When's the last time you stood over the sink, scrubbing eggs from the bottom of a skillet? Does your cookware have to soak overnight anytime you meal prep chicken or steak? If you answered yes to either of these questions, it might be time to invest in a new nonstick pan. With endless products to choose from, I spent a month testing a handful of highly-rated options to find which one best stood up to the stickiest of foods for the latest installment of our Shop TODAY Ranked series.
For how much cooking I do at home, I couldn't tell you the last time I replaced my previous nonstick pan. I often needed a scouring pad to remove stuck-on bits, the surface was more scratched up than I'd like to admit and I had no idea if the coating was made with harmful chemicals. So, in addition to wanting a pan that cleaned up easily, I also considered factors such as durability and eliminated any contenders containing Teflon.
While I'm most definitely a home cook and major foodie (I have a family recipe published on TODAY, after all), I made sure to consult with professional chefs and experts to find out the telltale signs of when it's time to toss your nonstick pans, as well as pick up some tips and tricks on the best way to cook with and care for the next addition to your kitchen.
What to look for in a nonstick pan
To get the low down on what to look for in a nonstick pan, we spoke to Eric Rowse, lead chef-instructor of Culinary Arts at the Institute of Culinary Education’s Los Angeles campus, Lisa McManus, executive editor of America’s Test Kitchen Reviews and Matthew Cutolo, chef at Gargiulo’s in Brooklyn, New York.
When shopping for nonstick pans, there are a few things to keep in mind. Here's what the experts call out:
- Weight: McManus likes lightweight pans that are easy to lift and maneuver.
- Moderately tall walls: McManus says this is to keep food contained when turning and stirring.
- Riveted metal handles: Cutolo looks for these for strength and stability.
- A slick surface: This will allow oil to spread evenly and food to cook uniformly, Cutolo tells us.
- Read the reviews: Price isn't always the best track record indicator as some cheaper pans may work well at the beginning, but won't have longevity due to lacking durability. So Rowse suggests browsing through some reviews (like this one!) before making any decisions.
Best overall nonstick pan
Overall cooking performance: 5/5 | Comfort: 5/5 | Ease of cleaning: 4/5 | Overall average score: 4.67/5
While this was the last pan I tried, it was the first one I came back to after the testing period was over. What stood out to me most about this pan was ultimately everything that didn't stand out — there was no smoke, no food sticking, no sticker shock, no PFOAs (a type of PFAS, aka "forever chemical") and no need to use elbow grease during clean up.
While the brand says to use low-to-medium heat, I found this pan to perform well even on the medium-to-high end of the spectrum. The chicken and steak both got a perfect golden-brown sear without getting particularly smokey.
Clean up was a piece of cake during all three tests, and I've since made several rounds of scrambled eggs that have wiped down just as easily with a bit of dish soap. Also, since it weighs just over a pound, it's not heavy to hold under running water.
While I found the handle to be most comfortable to hold, it is only oven safe up to 302 degrees Fahrenheit, which may be an issue if you're looking to easily transfer food from the stovetop to the oven. But in terms of stovetop performance, it distributed heat evenly and quickly thanks to the thick base — a feature that Cutolo recommended looking out for.
With thousands of five-star reviews, it also passes Rowse's litmus test. While cheaper pans don't always stand the test of time, this one seems to pass with flying colors as some customers report that it works just as well over a year later. My only suggestion would be to opt for one of the darker colors, as it's easier to see how much oil is being used while cooking.
More editor-tested nonstick pans
Budget-friendly:
Overall cooking performance: 4.67/5 | Comfort: 4/5 | Ease of cleaning: 3/5 | Overall average score: 3.89/5
If you need a nonstick pan in a pinch, you really can't beat an under $20 price tag — especially considering that it's PFOS (a type of PFAS) and PFOA-free. With thousands of five-star reviews on Amazon, I was curious to see if this affordable option could compete with other contenders.
While the brand didn't specify the recommended heat range for this pan, I found that it cooked both steak and chicken well without becoming particularly smoky. This was the only pan where a bit of egg white slightly stuck to the bottom, but it was still easy to clean after all three tests.
The biggest concern I have with this pan is its long-term durability. After cooking the chicken, it appeared as if the bottom of the pan had burned, leaving a brown mark around where the protein was cooked. Since I used the same amount of oil and same heat level as other pans, I don't believe this was user error and worry that it would only get worse over time.
This sign of wear didn't seem to impact the pans nonstick quality, so overall I still think it's a solid option for stovetop cooking (this pan is not oven-safe). But, if you can