Best non-stick frying pan of 2025

There are a few simple tests I perform on nonstick pans to measure even heating and surface flatness as well as each pan’s nonstick properties and ability to release food.

Fried eggs, omelettes: classic non-stick fare

The first and most important test shows us how well each pan is able to release sticky foods including eggs and pancakes. I cooked a fried egg and a scrambled omelet in each. The hope is that everyone will release all of the food once it is cooked leaving as little food as possible. In fact, all of the frying pans released eggs well during this test without a single frying pan scrambling them. However, there were some slight differences in performance. The pans I selected as my top picks in each category performed well or better than average.

Pancakes reveal it all. Well, a lot anyway

I also cooked a skillet-sized patty in each skillet—a test that does double duty. In addition to highlighting the non-stickiness of the pan, it also shows how evenly the pan heats and cooks.

After filling a cold skillet with 1 cup of pancake batter, I turned on the heat and let it cook for 2 minutes. Normally, you would add pancake batter to a preheated pan but here I want the mixture to spread evenly and settle in the pan before cooking so I can see if it has hot or cold spots. I flipped the pancake out of the pan and turned it upside down. Yes, it was messy work, but what was revealed on the other side were the pancake gradations that highlighted each pan’s ability to cook evenly across its surface.

Other considerations

While performing these tests, I also make sure to note other factors such as the overall size of the pan, its weight, and its balance on the stove. I also take into account the height and slope angle of its sides as well as the angle and construction of the handle. Admittedly, some of these factors are subjective, especially handle comfort, so it may make sense to find a major cookware store and test out different handles before making a final choice.

Durability of non-stick coatings

This is a more difficult factor to evaluate. Ultimately, you’ll want the non-stick coating to last as long as possible, but you’ll only be able to gauge this through continued use over time. In my experience, non-stick pans can last three to four years before they start to fall apart. While I don’t have the luxury of durability-testing each pan over that time period, I do take a deep look at the reviews for each pan to see if there are any red flags or patterns that might indicate they’re wearing out faster.

Although no nonstick pan will last forever, our top pick is Meissen And also Complete clothing set It features three layers of non-stick coating which is supposed to give it longer life.

Price was one of the biggest factors

Given their short lifespan, it would be wise not to spend a fortune on a single non-stick pan. Combined with HexClad, which offers a unique hybrid surface designed to resist metal utensils and corrosion, I wouldn’t recommend spending more than $60 or $70 on a single nonstick pan.

If you buy pans very cheap (less than $40 or so), you’ll find that the nonstick coatings start to wear down more quickly and will need to be replaced sooner. I’ve made this mistake before and it’s simply not worth it just to save a few bucks.

Cost and value were the biggest determining factors I took into consideration when choosing the best nonstick pans of 2024.