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How to Choose the Best Frying Pan for You

What makes a good frying pan for you? Read our handy guide for more.

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Frying pans are a kitchen essentials. With its versatile nature, frying pans can be used to fry, sear and brown a variety of ingredients like vegetables, meats and eggs.

Like all cookware pieces, there are various coatings and materials to consider when purchasing a frying pans, as well as handles and pan thickness. 

Aluminium

Anodised and aluminium pans possess a natural resistance to corrosion and rust, while also offering fantastic heat conductivity and fast heat distribution. If they have a non-stick surface, they're also easy to clean and promote oh-so-easy food release. 

Stainless Steel

Although not as strong of a heat conductor as aluminium, we've specially crafted our stainless steel pans to include an aluminium base during construction for impressive heat conductivity and the elimination of hot spots. Our stainless steel pans allow you to enjoy the striking, shiny look and feel of stainless steel with the impressive performance of aluminium.

Cast Iron

Cast iron frying pans (commonly referred to as skillets), are durable and ideal searing meats. Your cast iron will either come pre-seasoned or need seasoning yourself, and each time you use the skillet, non-stick capabilities will continue to naturally build.

Carbon Steel

Designed to handle high and low heat, carbon steel offers a natural non-stick if used correctly. A dark patina will appear over time, which is a non-stick coating that becomes better over time. 

Different Frying Pan Materials

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Check the Thickness of the Frying Pan

While material construction could be considered the most important element to consider when buying a frying pan, you should also check the thickness of the pan. Although it comes to personal preference, thicker frying pans are generally preferable. A thicker pan has a greater distance between the cooking surface and the heat source, so by the time the heat reaches the cooking surface, it will have spread evenly which is ideal for consistent cooking results.

Frying Pans Sizes

The right size frying pan matters. Smaller frying pans can evenly distribute heat more easily and are quicker to heat up, which is ideal for cooking eggs or searing smaller pieces of meat. Larger frying pans will take a little longer to heat up but can handle greater quantities of ingredients.

Ensure that your frying pan fits the hob you're cooking on. Small frying pans on larger hobs can conduct poorly and vice versa.

Rivets are typically found where the handle is attached to the frying pan. While rivets do not impact a frying pan's cooking abilities, rivetless frying pans can look more attractive with their sleek and seamless finish.

Rivets require a more thorough cleaning than a rivetless frying pan, as bacteria can build up around the rivets. For those looking for frying pans that are easy to maintain and quick to clean, then a rivetless frying pan may be preferable.

ProTip: We chose rivets over 'screw-in' handles because rivets provide greater stability and will never come loose, improving the frying pan’s longevity.

Rivet or Rivetless Frying Pans?

Frying pans do not typically require any form of seasoning beforehand, although it's always best to double check the manufacturer's instructions before use. No ProCook frying pans require seasoning. Simply unpackage and wash before cooking.

Do I Need to Season a Frying Pan?