Buying Guide
Skillet Buying Guide
Find a pan that feels right for breakfast, weeknight dinners and everything in between.
The Short Answer
For an everyday skillet, start with a 10- to 12-inch pan and choose a cooking surface that fits your meals and cleanup routine. Sur La Table carries nonstick, stainless steel, cast iron and carbon steel skillets. Compare the exact pan’s cooktop compatibility, oven limits and handle design before choosing.
- Start with the meals you cook most often.
- Compare options within your budget.
- Choose a pan that complements the cookware you already use.
Top Picks
Our curated selection of the best skillets—customer favorites and top-rated classics.
For Eggs
Find a breakfast pan for everything from a single fried egg to a weekend scramble.
For Searing
Explore skillets for giving meats and vegetables a browned finish.
All-Clad Skillets
Explore D3, D5, Copper Core and HA1 designs to find your everyday fit.
Scanpan Skillets
Find your next pan in Scanpan’s Classic, Professional, Pro SB+ and CSP collections.
$100 & Under
Keep your skillet search within a $100 budget.
$100 & Up
Compare cooking surfaces, sizes and constructions starting at $100.
How to Choose
Choose Your Size & Handle
Think about the food you make most often before choosing a diameter. An 8-inch skillet is worth considering for smaller jobs, while a 14-inch option offers room for larger batches. Compare the listed dimensions rather than judging by photos alone. Handle design matters, too. Double-loop handles provide a two-handed carrying option and can help distribute the pan’s weight. Check the overall dimensions and weight if you’ll be moving your skillet between the stove, oven and table.
Look Beneath the Cooking Surface
A skillet’s body and cooking surface are different things. Hard anodized aluminum can sit beneath ceramic or other nonstick coatings, and a stainless steel body can also have a nonstick interior. Read both details instead of choosing by exterior color alone. Layered stainless steel construction can include an aluminum core for heat distribution or a copper core for rapid, even heat conduction. Copper-core skillets can still have a stainless steel cooking surface. Titanium cooking surfaces are another option on layered stainless steel pans, so check the stated finish as well as the body material.
Check Cooktop & Oven Compatibility
Cooking on induction? Look for an explicit induction-compatible specification rather than relying on the pan’s material name. Nonstick skillets can be induction ready when their bases are designed for it. If you like finishing meals in the oven, compare the listed temperature limit for the complete pan, including its handle, and check any lid separately. For broiling, look for a separate broiler-safe statement. Match the stated limits to your recipes rather than applying one temperature rule to every skillet.
Compare Skillet Cooking Surfaces
| Feature | Nonstick Shop now | Uncoated stainless steel Shop now | Cast iron Shop now | Carbon steel Shop now |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surface options | Options include traditional and ceramic nonstick coatings | Stainless steel cooking surface without a nonstick coating | Bare seasoned iron or an enamel finish | Uncoated steel that develops a seasoned finish |
| Useful cooking tasks | Easy-release cooking with little added fat | Stir-frying and stovetop braising | Pan-frying chicken and roasting vegetables | Frying and grilling |
| Seasoning needs | No seasoning required | No seasoning required | Maintain seasoning on bare iron; enamel does not need seasoning | Season according to the maker’s instructions |
Care for Your Skillet
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Hand-wash Gently
Hand-wash with the maker’s recommended cleaner and a non-scratch sponge, especially on ceramic, other nonstick coatings and enamel.
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Dry Before Storing
Dry the entire skillet thoroughly after cleaning, especially bare cast iron and carbon steel.
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Oil Seasoned Surfaces
For bare cast iron and carbon steel, follow the maker’s directions to rub in a light coating of seasoning oil and wipe away the excess.
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Separate Stacked Pans
Place a pan protector between stacked skillets to cushion nonstick cooking surfaces.
Skillet FAQs
Consider a lid if stovetop braising is part of your routine. Skillets are available with and without included lids, so check what comes with the pan before buying.
Yes, when the skillet is oven safe at the temperature your recipe requires. Frittatas, pan brownies and cornbread are all dishes you can make in an appropriate skillet.
Use metal utensils only when the maker explicitly allows them. Scanpan Professional skillets with Stratanium cooking surfaces are listed as metal-utensil safe, but that permission should not be applied to every nonstick pan.