Having a quality frypan is important for both professional chefs and home cooks. It also lasts longer and does a better job than a cheap one will. When it comes to cooking, there are certain things we recommend not to be frugal about. A frypan is one of the most crucial pieces of kitchen equipment in a chef's arsenal and it's typically used to make various dishes, from a simple omelette to a delicious seared medium steak. But what type of frypans do pro chefs use in their back-of-the-house action?
Which types of pans do chefs prefer to cook with?
When looking for suitable pans, it is important that your pots and pans can withstand the wear and tear of life in a commercial kitchen. A chef's kitchen differs significantly from a home cooking space with larger stoves and ovens that cook on higher temperatures to get dishes out quickly to hungry customers and are easy to maintain. As such, chefs need high-quality cookware to function at an efficient rate that are durable.
Below are some of the most durable and frequently used frypan materials by chefs:
Stainless steel frypans
Stainless steel is a durable material that will not rust, is resistant to chipping, and can withstand high heat. Stainless steel frying pans also can be used with metal utensils and scourers for easier cleaning. Another big reason chefs love using stainless steel pans is that they will not leach or react to acidic foods—making them great for cooking tomato-based sauces or grilling a salmon fillet. Stainless steel frypans also do not dent or scratch easily—plus it's dishwasher safe! Additionally, stainless steel material is lighter than carbon steel and cast iron. This relieves the wrist from straining too much when cooking for long hours. Even after long use in the kitchen, you don't have to worry about your pans and pots being worn out easily.
Home cooks and passionate foodies can consider stainless steel frypans as their everyday cookware if they want something durable, it's important to choose quality stainless steel pans that are multiple clad where they have aluminium cores between the stainless steel layers to conduct heat evenly. Using a low-quality or thin stainless steel pan on larger hobs will cause heat spots making it difficult to cook with and leading to foods burning, even on lower heat.
Stainless steel pan recommendations:
- Scanpan STS range features aluminium cores for even heat conductivity, premium grade 304 stainless steel construction and is oven safe to 250ºC
- Essteele Per Vita or Per Sempre ranges are made in Italy with 18/10 stainless steel exteriors with a heavy-gauge aluminium core and similar multi-clad construction. The Per Vita range is a step above with a copper aluminium base for superior heat conductivity
- Chasseur Escoffier is a premium range of stainless steel and copper cookware with complete copper exteriors for maximum heat conductivity.
- De Buyer Stainless Steel is a French-made line of cookware with 3-ply construction and is renowned by chefs globally.
Carbon Steel
Carbon steel frying pans are one of the most popular choices in commercial kitchens, made to easily withstand the demands of hospitality environments. Pro chefs will know that using a carbon steel pan is probably one of the best materials due to its superb durability and affordability, and it heats up quickly. Carbon steel also has a unique ability to offer charred flavours, similar to cast-iron cooking equipment. While stainless steel may have a better and more attractive appearance, the nature of carbon steel lasts longer and ensures many years of use that actually improves with the process of seasoning.
For home cooks, it's important to note that carbon steel does require more work than regular pans. This is due to its material being prone to rust which will require seasoning with neutral oil (eg. canola oil, sunflower oil or vegetable oil) on your pan, washing only with soapy water and that you dry them thoroughly when not in use. This also ensures your pan will have a natural non-stick coating for easy food release from cooking oils bonding to the pan with use.
Recommended Carbon Steel Cookware Brands
- De Buyer - made in France, these carbon steel pans from pre-seasoned from factory and are loved by chefs globally. Their extra-long handles make them ideal for use on extra hot commercial stoves.
- Ken Hom Woks are one of the most popular carbon steel woks on the market, designed by celebrity chef and restaurateur Ken Hom, perfect for making Asian cuisine.
- Pyrolux Industry Blue are a popular and affordable line of carbon steel cookware used in many commercial kitchens in Australia.
Cast Iron Frypans
Cast iron is one of the best materials for cooking as it can retain heat very well—making it great for searing your juicy steaks. The beauty of cast iron is that it is almost indestructible and very durable, so you can certainly cook with confidence. The beauty of a cast iron pan is that it distributes heat evenly so food can cook well even at high temperatures—up to 240°C—making it ideal for home oven use. However, due to its nature, cast iron requires low to medium heat, which takes a longer time to heat up. Cast iron also requires a little extra TLC, which is to season with olive oil after each use to avoid rust from forming.
Chefs may not use it extensively in their kitchens, but it also depends on the type of food where efficiency matters—like making fried rice, browning meats, perfectly seared vegetables and crispy bacon, just to name a few.
However, pro chefs do recommend cast iron frypans to be one of the best options for home kitchens, as you can get delicious results. If you are looking for a stellar quality cast iron frypan, we recommend brands such as Lodge Cast Iron that are made in the USA and suited to commercial cooking environments. For those wanting enameled cast iron we recommend Le Creuset and Staub. You can also see our cast iron cookware guide for a more extensive comparison and understanding of the differences.
Why do chefs not use non-stick pans?
Most professional chefs do not use non-stick pans and especially frypans, as they cannot meet the demands of a busy kitchen. Non-stick pans are also more fragile to the cast iron, carbon steel and stainless steel options, especially as they cannot withstand the extreme cooking temperatures on commercial stoves and ovens and shouldn't be used with metal utensils that can wear and damage the nonstick coatings. Nonstick pans should also be heated up slowly to prevent thermal shock and damage.
For home use however, having a non-stick frypan at home is a far more convenient option as they allow for easy food release with minimal cooking oil, don't require the same maintenance as commercial pans and are lighter than other cookware options making them easy to handle and clean.
Nonstick Frying Pan Recommendations:
- An affordable yet quality pan, Scanpan Classic are nonstick pans made in Denmark and backed by 10-year warranty against manufacturing defects.
- Scanpan Techniq or Scanpan HaptIQ we recommend for chefs and enthusiasts as they have an even more durable nonstick than the Scanpan Classic.
- Woll Pans are made in Germany and are considered the benchmark in durable nonstick and are engineered for fast heating and capable to be used at higher cooking temperatures than regular nonstick pans
Low-tox non-stick pans like the Scanpan Classic or the Scanpan HaptIQ are great options. Both these superb pans feature PFOA-free Stratanium coating that provides exceptional durability, excellent non-stick properties and unique frying properties. Even MasterChef Gordon Ramsay recommends them.
What is the best type of frying pan to get?
It ultimately depends on your cooking style. For those who love cooking perfectly seared steaks with that charred finish and prefer one that can last a lifetime, go for a cast iron pan. If you are looking for a frypan that requires less oil and is easy to clean, go for a non-stick frypan. If you prefer the type that can handle any cooking condition and cleaning method while requiring little maintenance, we recommend a stainless steel pan. The right cookware will give you better results and make all the difference in your cooking.
For home cooks, you don't have to get the most expensive frypan or the latest innovative cookware out there in the market. Reliable stainless steel pans or decent non-stick pans are generally what most home cooks or foodies will use, as these materials are easy to handle and will not be easily burned during prep time.
Next Read: Top 5 Best Frypans in Australia
