlery and kitchen utensils in 1850, and have expanded their range of products to stainless steel and cast iron cookware, in the CS Kochsysteme brand.

Tefal (also marketed as “T-fal”) are makers of cookware, kitchenware, kitchen appliances, and laundry care products. The company was founded in 1954 by Marc Gregoire, who invented the non-stick pan by putting a Teflon coating on an aluminum pan (the name Tefal being a combination of “Teflon” and “aluminum”). Tefal has gained the reputation of being some of the best non-stick products.

Cook N Home, based in California, is a maker of cookware sets, pots and pans, specialty cookware, cutlery, and more. They also have a division, Cooks Standard, for professional cookware.

Home Hero is a maker of knives, cooking sets, and kitchen utensil sets. They make non-stick cookware for both traditional and induction stoves. Their pans are designed for uniform heat transfer.

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