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The Best Skillet

Last updated on February 2, 2022

We looked at the top 18 Skillets and dug through the reviews from 49 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best Skillets.

Best Skillet

Our Review Process

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If your kitchen were a chessboard, the skillet would be your queen. A nice, deep skillet can do just about anything: sauté, stir-fry, braising, roasting. If it’s made of cast iron or similar materials, you can even add oven-roasting and baking to that list.

While any good skillet will be versatile, the material it’s made with is going to determine its specialties. Take the classic cast iron skillet. Everybody’s grandparents have one in their kitchen, for good reason. These weighty workhorses cook steak like nothing else, and — with a little TLC — are durable enough to handle thousands of meals on the stove or in the oven before getting passed on to the kids.

At the other end of the cooking spectrum, you have the nonstick pan. Lightweight and handy, these are typically made of quick-heating aluminum coated with a nonstick polymer that makes it a breeze to clean. They’re best for a nice plate of eggs or fish filet — soft foods that won’t abrade the surface.

In the sweet spot between the two is your stainless steel skillet. Steel is a great metal for retaining heat and distributing it evenly, making it the go-to choice for sauces, stir-fry, chicken, rice and a host of other everyday dishes. It’s also got natural nonstick properties, making it relatively easy to clean. In many cases, you’ll find skillets that are layered with an interior core of aluminum are ideal. The idea here is that aluminum heats up quicker, and then transfers that heat to the sturdier outer layer of steel.

In a nutshell, the meals you make are going to determine the skillet you need. That’s why most households have at least two options:  a nonstick for quick morning omelets and a cast iron or stainless steel pan for meats, veggies and other dinner staples.

Our Picks For The Top Skillets

View All Recommendations
Product Overview
Our Take
Pros
Cons
 Top Pick

Amazon Basics Flared Edge Non-Stick Skillet, 15-Inch

Don't Waste Your Money Seal of Approval

Amazon Basics

Flared Edge Non-Stick Skillet, 15-Inch

Constructed from a durable cast iron, this skillet is a must-have tool for every kitchen. It comes pre-seasoned and can be used in temperatures of up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit. Home chefs will especially appreciate how the pan is able to distribute heat evenly for a perfectly cooked meal every time!

Overall Take

Most ReliableYou'll find this skillet is available in 10.25, 12 and 15-inch diameters.

 Granite Build

Carote Eco-Friendly Easy Clean Skillet, 8-Inch

Carote

Eco-Friendly Easy Clean Skillet, 8-Inch

This non-stick frying pan is chemical-free and made with a grainte-based coating. The Bakelite stays cool while you’re cooking. This pan offers even and quick heating.

Overall Take

Even HeatingThis skillet is made from a granite non-stick material.

 Strong Contender

Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet, 10.25-Inch

Lodge

Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet, 10.25-Inch

If you're searching for a pan that cooks ingredients evenly, this skillet is the answer. It also holds heat much better than other pans. Home chefs will appreciate the assist handle that makes transferring the pan from the stove to the table a breeze.

Overall Take

Comes Pre-SeasonedWith this skillet, you'll receive a complimentary red silicone handle holder.

Pros
" Customers appreciate that this pan is pre-seasoned. It’s crafted to be 100% non-stick; no need for non-stick spray or oil, according to reviews."
Cons
"Just note that since it’s shallower than the classic Lodge, this skillet is not as good for deep-frying"
 We Also Like

Utopia Kitchen Nonstick Even-Heating Skillet, 12.5-Inch

Utopia Kitchen

Nonstick Even-Heating Skillet, 12.5-Inch

When you opt to use this cast iron skillet to cook your meals, you'll enjoy a 20% increase in your iron levels. The pan remains nonstick when seasoned and is excellent at retaining heat. The skillet's deep sides also make this pan a great choice for cooking one-pot meals.

Overall Take

Superior Heat RetentionSince this skillet is made out of cast iron, it's able to retain heat much longer than skillets made from other metals.

Pros
" It is reasonably heavy, but the handles make it manageable. The skillet is pre-seasoned. It handles high heat, making it excellent at searing and frying."
Don't just take for granted what one reviewer says. Along with our own experts, DWYM analyzes the top expert reviews of the leading products and generates a score you can actually trust.
25

Products Considered

We identified the majority of the skillets available to purchase.
18

Products Analyzed

We then selected the leading and most popular products for our team to review.

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49

Expert Reviews Included

In addition to our expert reviews, we also incorporate feedback and analysis of some of the most respected sources including: Product Diggers, The New York Times, Grills Zone, Best Reviews Tips, Biohackers Lab.

260,606

User Opinions Analyzed

We also incorporate user reviews from the leading retailers including

Our experts reviewed the top 18 Skillets and also dug through the reviews from 49 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best of the best Skillets.

DWYM is your trusted roduct review source. Our team reviews thousands of product reviews from the trusted top experts and combines them into one easy-to-understand score. Learn more.

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The Best Bang For Your Buck

Carote Eco-Friendly Easy Clean Skillet, 8-Inch

User Summarized Score

9.2
6,914 user reviews

Our Take

This non-stick frying pan is chemical-free and made with a grainte-based coating. The Bakelite stays cool while you’re cooking. This pan offers even and quick heating.

What to Look For

  • Using your skillet properly will not only result in better food in the short term, but a longer-lasting piece of cookware. Cast iron skillets can stand up to just about anything temperature-wise, but you’ll need to season it to get the most out of it. That involves coating it with a super-thin layer of oil and letting it bake in at high heat, a process that not only protects against rust but imparts a stick-resistant coating. Some cast-iron skillets come pre-seasoned, but a touch-up dab of oil every once in a while will help keep it protected.
  • Nonstick skillets require a lot less care, and that’s half the point. Just make sure you don’t put it through more than it was designed for. Most nonstick options aren’t safe for oven use, and even those that are have a max temperature that you’ll want to make sure not to exceed.
  • Cleaning your skillet also requires a little adjustment, depending on the material. Soap will actually wear away the seasoning on cast iron, but a decent one will actually clean off easier than you’d think with hot water and a brush. Just don’t put it in the dishwasher, or let it soak in water. Most nonstick skillets are dishwasher safe, but be sure to use a plastic brush that won’t abrade the polymer coating when washing by hand.
  • The weight of a skillet is something to consider long-term. Cast iron sounds heavy, and it usually is — especially with a pan full of steak. Older cooks might find it unwieldy enough to consider a stainless steel model instead.
  • The material of the handle is just as important as the base. Most skillets have a handle that’s made from a separate piece attached to the pan — ideally with rivets, which will hold longer than screws or bolts. A silicone-coated or wood handle will keep the coolest, no matter what’s cooking.
  • Check the base, especially if you’re cooking on an induction stovetop. Induction coils use an electromagnetic field that won’t work on sufficiently ferrous pans. Any pan with a metal base will do, and most will indicate if they’re induction-compatible.
  • Will you be whipping up a lot of sauces? Look for a skillet with a rolled lip that makes it easier to pour out the contents. Shaking up some stir-fry? Straight-edged lips are best at holding in the ingredients.

Skillet Rankings

1. Amazon Basics Flared Edge Non-Stick Skillet, 15-Inch

Overall Score: 9.5
Reviews Included: 1

2. Carote Eco-Friendly Easy Clean Skillet, 8-Inch

Overall Score: 9.4
Reviews Included: 3

3. Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet, 10.25-Inch

Overall Score: 9.3
Reviews Included: 4

4. Utopia Kitchen Nonstick Even-Heating Skillet, 12.5-Inch

Overall Score: 9.2
Reviews Included: 7

8. All-Clad 41126 D3 Flat Base Oven-Safe Skillet, 12-Inch

Overall Score: 9.0
Reviews Included: 6

9. Cuisinel Precision Heat Searing Skillet Set, 2-Piece

Overall Score: 9.0
Reviews Included: 7

11. Anolon 82246 SureGrip Premium Skillet, 12-Inch

Overall Score: 8.9
Reviews Included: 4

13. Anolon 82074 French Triple Layer Skillet Set, 2-Piece

Overall Score: 8.7
Reviews Included: 5

More to Explore

While it’s hard to trace the origins of the frying pan or skillet, the earliest examples of the cookware could be found in old Mesopotamia. Most early versions of pans were made from copper — a capable enough conductor of heat if you don’t mind the low-level copper poisoning that came with it. While that was probably not the biggest problem on the mind of a 3rd-century chef, today’s copper cookware comes with a protective coating that takes that worry away.

More to explore