These Are the Best Skillets for Every Cooking Style

Best Overall

Misen Stainless Skillet

$89 at Amazon View on Misen.com

One of the best parts of using a skillet over a fry pan is the larger cooking surface. And this nearly straight-sided Misen skillet utilizes all available cooking space so you have more than enough room. The skillet is made of five layers, two each of aluminum and stainless steel, with an alloy at the core of the pan. The thicker pan does mean it's slightly heavier, but it had great heat distribution when we tested it.

The performance wasn't all we loved about the Misen—we also really appreciated the design. The side walls curve slightly outwards, which is ideal for flipping, yet it gives enough room for fully incorporating ingredients while stirring. The pan itself is exceptionally well-balanced, with a comfortable stay-cool handle. We also liked that it all cleaned up easy after testing.

We did observe very slight warping after putting a searing-hot pan in cold water, so you should wait for the pan to cool each and every time. But that defect didn't outweigh that this pan performed better than a few pricier options.

Price at time of publish: $65

Material: Stainless steel and aluminum | Oven Safe Temperature: 500 degrees | Induction Ready: Yes | Dishwasher Safe: Yes | Available Sizes: 8 inches, 10, inches, 12 inches

Best Splurge

All-Clad d5 Covered Saute Pan

Orig. $250 $214 at Amazon $195 at Wayfair $300 at Sur La Table

If you're going to splurge on a skillet, it's best to choose something versatile, and this sauté pan from the d5 series is no exception. Made with five alternating layers of aluminum and 18/10 stainless steel, it has a nice weight and heats evenly with no hot spots. The handle is riveted for security, so you can transport it from the stovetop to the oven or table.

We've tested the d5 cookware four different times, and the line always impresses. We've seen even browning when searing scallops and chicken breasts, and minimal sticking when cooking eggs. The cookware does take a few extra moments to warm through, but is super efficient when heated, allowing you to use low to medium heat to cook most things. It also has excellent heat conductivity, so browning and searing are fast and easy. The long handle on this sauté pan was easy to grip thanks to its ergonomic contour, but the handle may present a bit of a storage issue if you're limited on space.

You can use this heavy skillet to brown proteins and it's large enough for braising with the included lid making sure your dish doesn’t dry out during a long simmer. This pan can be used on every cooktop, including induction, and is oven- and broiler-safe (without the lid) up to 600 degrees. The polished finish will continue to look brand new with proper maintenance for years to come.

Price at time of publish: $250

Material: Stainless steel and aluminum | Oven Safe Temperature: 600 degrees | Induction Ready: Yes | Dishwasher Safe: No | Available Sizes: 3 quarts, 6 quarts 

Best Budget

Goldilocks Medium Skillet

$45 at Cookgoldilocks.com

Golidlocks may be a newer brand, but it is creating good inexpensive cookware. When we tested the 10-inch stainless-steel skillet, we were amazed by how well it performed against tried-and-true favorites. When we pan-fried chicken in the tri-ply pan, the heat was so even and thorough that the chicken looked beautifully fried. It also produced a quick boil when making beurre blanc. When it was time to clean up, we did notice some fond from the chicken test, but it only took a little scrub to get that off.

We weren't the biggest fans of the pan's design. The weight is centered in the pan—it wasn't uncomfortable, but did make it feel bulky. Additionally, it did warp during our thermal shock test, so take care when cleaning. But the angles are great for flipping eggs, the performance was incredible, and the price is right.

Price at time of publish: $45

Material: Stainless steel and aluminum | Oven Safe Temperature: 550 degrees | Induction Ready: Yes | Dishwasher Safe: Yes | Available Sizes: 10 inches, 12 inches

Best Cast Iron

Lodge Cast Iron Skillet

$43 at Amazon Orig. $27 $20 at Walmart $25 at Target

Lodge has a reputation for long-lasting, affordable cast-iron goods. This 10.25-inch skillet is one of the company's most iconic items and a pan that you can certainly pass down as an heirloom. Like all bare cast iron, continued use will encourage the buildup of seasoning, which will make the surface feel almost like a nonstick pan.

We liked how lightweight this skillet is compared to some other cast iron pans, so much so that our home tester found herself reaching for it over other cast irons. While it does arrive pre-seasoned, it doesn't quite have the slip of a real nonstick pan. Notoriously sticky foods like eggs and skillet cornbread tended to stick, possibly due to the pan's rougher surface. When cooking them in this pan, don't be shy when adding butter or oil.

Cast iron is prized for its ability to achieve and retain high heat, so it's an ideal pan for searing steaks or browning other proteins. It can also withstand temperatures that are higher than any home cooktop can achieve, so you can use it under the broiler or on top of the grill without damaging it. As with all cast-iron cookware, some special care is required to keep it in top condition, but it is a workhorse of a pan that won't cost you a lot of money. These skillets don't come with lids, but if you want one, you can purchase one separately.

Price at time of publish: $20

Material: Cast iron | Oven Safe Temperature: More than 600 degrees | Induction Ready: Yes | Dishwasher Safe: No | Available Sizes: 3.5, 6, 8, 9, 10.5, 12, and 15 inches

Best Enameled Cast Iron

Le Creuset Enameled Cast Iron Deep Sauté Pan

$368 at Williams-Sonoma $220 at Lecreuset.com

Just like its signature Dutch ovens, this deep sauté pan by Le Creuset is made from the same enameled cast iron and performs beautifully. While this pan heats slower than copper or stainless steel, its cast-iron construction retains heat much longer and provides the searing hot surface needed to effectively brown meats and other proteins. Available in 3.75- and 4.25-quart versions, it’s large enough to cook for multiple people, but not so large that it takes up too much space on the cooktop.

Since it’s made of cast iron, you can use this stylish sauté pan on just about any surface, including induction, and you can also transfer it into the oven for slow braises or to finish a dish under the broiler. Like much of Le Creuset’s enameled cast iron cookware, this model is available in a variety of finishes to add a pop of color to your kitchen. The only real downside to this piece of cookware is that it’s hefty, both in weight and price, but since it comes backed by a lifetime guarantee, we think it is worth every penny.

Price at time of publish: $350

Material: Enameled cast iron | Oven Safe Temperature: 500 degrees | Induction Ready: Yes | Dishwasher Safe: Yes | Available Sizes: 3.75 quarts, 4.25 quarts

Best Nonstick

HexClad Hybrid Pan

Orig. $200 $179 at Amazon $200 at Hexclad.com View on Bestbuy.ca

This 12-inch pan by Hexclad has a proprietary etched interior that stainless steel ridges with ceramic nonstick surface that easily releases whatever you're cooking. Thanks to this genius design, it has the durability of a stainless steel pan with the slip of nonstick, hence its "hybrid" designation.

We used it to successfully sear steak (something most nonstick pans can't achieve), saute vegetables, and make omelets, proving its versatility time and time again. This pan is oven safe to 500 degrees, and is approved for use with metal utensils, but be sure to wash it by hand.

Price at time of publish: $255

Material: Stainless steel, aluminum, and ceramic nonstick coating | Oven Safe Temperature: Up to 500 degrees | Induction Ready: Yes | Dishwasher Safe: No | Available Sizes: 12 inches

Best Ceramic

Caraway Saute Pan

$145 at Amazon $145 at Target $145 at Home Depot

Caraway is a fairly new company, but it has made a splash with its line of ceramic-coated cookware with a modernist aesthetic and chic color palette. This includes a 4.5-quart skillet that can be used on any stovetop, including induction—a rare characteristic when it comes to nonstick pans. It measures nearly 12 inches in diameter, comes with a matching lid to contain heat and moisture, heats evenly, and is oven safe up to 550 degrees, which is higher than your typical nonstick or ceramic pan.

We loved how substantial the pan is, and found the heating to be very even and controlled when tested. It also heats efficiently and evenly, allowing you to use low and medium temperatures without sacrificing performance. The pan's nonstick coating is "a dream," since not a single piece of food stuck to the pan. One downside is the stainless steel handles can get hot when the pan is in use, but having an oven mitt on standby will easily solve that problem.

Cleanup is hassle-free thanks to the slick ceramic interior—use a non-abrasive scrubber to get rid of any debris and wash with dish soap and warm water. You can run it through the dishwasher once in a while, but as with most coated pans, hand washing will aid in the longevity of your cookware.

Price at time of publish: $145

Material: Ceramic-coated aluminum | Oven Safe Temperature: 550 degrees | Induction Ready: Yes | Dishwasher Safe: Yes | Available Sizes: 4.5 quarts

Best Electric

Presto Foldaway Electric Skillet

$80 at Amazon $110 at Walmart

The Presto 16-Inch Electric Foldaway Skillet is a top-rated product that boasts a variety of cutting-edge, yet dependable features—and it won't break the bank. Made of heavy cast aluminum that’s nonstick on both the inside and outside, this versatile skillet can be used to cook for a large family without having to turn on your stovetop. With a maximum temperature of 400 degrees, you can sear meats and make a stir-fry or adjust the heat control as necessary for batches of scrambled eggs or hash browns. This skillet can also double as a buffet server, keeping food warm without taking up space in the oven or occupying an extra burner.

The Presto skillet measures 19 x 12 x 8 inches, but the pan itself is approximately 2.75 inches high, making it deep enough for deep frying. It also has a built-in spout, so you can easily pour liquids. The tempered glass lid makes it easy to visually monitor what's cooking, and thanks to the skillet’s stay-cool handles, you don’t need oven mitts when handling it. To clean, detach the heating controls and put the entire pan into the dishwasher. The skillet's most notable feature is its ease of storage, thanks to handles that fold into the pan for a streamlined silhouette when it's not in use.

Price at time of publish: $84

Material: Nonstick coated cast aluminum | Dishwasher Safe: Yes, when power supply is removed | Size: 19 x 12 inches