The most common pan used in the kitchen day-to-day is a frying pan which is why at Everten, we have one of the largest ranges of frying pans and skillets available online. With so many options to choose from, when shopping for a frying pan consider the following:
- Material—frypans can be made from a variety of different materials like stainless steel, cast iron, carbon steel, copper and more.
- Size—think about how many you cook for on a daily and weekly basis. Opt for a larger pan size, like 28-30cn, for cooking for a big family of 6, if you’re cooking meals for two, smaller fry pans in the ranges of 20-24cm will suffice.
- Handle—look for handles that don’t conduct heat to prevent burning. If you’re looking to save storage space in your kitchen, go for fry pans with detachable handles like the the Tefal Ingenio range.
- Compatibility—not all frying pans are suited to every cooktop. If your cooktop is induction you will need to make sure you purchase induction frying pans.
Types of Frying Pans and Skillets:
Cast Iron Frypans and Skillets
If you are looking for a low-tox frypan with a natural non-stick or if you want a frypan that will last a lifetime, we recommend cast iron frypans. Cast Iron is a fantastic type of cookware as it has high heat conduction, requires only low to medium heat for cooking, is highly resilient and also suitable for induction. A consideration you will need to make is whether you want to have raw cast iron like those from the brand Lodge that is made in the USA or Pyrolux Pyrocast Skillet. These are fantastic as you can use them on any heat source, even at high heat, is safe to cook with metal utensils and will develop a non-stick cooking surface with consistent seasoning.
Another option is enamelled cast iron frying pans. Unlike raw cast iron pans that require seasoning, enamelled pans can skip this additional step. They come with a vitreous enamelled coating that is glass-like, which makes them very easy and convenient to cook with. The only downside to enamelled cast-iron pans is that their cooking surfaces are more delicate and, therefore, can only be used on low to medium heat, as well as with silicone or nylon cooking utensils. Another factor to consider is that cast iron frying pans tend to be rather heavy; while many owners appreciate and enjoy its sturdiness, they can be cumbersome to transfer from one place to another frequently.
Some of the best choices of enamelled cast iron frying pans we recommend are hand-crafted in France by brands like Le Creuset.
Non-stick Frypans
Non-stick frying pans are a very common choice in most home kitchens as they provide the convenience of a cooking surface where ingredients will not stick easily, makes transferring food from pan to plate easier and are easy to clean. Most home cooks and the health-conscious tend to prefer non-stick pans as they require less oil or fat to cook. The downside to such pans is that non-stick coatings do not provide the same level of heat tolerance as other pans. Its non-stick cooking surface will lose its non-stick over time and can even flake at very high temperatures. To prolong its shelf-life, it is also recommended that you do not use metal utensils when cooking, as this can scratch and damage the non-stick surfaces.
If you are looking for the best non-stick frying pans, we recommend Scanpan frying pans, which are made in Denmark or Essteele, which is made in Italy, as both of these brands have a higher heat threshold and a reputation for manufacturing more durable non-stick pans.
Carbon Steel Frypans
These kinds of frying pans are the most popular within commercial kitchens as they can be used on very high heat, are incredibly durable and rather affordable. Similar to raw cast-iron pans, carbon steel pans do require seasoning, and their appearance will blacken with use as they develop their natural non-stick patina from the oils when cooking. Cast iron pan enthusiasts will enjoy these pans as they are also highly durable, sturdy and Low-tox.
Stainless Steel and Copper Frying Pans
Stainless steel frying pans are another popular choice in home kitchens. These pans provide excellent heat distribution, are versatile to cook at higher temperatures with metal cooking utensils and are suitable for use in dishwashers or with metal scourers for easy cleaning. Unlike carbon steel, they don't require seasoning however, to prevent food from sticking, they do require more oil than non-stick or enamelled cast iron frying pans.
Our favourite and most popular line of stainless steel pans are Scanpan's Impact range, Scanpan STS and the Clad 5 cookware range, which has thicker bases with five layers of stainless steel, bonded with an aluminium core for greater heat dispersion. Our most popular Copper frying pans are those within Scanpan's Coppernox range that feature copper bases combined with stainless steel or Chasseur's Escoffier range.
What is the difference between a fry pan and a skillet?
There is no difference between a frying pan and a skillet, as they are the exact same type of pan it's just another term for them. The only slight difference is that cast iron frying pans are commonly referred to as skillets however, the term skillet is an old-fashioned term for frying pan that originated in the USA.
Fry pan Brands we know and love
We stock some of the best fry pans in Australia with a wide selection of high-quality and affordable brands we love:
Frying Pan accessories and other kitchen items to consider
FAQs
Which fry pan is the best?
It ultimately depends on what you’re cooking and how much you’ll be using your frypan. Go for a cast iron pan if searing meats and sauteing veggies are mostly what you need. With proper care and consistent seasoning, your pan can last a lifetime. But, if you want a pan that requires less maintenance, we recommend a stainless steel pan. It’s also lighter than cast iron and heats up faster to cook. If easy clean-up is more important, a non-stick fry pan would be a better option, especially when you're cooking delicate foods like eggs and fish requiring an easy release.
What fry pan do chefs use?
A Carbon steel fry pan is one of the most popular fry pans chefs use. It is made to withstand the wear and tear of life in commercial kitchens and offers charred flavours similar to cast-iron cookware. It’s also affordable and is excellent for cooking in high heat temperatures. However, it is less popular in home kitchens as they tend to blacken over time easily.
