All-Clad Nonstick Fry Pan

When you’re craving a classic American breakfast, you can’t do much better than an omelet. The mighty omelet is a customizable eggy favorite for any day of the week. But your omelets can wind up limp and deflated without the perfect omelette pan.

Omelette pans, or sauté pans, are shallow stovetop pans that heat up quickly and evenly. Many home cooks prefer to use non-stick sauté pans. The slick surface makes it easier to flip your omelet, and non-stick pans rinse clean in seconds.

“Non-stick pans are, for my money, one of the most important inventions of the 20th century,” says our resident kitchen expert Julie Chernoff, member of Les Dames d’Escoffier, dining editor of Better magazine and food journalist. “That said, not all non-stick pans are created equal. You’re looking for a well-balanced pan; it should be solid, with a heavy stainless steel or copper base for even heating, but should not be so heavy you can’t pick it up with one hand.”

If you’re using a stainless steel pan, you’ll have to add a little oil.

“The sides should be gently sloped, which makes it easier to get a spatula around the sides,” Chernoff advises. “Only wood, plastic or silicone utensils should be used on the surface to avoid scraping or damaging the non-stick surface.”

Cast iron pans aren’t recommended for making omelets; they’re better for slow cooking, braising and stewing hearty foods.

Eco-friendly stone earth pans are another option for cooks who want the benefits of a non-stick pan without the chemicals in the non-stick coating. These pans are covered in a stone-derived coating that resists scratching. The stone earth doesn’t use any controversial chemicals that you might find in other non-stick pans. 

The best omelette pans have flat, wide bottoms for conducting heat evenly. Good pans also have long handles that don’t conduct heat to keep your hands and skin safe. Some pans come with silicone handle covers for extra grip and added safety; if you’re looking to make fritattas or other dishes that get finished in the oven, make sure your handle is metal or silicone only.

Heavier pans made from tough metals will last longer. If the surface of your pan is damaged, consider replacing it immediately.

Now that you know your omelette pan basics, check out our Tips & Advice for more tidbits.

• Omelette pans come in an array of sizes. The right size for you will depend on the size of your cooktop, the size of the omelettes you want to make and the amount of storage space you have. Smaller pans are about eight inches in diameter, while larger pans can run up to 14 inches in diameter.
• If you have a dorm-sized oven or limited storage space, you’ll want to go for eight-inch pans. If you have a standard-size oven and a large kitchen, you can buy whatever size you’d like.
• Omelettes don’t need to be finished with a few minutes in the oven, but hundreds of other dishes do. Many non-stick omelette pans are oven-safe up to a certain temperature. Check the instructions on the packaging and your pan’s temperature rating before you toss it in the oven. You’ll also want to make sure that there’s no plastic anywhere in the pan, especially in the handle. 
• You can create incredible breakfasts for years if you properly care for and store your omelette pan. In general, stainless steel cookware is dishwasher safe. Aluminum cookware and non-stick pans are not. Hot temperatures from the dishwasher can even cause cracks or chips in a non-stick coating. 
• To clean non-stick or aluminum omelette pans, take them off the burner and let them cool down. Once they’ve reached room temperature, you can wipe the pan down with dish liquid and a no-scratch sponge. Let the pan air-dry.
• The way you store non-stick omelette pans affects their longevity. You don’t want to stack other pans or cookware on top of the non-stick pan; this can damage the coating. Storing it on its side or hanging it from a hook will help maintain the non-stick coating.