The 5 Best Stainless Steel Skillets We've Tested

Our Favorite Stainless Steel Skillet

The 10-inch Made In Stainless Clad Frying Pan is our perfect stainless steel skillet. It delivered a perfect performance in our tests, from cooking to durability, earning it our highest possible score. We’re crowning it Best Overall for its high value at its price point, gorgeous design, and beautifully even surface temperature. Stainless steel cooks, both green and weathered, will be able to appreciate this skillet.

How We Tested Stainless Steel Skillets

We started with 19 skillets, performing preliminary tests. From there, nine winners moved into a second round of testing with three tasks. First, we made chicken piccata to measure how each skillet handles shallow pan-frying, how evenly heat is distributed, and how easy the skillet is to clean. Second, we made a beurre blanc to observe ease of use, how quickly the mixture comes to a boil and reduces, and how quickly the pan comes clean afterward. Third, to test durability, we put each skillet through thermal shock and hit every pan with a cinderblock wrapped in a towel.

After these tests, we evaluated the results and rated the skillets based on several categories. For one, design, assessing the comfortability of use, the shape of the handle, and features of the skillet, like its surface and sides. Heating ability, monitoring for even browning, time to boil and reduce, and observing for any hot or cold spots on the pan. Ease of cleaning, for how simple or difficult it is to clean the skillet by hand, and whether any of its design features helped or hindered. Lastly, durability in regular cooking, thermal shock, and targeted force (remember the cinder blocks?) to check for any discoloration, warping, or other damage.

Factors to Consider

Manageable Weight

The distribution of weight in a skillet’s design is an essential feature if you plan on using your pan with frequency. While some weight will allow for durability, a too-heavy skillet will be difficult to maneuver. Look for a skillet that’s light enough to hold comfortably; it's a kitchen tool you'll use for weeknight dinners and more. Keep in mind that you won’t just shift it on the stove burner; it shouldn’t strain your wrist when you are pouring from it or flipping and tossing its hot contents. While some people may prefer a heavier or lighter pan than others, the ‘ease of use factor’ for you and your cooking habits is one to consider.

Heat Conduction and Evenness

While all pans technically have cold and hot spots, any that are noticeable — especially in preheated stainless steel cookware — lead to irregular browning, uneven cooking, and food sticking to your skillet to the point of difficulty when cleaning. We specifically observed and recorded any hot or cold spots on the surface of each skillet to help avoid this problem. 

Diameter

Rebecca Eisenberg, the journalist-turned-pastry-chef and founder of The Practical Kitchen, suggests leaning toward the more moderate sizes if buying a skillet for the first time. “Skillets come in a wide range of sizes, but the three most common are 8, 10, and 12 inches. If you don't have any skillets, I'd recommend starting with an 8- or a 10-inch skillet.” She says that the 8-inch is large enough when cooking for one or two people, and the 10-inch is perfect for feeding three to four. A 12-inch skillet is better for entertaining a crowd or cooking in large batches. 

Heat Capacity

While nothing beats a great sear achieved on a quality stainless steel pan, you sometimes may want to finish your dish in the oven, like a seared steak. For those who like to bake, stainless steel is ideal, once again, for its ability to absorb heat quickly and evenly, so opt for an oven-safe pan that can handle higher baking temperatures if that's important to you.

Other Stainless Steel Skillets We Tested

Strong Contenders

All-Clad D5 10-inch Stainless Brushed 5-Ply Fry Pan (Amazon)

Performing well in our tests but somewhat heavy and awkward to hold, this skillet wasn’t our favorite, but we still think it’s a great option.

Le Creuset 1-inch Tri-Ply Stainless Steel Fry Pan (Amazon)

A great skillet, though some trouble occurred when the edges showed signs of heating up significantly faster than the middle of the pan. Durable and easy to hold, the Le Creuset Tri-Ply Stainless Steel Fry Pan is tough competition.

Martha by Martha Stewart 10-inch Stainless Steel Tri-Ply Fry Pan (Martha)

This pan held up impressively during our durability tests. The high cost may be too much for some, but the longevity we expect from this skillet may make it worthwhile.

What Didn’t Make the List 

There were a few models that didn’t perform quite as well, including the Cuisinart Chef’s Classic Stainless Skillet. Its lower price point ($40) is appealing, but this was the worst-performing skillet we tested regarding durability. We do commend its even heating and how easy it was to clean. We also tested the Goldilocks Plus Stainless Steel Fry Pan, which showed excellent browning during our chicken tests and was easy to handle. However, it lacked durability, and we felt it wasn’t the best value.

Our Expertise

• Christa Glennie has been a freelance writer and food editor for nearly 20 years. She is also the author of two cookbooks and specializes in food and drink trends, agriculture, the regional foodways of Western New York, and the restaurant business. Her respect for simplicity and uncluttered counters in the kitchen ultimately fuels a desire to find and own well-designed, multi-purpose, best-in-class kitchen tools.
• For this piece, she also spoke with Rebecca Eisenberg, the journalist-turned-pastry-chef and founder of The Practical Kitchen, for more insights on stainless steel skillets.