Updated Aug. 27, 2024
We tested 10 five-ply fry pans from the most popular brands by braising pork, cooking chicken thighs and sauteing veggies. More than 30 meals later, we have our top four winners.
Our editors and experts handpick every product we feature. We may earn a commission from your purchases.Learn more.
Stainless steel cookware has a mixed reputation. While professional chefs prefer it, many claim that these pans are notoriously difficult to clean. Back in the day, that may have been so. Nowadays, the best stainless steel cookware is much better than the stainless cookware of yore. In addition, unlike coated ceramic and nonstick cookware, stainless steel pans offer unmatched longevity. There’s zero coating to chip and scratch over time. Buying a stainless steel pan is an investment that lasts years—something worth its weight in gold for most families.
According to Taste of Home culinary assistant Mark Neufang, home cooks looking to upgrade their meals should swap their coated nonstick pans with sleek, shiny stainless steel. In addition to their heirloom qualities, stainless steel pans instantly upgrade any technique. Take it from us: There’s nothing more satisfying than a perfect pancake flip or homemade tortilla toss in a fancy stainless steel pan.
“Stainless steel skillets are terrific for searing, braising, and even roasting meats in the oven. They are also terrific for stir-fries and sautéing and caramelizing vegetables,” says Mark. “Pan sauces are ideally made in stainless steel skillets, where the fond that results from searing a protein can be whisked into a luxurious, delicious sauce. Finally, if you’re careful, you can typically use all manner of stainless steel utensils—wooden, silicone or even metal.”
Stainless steel skillets usually require the addition of fat, such as oil or butter, to release food. However, we don’t see that as a negative quality. Instead, the “sticking” allows the food to brown and/or crisp up beautifully, something you typically can’t get with coated pans. Nonstick typically emits unsafe chemicals during high-heat cooks. However, 3- or 5-ply stainless steel pans can hold higher temperatures safely. This is ideal for browning steak, chicken, or other meats.
With so many options on the market, it’s easy to get lost in specs and prices when shopping for a new stainless steel pan. Mark secured 10 popular options and put them to work, cooking up 30 different meals to determine which is truly the best. Several weeks and nearly a dozen pork chops later, we’re confident we identified which four are truly worthy of your stovetop space.
Pros:
Cons:
After testing 10 skillets and cooking 30 meals, crowning the overall best stainless steel cookware was as easy as looking at the data. Lightweight and easy to handle, All-Clad’s G5 Graphite Core Stainless Steel Skillet is the clear winner. With a G5 graphite core that extends through sides, a stainless steel interior and an induction-compatible exterior, this is a prime pick for home cooks and budding chefs alike.
“This skillet really earns top marks all around. True, it’s on the expensive side at $180, but if you are looking for a stainless steel skillet that does it all AND efficiently, this is splurge-worthy. It does everything expertly and retains a nice, even heat,” says Mark of this overachiever. Its superior performance might sway you on the All-Clad vs. Hexclad debate!
While it’s made from heavy-duty stainless steel, it’s still surprisingly lightweight and heats up very quickly. This makes it easy to handle while sautéing veggies and cooking chicken thighs (which crisp up beautifully thanks to the high heat retention). Even on medium-low, veggies like squash and zucchini develop delicious caramelized edges. Due to the lightweight construction and the skillet’s slanted edges, it’s also easy to toss them around like a professional chef—bonus!
Even better, an ergonomic handle helps it move effortlessly from the burner to the oven. Since it’s safe for use in heat up to 600°F, use it as a roasting pan or pop your meal under the broiler for a crispy finish. Deglazing is equally easy. Use a soft silicone whisk to loosen any stubborn stuck-on spots for a flawless sauce. Home cooks can easily level up their techniques using this inclusive option. The chef-quality feel and uncomplicated construction make it a shoo-in for cooking enthusiasts and professional chefs alike.
“I really liked the light feel of it in my hand as I was using it,” notes Mark. “Cleanup was also super easy, and throughout each test, it looked shiny and new after I cleaned it. It’s easy to see why this has been a mainstay in many professional kitchens for years.”
Pros:
Cons:
A smaller budget doesn’t mean settling for a subpar skillet. In fact, at less than $50, the Cuisinart Custom Clad Fry Pan still came in on top thanks to its even heat and easy cleanup. Plus, this wallet-friendly pick performs almost as well as its pricier counterparts when it comes to deglazing pan sauce and crisping up pork chops.
“This is an overall budget-friendly pick. if you want a decent stainless steel skillet that won’t break the bank, you can’t go wrong with this one,” says Mark. “It heats evenly and crisps, browns, and sautés beautifully and without too much fuss or effort. I was pleasantly surprised by this one.”
Mark also notes that should you stay dutiful with the clean-up, this pan will stay shiny and lovely for a long time. While the bottom browns a bit after use, the inside looks good as new after a quick rinse with warm white vinegar. Stainless steel discoloration on the bottom of the pan is a common problem that has a few different solutions, so don’t let that scare you away.
Its only downside may be its weight and heft, but even that isn’t too troubling as the pan itself weighs just under two pounds. Still, those with mobility or arm strength issues may prefer to skip this one for something a little easier to lift. That said, a groove along the upper surface of the handle offers a nice thumb rest that helps it handle a little better.
Straighter sides allow for easy tossing of veggies, which reach a perfect crisp-tender state in around six minutes on medium heat. Like the All-Clad option, this one retains heat very well and requires very little temperature finessing. Additionally, it readily releases frond with the use of a silicone whisk—no de-sticking or scrubbing required.
“Cuisinart has a good reputation for providing quality kitchen tools and appliances, and that carries over into this stainless steel skillet,” says Mark. “And it’s the most affordable in the bunch—bonus!”
Pros:
Cons:
Manufactured in Italy from proprietary materials surrounded by premium stainless steel, the Made In Stainless Clad Frying Pan is pricier than our other top picks. But those with the budget to splurge on their cookware will appreciate the performance of this top-of-the-line option.
“This is a pretty solid skillet, both in feel and performance. I think it would likely excel with stir-fries and sautés,” says Mark. “It has great heat retention and actually seemed to heat up rather fast, so keeping a watchful eye on how quickly the food is cooking is a must when using this pan. It feels durable and is fairly easy to handle and manipulate.”
Mark lends this maneuverability to the medium-weight feel and a slight divot on top of the thumb. Additionally, a bump on the bottom of the handle, close to the skillet bowl, allows for the index finger’s placement. This is a feature Mark definitely appreciates, especially when moving the skillet from the burner to the oven (where it can cook at up to 800°F).
“Cleaning is a little bit tricky with the brushed steel, but I’m sure Made In’s specialized cleaner would do the trick with making clean-up a little easier,” says Mark. He notes a few stubborn browned spots took a little elbow grease and scrubbing, but it wasn’t as terrible or troublesome as he anticipated. That said, the brushed steel lent itself well to the development of fond while crisping up chicken thighs and pork chops. It just took a little extra loosening with a whisk to incorporate everything into a nice sauce.
While Mark says the price point seems a little high for the pan’s performance, he suspects its manufacture in Italy may factor into this. Overall, the beautiful brushed steel adds an unexpectedly useful touch to any chef’s stainless collection.
Pros:
Cons:
Beautifully clad throughout the sides and offering an aluminum alloy core, the Misen Stainless Skillet impresses with a polished, shiny appearance and sightly lip rim. It’s truly the best-looking skillet we tested, and Misen’s “60-Day Test Drive” guarantee is an added bonus for those wary of spending more than $50 on some of the best stainless steel cookware.
While the skillet is about midweight, the handle feels hollow. This lends to its easy manipulation and adds to the overall maneuverability of one of the prettier skillets we tested. A nice little notch for your index finger sits near the base, with a hole above it. Mark suspects this is to further block excess heat from the handle—something we love!
“The Misen skillet really surprised me. It has a nice, sleek, clean appearance to it, and the more I used it, the more my appreciation for it grew,” he says. “Using it felt almost very intuitive. I liked how the vegetables just seemed to ‘dance’ in the pan without sticking as I sautéed them. The chicken skin crisped up nice and golden on the chicken thighs. I didn’t need to adjust the heat too much while everything was cooking, either. It was all very even and felt streamlined. The handle felt smooth and relaxed in my hand, and I could toss the vegetables with ease and flair!”
According to Mark, cleaning the stainless steel was also pretty easy, aside from some scrubbing off grease marks on the exterior. Diligent cleaning will keep this skillet looking shiny and new without too much fuss—something you’ll want since this skillet is so eye-catching and shiny right out of the box.
“This is a solid mid-range buy,” says Mark. “I would be happy to invest in and use in my own kitchen.”
We tested each skillet in a similar fashion, opting to make three meals with each. Mark used the same recipes and processes for each meal and noted any differences or adjustments required while cooking with each pan.
To properly evaluate each pan, we looked at appearance. Appearance includes factors like the pan size, whether it’s fully clad on the sides and the bottom, the curvature of the sides, weight, handle ergonomics and warranty. We also note any special features like lids, special handles, and other bonus items included.
We also consider use, which includes the recommended heat, butter and oil compatibility, metal tool compatibility, whether it works on induction cooktops and whether it’s oven safe. This is also where Mark looks at how quickly the pan heats up and how evenly it heats.
As a Taste of Home culinary assistant, Mark Neufang spends his days baking and cooking in our prep kitchen. A lifelong baker, he has tested recipes for Baked, Food52 and The Vanilla Bean Blog, and runs his own baking business, Neufangled Desserts. Outside the kitchen, Mark enjoys reading, eating chocolate, watching classic films, and directing and acting in local stage productions.
According to Mark, folks should always consider the following factors when shopping for new stainless steel cookware:
It’s not enough to secure the best stainless steel cookware. Home cooks should also learn how to properly care for and store their new frying pans. This is especially important for pricier picks. Expensive pans are investments that require diligent upkeep.
“When using stainless steel, treat it gently and resist the compulsion to turn up the heat too much. The superior steel-clad construction makes it easy to cook your food in this cookware wonderfully when heated from low to medium heat,” says Mark. “Only use high heat when you need to bring things to a boil. Even then, with a good stainless steel pan, you should be able to accomplish this successfully at medium-high heat.”
Mark also mentions that, while most stainless steel cookware is dishwasher safe, it is best to wash pans by hand for the longevity of your cookware. “I’m impressed with how much came off the cooking surface simply with just a little bit of white vinegar,” he says.
Finally, don’t let pricier pieces of cookware sway you into buying something more expensive than you need. According to Mark, while some higher-priced cookware looks terrific, it may perform similarly to a lower-cost alternative. Sure, investing in a good set of stainless steel cookware can be pricey. However, if you hand wash and keep your pans clean, your stainless steel should remain shiny and new for years!
According to our tests, All-Clad is a top performer regarding stainless steel cookware. From sauteing to searing, each All-Clad G5 Graphite Core Stainless Steel Skillet test impressed our Test Kitchen. No matter what type of pan you’re looking for, you can’t go wrong with this traditional brand.
“All the pans I tested were 18/10 grade steel, which really is the best grade to cook with,” says Mark.
“I think most chefs keep all kinds of pans on hand, as they all serve different purposes in the kitchen,” says Mark. “I like stainless steel for all its qualities. Personally, it’s my day-to-day cooking go-to. However, if I am making a simple grilled cheese sandwich, frying an egg, reheating a slice of pizza, or making a piece of fish— anything where I want the food to slide out of the pan easily—I’m going with my ceramic or nonstick skillet.”
Other types of cookware, alongside stainless steel and nonstick, also have their place in the kitchen. “Cast iron and carbon steel cookware are also fantastic alternatives,” notes Mark. “Both develop a seasoned patina over time, which makes them naturally nonstick. They can also perform tasks similar to those of stainless steel. Bonus: they heat super evenly and go in the oven.”
At Taste of Home, we’re serious about good food. That’s why every single recipe that our readers submit gets reviewed, made and sampled by our team of culinary experts. We want to make sure that everything from our kitchens deserves the label Test Kitchen-Approved.
The same goes for products. Our pros want to know what foods, gadgets and cleaning supplies are the best to fill your pantry and home. We put every product through a thorough testing process. Then our Test Kitchen team chooses the winners. Those best-tasting and top-performing products get our stamp of approval: to be called Test Kitchen-Preferred.
Originally Published: July 16, 2024
