I think it was Alton Brown’s food show that first told me that all non-stick pans were pretty much disposable and simply weren’t meant to last very long. Therefore, you should just buy the standard fry pan found at your local restaurant supply store (these target commercial kitchens, but usually open to the public). My version was to buy whatever was cheap at Ross’s or TJ Maxx for 15 or 20 bucks and then throw it out when things started to stick. However, right now America’s Test Kitchen is sharing the results of their Nonstick Skillets equipment review to registered members (free, only e-mail required).
Is is actually worth it to spend extra money for a better non-stick pan?
Well, yes and no. ATK tested overall design, cooking quality, and coating durability. They made crepes and fried eggs with no oil or other fat. I’ll leave the details to their free site members, but their free video reveals the top winner as the $40 T-fal Professional 12″ Non-Stick Fry Pan, which actually beat out the $130+ All-Clad 12-Inch Nonstick Skillet on merit alone and not value. (There’s a reason the T-Fal is the #1 selling saute pan on Amazon!) Given that All-Clad is usually considered the “gold standard”, that means you can get a top-quality pan for $40 as compared to my $20 discount store pans. I’ve never owned a T-Fal but this will be my next non-stick pan.
You may note that the All-Clad has a “lifetime replacement guaranty against defects”, which some people suggest makes the All-Clad premium worth it over the long run. This warranty requires you to mail in your pan for inspection, and then All-Clad decides whether or not your damage was due to a defect. From reading through the Amazon reviews, this is hit or miss. Some people got new replacements (happy review!) while others got rejections (angry review!). The overall trend appears to be that chips in the coating alone won’t get you a replacement. Considering I could buy three of the better-rated T-Fals and still be ahead in terms of money spent, I can’t it being worth the hassle of hoping for a replacement. I do still like my classic stainless-steel pans from All-Clad though, as they actually can last a lifetime.
Also see: Best frugal chef’s knife and best frugal cast-iron skillet.
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What about cast iron? That’s a lifetime and then some, and non stick…
I know some people can cook fried eggs and nicely folded omelets on their cast iron, but I can’t seem to do it without ripping or sticking.
I bought the GreenPan 2 pack at Costco (10″ and 12″) for $40. Exceptional non-stick that initially outperforms anything I’ve tried. It does wear over time, but after a year it is still better than my traditional non-stick.
Before this one I bought a generic ceramic and after a month it became like velcro on the food.
I bought a generic ceramic as well and it barely lasted 5 uses before it started sticking like crazy.
Call me weird but I still like to use butter or spray some PAM even when using non-stick pans, otherwise I think the eggs, etc come out too dry. That being said, this is an interesting find. I have three pans right now that I juggle depending on the size I need but I think I will trash them next time I go on a long trip and get one of these guys when I come back.
You should rename your blog to… “My Cooking Blog” as it seems to have lost its focus.
Sorry to disappoint you, Aaron, but it is My Money Blog and that means I get to decide what relates to money. 🙂
I use my fry pan for many purposes not only for omlet but also vegetables, bread, chips and many other Indian foods.