Best Frying Pans To Improve Your Cooking Skills

This wouldn’t be a complete cookware list if we didn’t include a Le Creuset. A brand known for its colourful aesthetic, its Le Creuset Signature Enamelled Cast Iron Skillet Frying Pan is worth the investment, especially if you’re building up your Le Creuset collection. Although technically an enamelled cast iron frying pan if you’re just starting out cooking with cast iron, this does an amazing job when it comes to searing and sautéing your food because it's slightly lighter, non-stick and thanks to a handle on either side and pouring spouts makes it easier to work with.  

Customer review: “I have had this piece of art in a form of a skillet for nearly 18 months now and to be honest I love cooking every single day because of this pan. Initially, it took me a while to get used to using it as it's a skill to cook on cast iron but once I got the hang of it – I am never ever going back to stainless steel or Teflon. The food tastes so much better. The steaks are juicy and with a perfect crust. Chicago-style deep-dish pizza is a discovery for me. The omelette is amazing and the salmon comes off so juicy. It's almost hard to believe the difference and prior to buying it I wouldn't have believed the adverts praising how good the food can taste. I do believe the Le Creuset adverts - truly converted now.”

It’s trickier than you may think to find a frying pan with a lid, it’s not always a necessity when you’re making food that you need to stir all the time. But if you’re making a curry or stew that needs a little extra cooking time, a lid comes in handy. Professional Anodised Frying Pan with Lid with a Cooltouch® handle that means you won’t accidentally burn yourself when lifting the lid, but you’ve still got to be careful of any steam. 

Customer review: “This really is a very good pan. It cooks evenly, seems durable and washes very easily. Having a lid is ideal for cooking at low temperatures. I love using this for making omelettes and finishing them off under the grill."

If your frying pan has seen better days but you’re looking for value for money, this Lakeland Stainless Steel Non-Stick Frying Pan is an affordable yet quality option. It has more depth than your average frying pan, which means less chance of losing your food over the edges, although it may not be ideal for pancake flipping. A deep aluminium base and three layers of DuPont™ Teflon® Platinum non-stick coating makes it a lot more hard-wearing than most. 

Customer review: “Had this pan about a month now and I cannot fault it. Used five times a week for breakfast, lunches and evening meals it handles everything I cook in it. Particularly good for omelettes even without greasing and great for vegetable stir-fries with just a spot of oil. So easy to clean with hot water it truly is non-stick. It is a solid pan though not too heavy to lift. Would recommend it to those wanting a medium-sized frying pan.”

You’ll feel like a total professional when it comes to cooking with this Salter BW05746S1 Megastone Collection Non-Stick frying pan and it‘s under £20. The mottled, rugged Megastone coating improves cooking performance as well as looks good, it is compatible with metal utensils (so no horrible scratches) and is designed to be durable and long-lasting.

Smeg’s cookware is packed with plenty of quality design features optimised for all cooking styles and needs. More importantly, it is ideal for getting an even cook on steaks or if you're cooking a huge dish of fried food you can do it all in one pan. The Smeg Frying Pan features an essential non-stick primer coating, allowing food to brown without the nuisance of sticking or having to use extra oil in your cooking. The range works on all hob types including induction. Available in cream, red and black to match other Smeg products.

We’d all like to think we’re a dab hand in the kitchen, with every chance of winning MasterChef if tasked with whipping up a dish for Marcus Wareing or Monica Galetti. It may not be likely, but if we have the right cooking tools then we reckon we’re in with a shot. According to Masterclass, Gordon Ramsay’s preferred frying pan of choice is by Scanpan. The Scanpan CTX 20cm Frying Pan is made from heavy-duty steel with aluminium layers for quick, even heat distribution and the ceramic-titanium non-stick surface allows the use of any utensil, including metal. 

Customer review: “Normally, I get a new non-stick pan every year or two, since I'm yet to find one that doesn't deteriorate. But it's kind of wasteful and decided to take the plunge on a top-quality pan. Went for this, because it seemed surprisingly light and the quality means it's razor flat, which is good for my induction hob. Seven months in, and the surface is just about as good as new - a couple of scratches from my carelessness but still works like new. Also still razor flat. Very happy and am confident this will last for a good few years. I use it a lot too – daily high heating.”

All the frying pans on our list are suitable for induction hobs, but the Ninja Foodi ZEROSTICK 24cm Frying Pan has had rave reviews thanks to its higher heat threshold of 260°C. It combines plasma ceramic bonding with a unique non-stick coating, which means every pan stays flake and peel-free and is metal utensil-safe.

Customer review: “Great frying pan. Good weight without being too heavy. Non-stick and easy to clean. Liked it so much bought a different size as well.”

If you’re looking to add a touch of colour to your kitchen that isn’t too permanent, we recommend upgrading your cookware shade to the interior colour of du jour, pale green. This Salter Earth Forged Aluminium 24cm Frying Pan is good-looking, long-lasting and durable, and each frying pan features a soft-touch Bakelite handle. 

Customer review: “It's the perfect pan. I have the medium size and it's light, pretty and seems to be very good quality. If I need another pan, I will buy this again. It's also eco-friendly material.”

If you’ve been on the internet at any time this year, there is a fair chance you’ve come across the Always Pan from Our Place. And – yes, you may be thinking. A viral pan? Surely, not. Allegedly, the Always Pan can replace your frying pan, sauté pan, steamer, skillet, saucier, saucepan, non-stick pan, spatula and spoon rest. That’s a lot, and we are impressed. With the updated 2.0 version, the stylish Always Pan can even double as a roasting or baking dish. Fancy that.