A non-stick pan makes eggs, fish and pancakes easy, but its coating wears out and should never be overheated. For searing, a pan without a coating, in stainless steel, cast iron or carbon steel, can be heated hard, though each needs looking after in its own way. The four materials are compared in more detail in cast iron vs carbon steel vs stainless vs non-stick.
| Pan | Type | Size | Induction | Oven | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scanpan Classic | Non-stick | 28cm | No | 250°C | $100–150 |
| Tefal Generous Cook | Non-stick | 24cm | Yes | 175°C | Under $50 |
| Tramontina Professional | Non-stick | 25cm | No | Not listed | $50–100 |
| Scanpan Elektra | Stainless steel | 28cm | Yes | 250°C | $50–100 |
| Lodge | Cast iron | 26cm | Yes | Yes | $50–100 |
| Scanpan Black Iron | Carbon steel | 30cm | Yes | Above 300°C | $100–150 |
The Scanpan rows use Scanpan's range chart and the others their listings. Prices are from Amazon and Harris Scarfe on 27 September 2026.
1. Best Overall: Scanpan Classic 28cm
Scanpan's Classic pairs a Stratanium non-stick surface with a recycled-aluminium body cast in Denmark. Metal utensils are fine on it, it can go in a 250°C oven, and it has a 10-year warranty, according to Scanpan. It suits gas, electric and ceramic cooktops but not induction; for induction, Scanpan makes the Classic Induction. A two-pan set of the 20cm and 28cm Classic is sold by Temple & Webster.
Owners say the non-stick keeps working and the pan is easy to clean. Where they complain, it is about a handle breaking or the coating chipping.
What We Like:
- Made in Denmark
- Metal utensils allowed
- 10-year warranty
What We Don't Like:
- Won't work on induction
- Some handle breakages reported
2. Best Budget: Tefal Generous Cook 24cm
The Generous Cook is a deep 24cm aluminium pan with Tefal's titanium non-stick coating and a heat indicator in the centre that shows when the pan is hot enough to start cooking. The listing rates it for all cooktops, induction included, and for the oven up to 175°C.
Owners like the non-stick for eggs and bacon, and the size: one says it fits six sausages. The main complaint is the base, which some owners say is not flat and bulges in the middle. Others report the coating scratching through.
What We Like:
- Works on induction
- Heat indicator
- Deep sides
What We Don't Like:
- Some bases not flat
- Oven only to 175°C
3. Best Value for Gas and Electric: Tramontina Professional 25cm
Tramontina's Professional pan is an aluminium restaurant pan with a non-stick coating, certified by NSF, which tests equipment for commercial kitchens. The listing names gas and electric cooktops, not induction, and says it is dishwasher safe. The handle has a red silicone sleeve.
Owner reviews say eggs slide off it and it is easy to clean, and some mention cooking good steaks in it. The complaints are that the coating lasts only about a year for some owners, and that the handle is heavy for the pan.
What We Like:
- Certified for restaurant use
- Dishwasher safe
- Eggs slide off, say owners
What We Don't Like:
- Coating wears within a year for some
- Not for induction
4. Best Stainless Steel: Scanpan Elektra 28cm
The Elektra is five-ply: aluminium is sandwiched in stainless steel through the sides as well as the base. Scanpan's chart lists it as ready for induction, safe in a 250°C oven, and fine in the dishwasher and with metal tools. Like Scanpan's other pans, it has a 10-year warranty.
With no coating, food sticks unless the pan is preheated. Essteele's care advice for stainless is to heat the pan first and cook with some fat or liquid in it.
What We Like:
- Five-ply, up the sides
- Works on induction
- Dishwasher safe
What We Don't Like:
- Food sticks unless preheated
- Can discolour on high heat
5. Best Cast Iron: Lodge 26cm
Lodge's 26cm skillet is made in the USA, comes seasoned, and has a helper handle opposite the main one. Induction, the oven, a barbecue and a campfire are all fine for it, the listing says. Lodge's care advice allows mild dish soap, followed by drying and a light coat of oil.
Owner reviews praise it for searing steak and for how long it lasts. Weight is the main complaint, and some owners say the pan is smaller than they pictured.
What We Like:
- Sears well, say owners
- Oven and barbecue safe
- Helper handle
What We Don't Like:
- Heavy
- Smaller than some expect
6. Best Carbon Steel: Scanpan Black Iron 30cm
Black Iron is Scanpan's carbon steel pan, spun from 2.5 to 3mm steel and pre-seasoned with vegetable oil, with a long stainless handle. It is made in Taiwan, suits induction, and can go in an oven hotter than 300°C. De Buyer, which also makes carbon steel pans, says carbon steel heats up faster than cast iron.
The listing asks for hand washing without detergent, regular re-seasoning, and drying straight away so the pan does not rust. There are few owner reviews of it so far.
What We Like:
- Heats up quickly
- Takes very high heat
- Long stainless handle
What We Don't Like:
- Seasoning needs topping up
- Must be dried straight away
Other options worth a look
- Scanpan Impact 28cm. A cheaper stainless pan with an aluminium-core base, rather than layers up the sides, sold by Harris Scarfe.
- Scanpan Classic Induction 28cm. The Classic with an induction base, sold at Amazon.
How to pick a frying pan
Coating or no coating. A non-stick pan releases food with the least oil. The German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, known as the BfR, warns against heating an empty PTFE-coated pan, since an overheated coating releases harmful gases. Stainless, cast iron and carbon steel can be heated hard.
Your cooktop. The Scanpan Classic and the Tramontina do not work on induction. The other four do.
The range behind it. Scanpan makes more than twenty ranges, and the differences between them are set out in Scanpan ranges explained.
FAQs
How long does a non-stick frying pan last?
Until the coating starts to go. The Singapore Food Agency says to replace non-stick cookware when the coating visibly deteriorates, with heavy scratching, peeling, flaking or chipping. Some Tramontina owners report reaching that point within a year.
Can non-stick pans go in the dishwasher?
The Classic can, though Scanpan suggests hand washing, and the Tramontina listing says dishwasher safe.
