The Best Nonstick Pan for Frying Eggs, Crisping Fish, and More

Look, nobody at Bon Appétit is going to tell you to invest in a full nonstick cookware set because we think you build the best cookware set yourself, ideally with things like an All-Clad stainless steel sauté pan and saucepan, a Le Creuset enameled cast iron Dutch oven, a well-seasoned cast iron skillet, and an equally-well-seasoned carbon steel wok. But most home cooks would also benefit from having at least one high-quality nonstick pan for making fried eggs and omelets, browning quesadillas, crisping fish skin, and even reheating leftovers. And while some cookware purists might turn their noses up at anything with a nonstick surface, the best nonstick pan is an indispensable cooking tool that even the pros can appreciate. Here are their top picks.

• The best ceramic nonstick pan: GreenPan Paris Pro, $59 $90 on Amazon
• The best nonstick pan according to the BA test kitchen: Zwilling Madura Plus 8" nonstick skillet, $60 at Zwilling
• An upgraded pick: Made In Cookware’s 12" Nonstick Frying Pan, $129 at Made In
• If you're looking for a 3-piece set: Made In Cookware Set (12", 10", and 8" pans), $200 at Made In

The good: PTFE-free, PFOA-free, slick ceramic surface, mid-range price point
The bad: Not induction compatible

After extensively testing more than twenty nonstick pans from popular brands including Caraway, OXO Good Grips, All-Clad, Scanpan, Tramontina, Hexclad, Calphalon, and even the instagram famous Our Place Always Pan, the expert product testers at Epicurious recommend the GreenPan Paris Pro for its functionality, value, and importantly, its safer nonstick coating.

Paris Pro is a hard anodized nonstick pan that heats quickly and evenly, and the scratch-resistant PTFE- and PFOA-free ceramic coating is incredibly slick right out of the box. The hard anodized aluminum base is compatible with most stovetops, though it won’t work with induction cooktops (many of GreenPans other ceramic nonstick cookware lines will). And a V-shaped cutout at the base of the matte stainless steel handle helps it stay cool on the stovetop.

While no piece of nonstick cookware, unlike, say, cast iron or carbon steel, is made to last forever, unlike cast iron or carbone steel, ceramic nonstick cookware in particular starts to lose its nonstick properties more quickly than PTFE nonstick cookware, which, despite much lower heat tolerance is somewhat more durable (though also less safe when it does start to go). Despite much higher temperature ratings than their PTFE counterparts—this Greenpan is oven safe up to 600℉—ceramic coatings, specifically, degrade with extended exposure to very high heat. It might be safe to sear with these but it isn’t wise. You can, however, prolong the life of any nonstick surface by hand-washing your pan and using only wood or silicone utensils.

NOTE: Epi has previously recommended the Zwilling Madura Plus, an incredibly slick, durable pan with a PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) nonstick coating. Teflon and T-Fal are brand names for PTFE and, according to Epi staff writer and product reviewer Wilder Davies, “Due to the ongoing uncertainty about the manufacturing of PFAS on health and the environment, we try and opt for alternatives to PTFE whenever possible.” With that in mind, Epi is currently updating its review to exclusively recommend the ParisPro, originally Epi’s recommendation for best ceramic nonstick pan.

Sizes available: 8 inches, 10 inches, 12 inches
10-inch pan weight: 1.9 pounds
Induction compatible: No
Dishwasher safe: Yes, but hand-wash recommended
Metal utensil safe: Yes, but wood or silicone recommended
Oven safe: Up to 600ºF
Warranty: 1 Year

The good: Accessible price point, quick and even heat distribution, incredibly slick surface, dishwasher safe,
The bad: Available sizes not actually available, low oven temperature threshold

After using it regularly for more than eighteen months, Bon Appetit associate food editor Kendra Vaculin enthusiastically recommends the Zwilling Madura Plus, a durable nonstick pan with a super-slick cooking surface and an accessible price tag. The nonstick coating is so slick you could get away with skipping the butter or cooking oil (though we don’t recommend that, because butter makes everything better) and thanks to a forged aluminum base it’s comparatively lightweight and heats and cools quickly. The heatproof plastic handle is screwed into the pan so you don’t have to worry about scrambled eggs getting stuck in rivets. And while nonstick pans all come with expiration dates, the superslick surface of the Madura Pro is made to last longer than its competition thanks to a four-layer Duraslide granite material that, according to Zwilling, is 40 times more durable than Teflon—though it is a PTFE coating.

This pan has the lowest oven temperature threshold (300ºF) of any pan recommended here, but stainless steel and cast iron pans are better suited for use in the oven anyway. Also, if you’re getting a pan with a plastic handle, your expectations about putting it in the oven should be tempered. And though this pan is listed as dishwasher safe, it’s best to wash all nonstick cookware by hand. Though Zwilling says not to worry about it, we still say that with the Madura, as with any PTFE-coated pan you should avoid metal utensils at all costs, using wood or silicone instead. Finally, Zwilling’s website claims this pan is available in seven sizes, but it’s only readily available in three.

Sizes available: 8 inches, 10 inches, 11 inches
10-inch pan weight: 2.09 pounds
Induction compatible: Yes
Dishwasher safe: Yes
Metal utensil safe: Yes, according to manufacturer
Oven safe: Up to 300ºF
Warranty: Zwilling’s products all have a limited lifetime warranty but that excludes regular wear and tear. That means that if you use this pan for several years to the point that the nonstick coating wears out it is very unlikely to be covered.

The good: Hefty stainless steel pan base, durable nonstick coating, multiple color options
The bad: No disclosure about nonstick materials

If you’re looking for a nonstick pan with more heft, consider Made In’s. The base is a 5-ply stainless steel skillet with a “professional grade” PTFE nonstick cooking surface that has a higher heat tolerance than other nonstick coatings. It’s the go-to for Danny Espinoza, chef and owner of Chicago’s Santo Chorizo, who prefers Made In’s nonstick cookware over other brands for its weight, balance, heat distribution, and hollow-but-sturdy stay-cool handle. At work, he uses a Made In nonstick pan to sear his chorizo verde products over high heat, and at home he reaches for one to cook eggs, pancakes, and crepes. “It’s built to go through a brunch and dinner service in restaurant operations, and it’s a great piece of equipment to have at home without the sticky business,” he says.

Because they’re stainless steel pans, Made In’s nonstick skillets are compatible with all cooktops, including induction. They’re also oven safe up to 500ºF, available in three sizes, and the nonstick coating currently comes in four colors (though the brand often releases limited edition color options). Made In doesn't publicly disclose what materials are used in the durable nonstick coating so if you’re avoiding traditional nonstick cooking surfaces, you may want to consider the GreenPan recommended above.

Sizes available: 8-inch, 10-inch, 12-inch
10-inch pan weight: 2.5 pounds
Induction compatible: Yes
Dishwasher safe: No, hand-wash only
Metal utensil safe: No, wood or silicone only
Oven safe: Up to 500ºF
Warranty: 1 Year

No matter what the nonstick coating is made of, a nonstick pan won’t stay slick forever—not even if you always wash it by hand and never use metal utensils. If you have a high-quality nonstick pan like the ones recommended above, and you treat it with TLC, you can expect up to five years of regular use. Some home cooks have reported longer lifespans while others have had to replace their nonstick pans after just a year. The life of your pan will depend on a number of factors, including what the coating is made of, how often you use it, how often you use it with higher heat, and how you clean it. The good news is that it’s easy to know when it’s time to buy a new nonstick pan: Food will start to stick to the cooking surface.