Choosing the best frypan for your kitchen

Shopping for a new frypan is an exciting activity, but choosing the right frypan can be difficult and downright overwhelming. With heaps of different brands, materials, prices, shapes, sizes, and special features bombarding you, it's easy to fall into the trap of buying the cheapest frypan to save money, or the most expensive frypan thinking it offers the best quality. This leads to you ultimately regretting your purchase.

We receive hundreds of calls, emails, and direct messages on social media almost daily, with most of them facing the same issue; the struggle of choosing the right frypan. It may be difficult to pick the right one but don't worry! This easy guide will help you pick the best frypan for you by answering three of the most common questions frequently asked by our customers.

1.    Which size should I choose?

You'll want to ask yourself a few questions to get this answer. For instance, what do you usually cook and for how many people? Are you going to use it for various cooking tasks or is it only for frying eggs? Does the frypan's weight matter to you?

It is these factors that will help steer you to the best type of frypan for you. To give you a better and clearer idea, check out our list of frypan sizes and their uses below.

10-14cm Diameter Frypan AKA Mini or Miniature Frypan

Serves: 1

Use: This is the pan for quick meal fixes such as fried eggs, a small portion of sauces, and a single portion of sauteed mushrooms and vegetables. It's also great for oven to table serves due to its small size.

Pros: The pan is convenient to handle and it is easy to hold. Smaller frypans make beautiful presentation pieces, making them popular in restaurants, hotels, catering services, and cafes.

Cons: Its small diameter limits you from cooking a variety of ingredients at a go. It is only suitable for individual meal portions which limit your recipe choice as well. This is not an everyday frypan.

20cm Diameter Frypan

Serves 1-2

Use: A 20cm diameter frypan is perfect to fry 1-2 eggs or omelettes, which you can easily plate right after cooking. It works best on small gas hobs so that the heat is more controlled when cooking. It is also great for frying heavier portions of chopped mushrooms, onions, tomatoes, and other smaller ingredients. This size is the perfect everyday pan for solo cooks or couples.

Pros: Perfect on small hobs and it's easy to clean in a small sink. It does not take up much storage space so it’s great for those who have a compact kitchen space. You’ll also find that a 20cm diameter frypan generally fits in your dishwasher for easy cleaning.

Cons: You are limited to the portion and size of ingredients that you can cook. It may not be the best to cook steak, fish, or chunkier meat unless they are sliced or diced. The depth of the pan is too small. Hence, it may affect the texture of certain food as the juices cannot disperse well enough.

24-26cm Frypan

Serves: 2-3

Use: The perfect everyday frypan to cook for a small family of 3. It has greater depth than 20cm so it is perfect for scrambling eggs, frying vegetables or cooking larger portions of food. This size is also ideal to fry or sear proteins like steak, fish, chicken fillets, bacon strips or even lamb chops.

Pros: Fits medium size hobs, greater heat dispersion, and accommodates larger portions.

Cons: This pan size is limited to small families as it may not be able to cook servings of 4. There is also a small limitation to the size of steaks or types of fish that you can cook due to the size of the pan.

26-28cm Frypan

Serves: 2-4

Use: This is the most versatile sized pan that’s ideal to cook single portions or it can easily cook servings of up to 4 people. Whether your ingredients are whole, sliced or chopped, this pan size can evenly cook them all.

Pros: Versatile size for cooking small or large portions of up to 4 servings. You can easily cook a variety of vegetables and proteins. Works well on medium or large hobs.

Cons: Not ideal to use on small hobs as it may affect the heat distribution due to its larger diameter and size. It may be slightly difficult to handle if it’s a cast iron frying pan.

30-36cm Frypan

Serves: 4-6+

Use: The larger sized frypans are usually bought by those who have a large family. It's also great for those who prefer to fry whole fish and other large-sized food.

Pros: These larger sized frypans are ideal for cooking family-sized portions. Ideal for cooking whole fish like snapper, large T-bone steaks and pork chops.

Cons: Only suitable on large hobs due to their size. It can also be quite heavy to handle a frypan of this size so it may not be suitable for cooks with smaller hands. It would be recommended to opt for a frypan with a helper handle if you find the size difficult to handle, especially if you need to use it in your oven.

2.    Which frypan material is best?

When it comes to buying a frypan, the material is just as important as the size. There are various types of material composition available in the market such as stainless steel, cast iron, non-stick or titanium. There are even more advanced materials that combine diamonds, steel with aluminium, and reinforced nonstick coatings. One of the major decisions would probably be whether you want a non-stick finish or not.

Nonstick

Nonstick pans are a staple for everyday cooks. Nonstick pans are common in most households because of their ease of use and easy cleanup. It’s very easy to clean and prevents your food from sticking. Most prefer nonstick pans as it requires little to no oil when cooking food – perfect for the health-conscious or those on a strict diet. Bear in mind that some nonstick coatings cannot withstand extremely high heat, which leads to the release of unhealthy fumes that detriments your health. When using a nonstick frypan, avoid placing it over high heat and always cook on low to medium heat to extend its lifespan.

Pros:

• Easy to clean
• Easy food release
• Lightweight and easy to handle
• Requires little to no oil for healthy cooking

Cons:

• Not suitable for high temperatures over 180°C
• Nonstick properties will decline and wear with age.
• Layers on cheap nonstick pans may not last for years

If you are looking for a high quality non-stick frypan that will last you for years, we recommend Scanpan frypans, Woll and Swiss Diamond. These quality brands feature strongly reinforced nonstick cookware that are PFOA free.

Cast Iron

Cast iron has gained popularity in recent years due to its incredible versatility and durability to last you generations with proper care. Cookware made from cast iron improves with age and develops a natural nonstick surface when correctly seasoned. Having a cast iron frypan is great for searing and grilling steaks, lamb chops or cooking burger patties. It brings out the flavour of your food better compared to other materials.

Pros:

• Chemical free nonstick option that improves with consistent seasoning
• Health benefits of increasing iron content in some foods during cooking. Acidic foods like tomatoes are known to absorb iron positively when cooking
• Superior heat retention and even heat distribution
• Incredibly durable and can last a lifetime
• Can handle high temperatures and is safe according to FDA
• Can be used in the oven for roasting or baking

Cons:

• Heavier than other materials making it quite difficult to handle with a hand
• Requires regular seasoning sessions to maintain the nonstick coating and prevent rusting
• Can react to acidic food if left in the pan for too long after cooking

If you’re looking to buy a quality cast iron frypan take a look at Le Creuset and Lodge. These brands are leaders in producing high quality cast iron cookware that will last you generations.

Stainless Steel and Copper

Stainless steel frypans are probably one of the most popular types of frypans you can find in any home. This material is affordable, retains heat well, evenly distributes heat throughout the pan for even cooking, resistant to rust, hygienic and can last for years. Stainless steel is also relatively light compared to other materials, making it a favourite of professional chefs and passionate cooks at home.

Copper frypans are also another popular type of cookware due to its striking appearance. Copper pans give out a beautiful polished rich red tone that makes your cookware grandeur and classy.

Pros:

• Superb heat retention
• Resistant to corrosion
• Can be kept on stovetops for long periods
• Does not react to acidic food and does not alter flavour
• Durable and lightweight

Cons:

• Difficult to clean
• Steel can burn food easily even when on low heat
• Food can easily get stuck to the pan
• May scratch easily if not properly cared for

Carbon Steel AKA Black Steel

Carbon steel frypans are most commonly used in commercial kitchens. Carbon steel pans are incredibly durable like cast iron but weigh lesser. Commercial kitchens often use carbon steel frypans due to its superb durability and affordable price range. Carbon steel frypans can be used on extreme high heat for fast cooking. However, it isn’t as popular to use at home due to its poor appearance – carbon steel blackens over time.

Pros:

• Affordable
• Highly durable and can last for years
• Provides even heat distribution and even cooking
• Ideal for cooking at extreme high temperatures

Cons:

• Requires seasoning to prevent rusting
• Blackens and become less aesthetically pleasing with use
• Reacts with acidic foods that will alter and leave a metallic taste

For a good quality carbon steel frypan, go for our range of French De Buyer pans. For a more affordable one, you can opt for Chef Inox.

3.      Should I consider buying a frypan set?

Purchasing a fry pan set will definitely save you more money in the long run and and having the choice to use either one is always better. Most sets consist of different sizes such as 20/28cm, 20/26cm or 24/30cm combinations.

Use the smaller pan to cook simple or small dishes, and the bigger pan to cook larger portions quickly and evenly. Having a frypan set is also useful to fry vegetables and proteins separately such as steak and mushrooms, salmon and green beans, chicken and broccoli, etc.

Deciding Factor

It all boils down to what you want in a frypan. Before you start browsing, make sure to determine your preferred size and material. Once you know the type of pan you are looking for, the process becomes easier, and you’ll also have fun choosing the style, colour and brand you prefer.

Ready to shop for a frying pan? Browse our wide selection of frypans here.