The best non-stick frying pans

Best non-stick frying pans at a glance

• Best non-stick frying pan: Ninja Foodi ZEROSTICK frying pan, from £29.99
• Best large-capacity non-stick frying pan: Meyer Accent Series Ultra-Durable Chef's Pan, £64.99
• Best non-stick frying pan for long handles: Smeg frying pan, from £99
• Best non-stick frying pan for ergonomic design: Stellar Rocktanium frying pan, from £24.25
• Best ceramic non-stick frying pan: GreenPan Venice Pro Extra frying pan, from £45
• Best non-stick frying pan for large surface area: Judge Vista frying pan, from £37.01
• Best non-stick frying pan to splurge on: Samuel Groves Tri-Ply frying pan, from £125
• Best versatile non-stick frying pan: Circulon Steel Shield C-Series frying pan, from £65
• Best budget non-stick frying pan: AmazonBasics Titanium Plasma frying pan, from £21.43
• Best non-stick frying pan for eco credentials: Kuhn Rikon New Life frying pan, from £79.95
• Best frying pan for stay-cool handles: KitchenAid Classic frying pan, from £32.44

How to choose the best non-stick frying pan

Whether you’re cooking up an indulgent pan-fried rib eye steak or a showstopping dish, like Barney Desmazery’s pan-fried scallops with parsnip purée & pancetta crumbs, a good frying pan can help you to achieve an intense sear and flavoursome crust. You can also use your frying pan as a mould and serving dish, like Anna Glover did for this frying pan filo tart.

A generously sized frying pan is a great way to reheat leftovers quickly. Take any leftover pasta sauce, like our pasta arrabbiata with aubergine, heat it through, then add your pasta, tossing the two together.

What’s the best material for a non-stick frying pan?

Choosing the right pan can be a bit of a minefield. To start with, you need to pick what materials you want your pan to be made of. All of the frying pans we’ve tested are made from aluminium or stainless steel.

Aluminium
Pros: lightweight, budget-friendly, good heat conductivity
Cons: can warp, scratches easily, can react to acidic food

Stainless steel
Pros: durable, produces weighty pans, does not react to any type of food
Cons: some cheap pans can transfer heat poorly and unevenly

What to look out for when choosing a non-stick frying pan?

• Suitable for all hobs/your hob
• Ovenproof to a high temperature
• Easy to clean or dishwasher-safe
• Comfortable handle that’s a good length and stays cool

Best non-stick frying pans to buy in 2022

Ninja Foodi ZEROSTICK frying pan

Best non-stick frying pan

Pros:

• High-quality
• Slim and comfortable handle
• Suitable for all hob types
• Oven-safe to high temperature
• Responsive to changes in temperature

Cons:

• Handle gets warm

Star rating: 5/5

You’ll be familiar with the brand Ninja because of their high-powered blenders and air fryers. Ninja have kept the momentum going with their cookware. This non-stick frying pan is robust and hardwearing. It’s also oven-safe up to 260C.

This frying pan is a joy to cook with. Not only is it comfortable thanks to the slim, ergonomically designed handle, but it produced light and fluffy American pancakes and an evenly cooked omelette. Nothing stuck to this pan. The Ninja Foodi ZEROSTICK comes at a fantastic price too.

Read our full Ninja Foodi ZEROSTICK frying pan review.

Meyer Accent Series Ultra-Durable Chef's pan

• Available from Meyer (£64.99)

Best large-capacity non-stick frying pan

Pros:

• PFOA-free non-stick
• Two ergonomic heatproof handles
• Versatile depth

Cons:

• Quite wide on the cooker which dominates space

Star rating: 5/5

This is an unconventional pan to feature in our guide due to its wok-like sloping sides and depth. But it's precisely that shape that makes this pan incredibly versatile and could see you replacing two or three pans in your cupboard with just this one. Suitable for all cooktops, the hard-anodised aluminium triple-layer, non-stick body is supported by two silicone-protected handles that are ergonomic and comfortable to hold. The deep rim makes pouring smooth and easy to control.

Although dishwasher-safe, we found it was easier to simply wash by hand as everything wiped off easily under warm water making it a doddle to clean. It's also oven-safe up to 230-degrees.

Available from Meyer (£64.99)

Smeg frying pan

• Available from Smeg (£99)

Best non-stick frying pan for long handles

Pros:

• Available in a range of colours and sizes
• Great looking
• Can be used at high oven temperature

Cons:

• Expensive

Star rating: 4.5/5

From another brand well-known for their fantastic kitchenware comes Smeg’s first foray into the world of cookware. This non-stick frying pan is a more high-end offering, but it showcases some fantastic finishing details, as well as a long, sturdy and comfortable handle.

It cooks fantastically and nothing sticks to it at all. It’s dishwasher-safe, but that would be rarely necessary. Like the rest of the items in the Smeg cookware range, this non-stick frying pan is available in red, black and cream.

Read our full Smeg frying pan review

Available from Smeg (£99)

Stellar Rocktanium frying pan

Best non-stick frying pan for an ergonomic design

Pros:

• Comfortable and lightweight
• Nicely shaped handle
• Oven-safe to high temperature

Cons:

• Some resistance when trying to remove omelette
• Pancake was a little patchy

Star rating 4.5/5

Featuring a speckled non-stick coating, the Stellar Rocktanium frying pan is available in a good range of sizes (20-30cm) and has an ergonomically shaped handle that comfortably fits the contours of the hand.

This frying pan has a brilliant non-stick surface; neither our American pancakes or omelette stuck to the pan. It didn’t brown quite as evenly as we’d hoped, but both foods were very well cooked.

For ease and added versatility, this pan is both dishwasher-safe and ovenproof up to 210C.

Read our full Stellar Rocktanium frying pan review

GreenPan Venice Pro Extra frying pan

• Available from John Lewis & Partners (£45)

Best ceramic non-stick frying pan

Pros:

• Suitable for all hob types
• Oven-safe to high temperature
• Available in a good range of sizes

Cons:

• Short handle that gets hot

Star rating: 4.5/5

This non-stick frying pan is part of GreenPan’s upgraded Venice Pro range. This slightly weighty ceramic pan is suitable for all hob types, is dishwasher-safe and is ovenproof up to an impressive 260C.

We loved cooking with this pan. It was responsive to changes in temperature and cooked both our American pancakes and omelette brilliantly. We did notice some patchiness on the surface of the pancakes, but flavour-wise we couldn’t fault either of them. Do be careful of the base of the handle as it gets hot.

Read our full GreenPan Venice Pro Extra frying pan review

Available from:

John Lewis & Partners (£45)

Judge Vista frying pan

Best non-stick frying pan for large surface area

Pros:

• Comfortable handle
• Nicely balanced
• Sides are nice and tall

Cons:

• Not ovenproof to a high temperature

Star rating: 4.5/5

Equipped with tall walls and a large flat surface area, this pan is ideal for those dishes that require a hard sear, like a rump steak. This stainless steel pan is dishwasher-safe and available in four different sizes. The Vista is only ovenproof up to 150C and we found the handle a little short, so tossing ingredients in the pan wasn’t the easiest.

This Judge frying pan is responsive to changes in temperature and we were able to cook a soft omelette and evenly browned American pancakes.

Read our full Judge Vista frying pan review

Samuel Groves Tri-Ply frying pan

• Available from Samuel Groves (£125), John Lewis and Partners (£140)

Best non-stick frying pan to splurge on

Pros:

• Fantastic non-stick coating
• Well balanced
• 'Pan for life' non-stick refurbishment scheme

Cons:

• Not dishwasher-safe

Star rating: 4.5/5

This professional looking frying pan is beautifully designed and is intended to last a lifetime. It’s available for an expensive upfront cost, but we believe it’s worth the investment.

This Samuel Groves pan is perfectly balanced. Although it’s thin, it's reassuringly weighty and sits comfortably on the hob. It’s also oven-safe up to 260C – extra points for versatility.

Cooking with it is a joy. Both our omelette and American pancakes were evenly browned and easy to remove from the pan.

Read our full Samuel Groves Tri-Ply frying pan review

Available from:
John Lewis and Partners (£140)

Circulon Steel Shield C-Series frying pan

• Available from: Circulon (£65)

Best versatile non-stick frying pan

Pros:

• Unique non-stick design
• Comfortable stay-cool handle
• Metal utensil safe

Cons:

• Some sticking
• Some may not like the design

Star rating: 4.5/5

Designed to cook like steel and clean like non-stick, this frying pan is ideal for searing meat and veggies. It’s notable for its design, featuring a series of ridged circles inside the pan. For ease and versatility, its dishwasher-safe and ovenproof up to 260C.

We loved the slim ergonomic handle; it’s comfortable and doesn’t get too hot in use. Although this pan cooked very well, we noticed that the circular pattern imprinted onto our American pancakes and omelette. This didn’t affect the flavour, but may be off putting for some.

Read our full Circulon Steel Shield C-Series frying pan review

Available from:
Circulon (£65)

AmazonBasics Titanium Plasma frying pan

Best budget non-stick frying pan

Pros:

• Budget-friendly
• Comfortable handle
• Handle can be tightened

Cons:

• Very light
• Feels a little cheap

Star rating: 4.5/5

This simple looking frying pan from AmazonBasics is lightweight and easy to hold. It’s available in two different sizes and is suitable for all hob types. The non-stick coating is very effective and happily we were able to produce some pretty perfect looking (and tasting) American pancakes. Our omelette was smooth and custardy too.

This is a basic frying pan that produced some great results. It’s dishwasher-safe for easy clean up but only oven-safe up to 175C. For many of us, 180C is our default cooking temperature, so we found this a frustrating restriction.

Kuhn Rikon New Life frying pan

• Available from: Kuhn Rikon (£79.95)

Best non-stick frying pan for eco credentials

Pros:

• Made from recycled aluminium
• Comfortable handle
• Dishwasher-safe

Cons:

• Browning was a little uneven

Star rating: 4.5/5

Made from recycled tin cans, the Kuhn Rikon New Life frying pan wins big eco points! A pan for everyone, this model comes in three different sizes and is suitable for all hob types.

This pan is brilliantly shaped, its wide with gently sloping curves making tossing and flipping foods a breeze. Although both our American pancakes and omelette were well cooked, we noticed they weren’t as evenly browned as some of the others we’ve produced. But flavour and texture-wise, we couldn’t fault them.

Read our full Kuhn Rikon New Life frying pan review

Available from:
Kuhn Rikon (£79.95)

KitchenAid Classic frying pan

Best frying pan for stay-cool handles

Pros:

• Comfortable handle
• Able to tighten handle
• Dishwasher-safe

Cons:

• Can't go in the oven to high temps
• Browning a little uneven

Star rating: 4.5/5

This design of this simple-looking non-stick frying pan from KitchenAid seems a departure from their usually brightly coloured kitchen appliances, but on closer inspection it’s clear to see this pan has a high-quality finish.

It features an impressive non-stick coating that neither our omelette or American pancakes stuck to. Both foods cooked very well, though we did notice some distinct cool spots on the pancakes.

This frying pan is dishwasher safe, but only ovenproof to 160C.

Read our full KitchenAid Classic frying pan review

How we tested non-stick frying pans

What was our test criteria?

Supreme temperature control

The ability to accurately adjust the temperature with subtle precision, even after cooking over high heat, will provide you with the greatest overall control, transforming your everyday cooking. It’ll mean that you can save food that you forgot about for a moment, cook every type of egg dish imaginable with precision, or perfectly simmer a midweek risotto or pasta sauce.

Design with cooking in mind

A large surface area for cooking with elegantly curved sides that are neither too shallow or too tall, alongside a balance between weight and size, and a comfortable, stay-cool ergonomic handle, are ideal. This will let you toss food – often the best way to mix ingredients – with ease.

Reliable, eco-friendly non-stick

An effortlessly slick non-stick coating with just a touch of grip will prevent spread when cooking pancakes or frying eggs. Look for scratch-resistant non-stick (often with a specific warranty for the coating) that’ll hold up to long-term wear and tear. Further, to avoid any health issues or chemical aftertaste, look for eco-friendly materials, particularly ones that are PFOA-free.

Recipe results

We cooked BBC Good Food’s basic omelette in each pan, making a note of how long the pan took to pre-heat. We then monitored how quickly the eggs cooked, how easy it was to lower and control the temperature, as well as checking how effective the non-stick was. Once cooked, we tasted each batch to check how evenly the eggs cooked, whether they held well – i.e. didn’t overcook when left to sit in the pan – and if the pan added any chemical notes to the flavour.

Finally, we made a batch of American pancakes, this allowed us to check how evenly the pan heated up, how efficiently it transferred to the food and whether the non-stick had the necessary subtle grip. For example, did the pancakes spread too much initially or were they nicely puffed? Was the surface of the pancakes evenly browned, or was it patchy?

After extensive testing, we also rated the pans on how easy they were to clean.

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Non-stick frying pan recipes
Frying pan filo tart
Pan-fried salmon
Pan-fried rib-eye steak
Pan-fried sprouts and crunchy chorizo crumbs
Pan-fried potato gnocchi
Paneer and chickpea fry
Pan-fried sea bass with ratatouille and basil
One-pan egg and veg brunch