Which non-stick frypan has the best performance?
A good
frying pan is truly worth its weight in gold. Quick weeknight dinners or lazy weekend brunches alike, it’s fair to say your frying pan will likely be one of the most used pieces of cookware in your kitchen.
The past few years have been revolutionary with new non-stick technology evolving. Non-stick is no longer synonymous with weak or delicate. I put three of the best hard wearing non-stick frying pans on the market to the test and compared which one performs the best.
For this comparison, I used my Le Creuset Toughened Non-Stick Frypan, Woll Diamond Lite Induction Frypan and the Scanpan HaptIQ Frypan. All of these pans have had a lot of usage in my house.
Appearance:
Le Creuset Frying Pans: The Le Creuset has the widest circumference and a long, elegant aluminium handle. It's also the only pan that includes a handle at the top of the frypan as well. This makes transporting from stove to table very easy. This pan has deep, curved sides, which makes it very versatile – I sometimes use this as a wok.
Woll Frying Pans: The Woll Frypan has a large, flat base and very deep sides, making it an all-rounder for dishes such as stews and soups. One thing to note is that the whole pan can be put into the oven, however, because of the look of the handle, I often forget this. Subconsciously I just keep thinking the handle will melt.
Scanpan HaptIQ: This is the smallest pan of the bunch but is the most similar in shape to a traditional frying pan. The base has a rough feel to the touch, indicating the strength of the Statanium + non-stick coating. I love the classic mirrored finish of the exterior and handle.
Non-Stick Results:
Le Creuset: The Le Creuset is very useful for one-pan dishes with multiple steps, such as this
Rigatoni with Secret Ingredient Meatballs. In an example like this, the meatballs are browned, then the sauce and finally the pasta is added all to one pan, which is then finished off browning in the oven. The Le Creuset holds a whopping 3 litres of volume, so many different kinds of dishes can be made. The handle is a real perk for carrying the pan when it is full. Note, I’ve used this pan a lot but there is no sign of wear and tear after 3 years of use.
Woll: The beauty of this Woll frypan is that it comes with a detachable handle which makes it convenient for stovetop to oven cooking, as well as cleaning and storage! I like how the Diamond Lite is very thin in height as it is a space saver when placed in a crowded oven with the handle removed.
Scanpan: What stands out for me with every use of this pan, is the superb heat retention for even frying ability. Even when using the pan on a smaller burner, ingredients cook evenly in all parts of the frypan – not just the middle. The rough feel of the non-stick is designed to help foods better crisp up, yet also release and be flipped easily - which has made the performance of the pan a winner. Note: This is the only pan that doesn’t come with a lid.
Cleaning:
All three pans are dishwasher safe, however, I never clean my cookware in the dishwasher to maximise their lifespan. The chemicals in dishwasher detergent can harm non-stick surfaces over time. This is less of a problem with this new hardened non-stick technology, however, I still choose to give the pans a gentle scrub with some soap and warm water. It is never too difficult to clean any of these pans.
Conclusion:
What do you want out of a
non-stick frying pan? For me, I want the non-stick coating to work well, and not erode over time - all three pans get top marks here. I want my food to be evenly browned and crisp at the edges, to flip/toss the pan with ease, and to be able to put it in the oven.
The Scanpan HaptIQ really does live up to expectations. It is a fantastic frying pan and its comfortable handle and decent weight made it easier than the others to toss easily.
Although I appreciate Le Creuset's deep sides for one-pan dishes, Woll's fantastic nonstick and space-saving removable handles, the extra crispiness and overall cooking experience from the Scanpan HaptIQ makes it the winner for me.
Winner as the Best High-Performance Non-Stick Frying Pan: Scanpan HaptIQ
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