The 5 Best Stainless Steel Skillets We've Ever Tested

Our Favorite Stainless Steel Skillet

The 10-inch Made In Stainless Clad Frying Pan is our perfect stainless steel skillet. It delivered a near-perfect performance in our tests, from cooking to durability, earning it one of the highest scores. We’re crowning it Best Overall for its high value at its price point, gorgeous design, and beautifully even surface temperature. Stainless steel cooks, both green and weathered, will be able to appreciate this skillet.

How We Tested Stainless Steel Skillets

We've performed several rounds of testing on stainless steel cookware sets, and in every test, we focused on each set's included skillet to assess their individual performance. We started by conducting a round of preliminary tests on 21 skillets. 10 of those skillets were eliminated due to uncomfortable handling; lack of heating speed, retention, and responsiveness; uneven cooking and searing; and more. From there, nine winners moved into a second round of testing with three tasks:

• Shallow pan-frying: We made chicken piccata to measure how each skillet handles shallow pan-frying, how evenly heat is distributed, and how easy the skillet is to clean. In another round of testing, we also cooked strip steaks to observe how evenly the pans seared and finished each cut of meat.
• Ease of use: We made a beurre blanc to observe ease of use, how quickly the mixture comes to a boil and reduces, and how quickly the pan comes clean afterward.
• Durability: To test durability, we put each skillet through thermal shock and hit every plan with a cinderblock wrapped in a towel.

In our most recent round of testing, we added several new skillets to the list to test alongside our previous winners. After these tests, we evaluated the results and rated the skillets based on several categories.

• Design: We assessed the design, the comfortability of use, and the shape of the handle. We also looked at features of the skillet, like its surface and sides, and determined whether they added or took away from the product.
• Heating ability: We rated the skillets on heating ability. This included monitoring for even browning, time to boil and reduce, and observing for any hot or cold spots on the pan.
• Ease of cleaning: To assess the ease of cleaning, we asked a few questions. For example, how simple or difficult is it to clean the skillet by hand? Did any of its design features help the cleaning process? Did any features hinder it?
• Wear and tear: We put the skillets through a second round of durability testing. We wanted to gauge its durability in regular cooking, thermal shock, and targeted force (remember the cinder blocks?) to check for any discoloration, warping, or other damage.
  

Factors to Consider

Manageable Weight

The distribution of weight in a skillet’s design is an essential feature if you plan on using your pan with frequency. While some weight will allow for durability, a too-heavy skillet will be difficult to maneuver. Look for a skillet that’s light enough to hold comfortably; it's a kitchen tool you'll use for weeknight dinners and more. Keep in mind that you won’t just shift it on the stove burner; it shouldn’t strain your wrist when you are pouring from it or flipping and tossing its hot contents. While some people may prefer a heavier or lighter pan than others, the ‘ease of use factor’ for you and your cooking habits is one to consider.

Heat Conduction and Evenness

While all pans technically have cold and hot spots, any that are noticeable — especially in preheated stainless steel cookware — lead to irregular browning, uneven cooking, and food sticking to your skillet to the point of difficulty when cleaning. We specifically observed and recorded any hot or cold spots on the surface of each skillet to help avoid this problem. 

Diameter

Rebecca Eisenberg, the journalist-turned-pastry-chef and founder of The Practical Kitchen, suggests leaning toward the more moderate sizes if buying a skillet for the first time. “Skillets come in a wide range of sizes, but the three most common are 8, 10, and 12 inches. If you don't have any skillets, I'd recommend starting with an 8- or a 10-inch skillet.” She says that the 8-inch is large enough when cooking for one or two people, and the 10-inch is perfect for feeding three to four. A 12-inch skillet is better for entertaining a crowd or cooking in large batches. 

Heat Capacity

While nothing beats a great sear achieved on a quality stainless steel pan, you sometimes may want to finish your dish in the oven, like a seared steak. For those who like to bake, stainless steel is ideal, once again, for its ability to absorb heat quickly and evenly, so opt for an oven-safe pan that can handle higher baking temperatures if that's important to you.

Other Stainless Steel Skillets We Tested

Strong Contenders

All-Clad D5 10-inch Stainless Brushed 5-Ply Fry Pan ($130 at Amazon)

Performing well in our tests but somewhat heavy and awkward to hold, this skillet wasn’t our favorite, but we still think it’s a great option.

Le Creuset 1-inch Tri-Ply Stainless Steel Fry Pan ($152 at Amazon)

A great skillet, though some trouble occurred when the edges showed signs of heating up significantly faster than the middle of the pan. Durable and easy to hold, the Le Creuset Tri-Ply Stainless Steel Fry Pan is tough competition.

Caraway Stainless Steel 10.5-Inch Fry Pan ($155 at Amazon)

We loved the design and durability of this Caraway skillet, and we also enjoyed how easy it was to clean thanks to the texture of the cooking surface. Overall, we found it to be pretty functional, although we noticed some hotspots towards the edges of the pan.

Martha by Martha Stewart 10-inch Stainless Steel Tri-Ply Fry Pan ($140 at Amazon)

This pan held up impressively during our durability tests. The high cost may be too much for some, but the longevity we expect from this skillet may make it worthwhile.

What Didn’t Make the List 

There were a few models that didn’t perform quite as well, including the Cuisinart MultiClad Pro skillet. Its lower price point ($40) is appealing, but it was the worst-performing skillet we tested regarding durability. However, we do commend its even heating and how easy it was to clean. We were also disappointed by the OXO MIra skillet due to the awkward length and design of its handles, as well as the difficulty we had with controlling the heat (it frequently burned during our testing). We also tested pans from brands like Goldilocks Cookware, which showed excellent browning during our chicken tests and was easy to handle. However, it lacked durability, and we felt it wasn’t the best value.

Our Expertise

• Christa Glennie has been a freelance writer and food editor for nearly 20 years. She is also the author of two cookbooks and specializes in food and drink trends, agriculture, the regional foodways of Western New York, and the restaurant business. Her respect for simplicity and uncluttered counters in the kitchen ultimately fuels a desire to find and own well-designed, multi-purpose, best-in-class kitchen tools.
• For this piece, Christa also spoke with Rebecca Eisenberg, the journalist-turned-pastry-chef and founder of The Practical Kitchen, for more insights on stainless steel skillets.
• Food & Wine Updates Writer Dillon Evans contributed updates to this article. He is a lifelong home cook and baker whose work can also be found in EatingWell. His own Misen stainless steel skillet is his most frequently used cookware, and it hasn't done him wrong, yet!