The Best Egg Pans Our Allstars Have Used for Years

Our Top Pick

Made In Cookware Nonstick Frying Pan

$129 at Amazon $13 at Walmart View on Madeincookware.com

Candice Walker, Allstar and owner of the popular food blog Proportional Plate, says that some pans only last six months in her kitchen before the nonstick coating begins to deteriorate. She looks for cookware that will work well in the long term, and this Made In pan is one of her favorites.

The award-winning design combines 5-ply stainless construction with two layers of nonstick coating for a pan that heats evenly and is durable enough to handle professional-level kitchen use. It has a sturdy double-rivet handle that stays cool while cooking on the stovetop, and it's oven safe up to 500°F.

Allstar Brenda Venable, who’s contributed over 300 recipes to Allrecipes, admires the way the pan heats up quickly, noting that it got hotter than any other pan she's tried. That heat is a bit of a double-edged sword, however, since she had to keep a closer eye on her eggs to avoid burns. "A beginner cook might love this pan, because of the high level of non-stick and ease of cleanup," she says. "I'd like to stress that they not be used on a high heat setting, to help the non-stick last longer, and to avoid burning the food."

In tests, scrambled eggs didn't stick, and any remnants of the eggs left after cooking were easily wiped out of the pan with a paper towel. Plus, the space around the rivets was small enough not to attract any stubborn bits of food. While the pan is on the heavier side, it's also incredibly well-balanced. We also love that it comes in four trendy colors—Graphite, Harbour Blue, Pomme Red, and Desert Tan—and three sizes.

The Details: Stainless steel; 10-inch diameter; 2.5 pounds; hand wash only

Best Budget

Blue Diamond Ceramic Nonstick Skillet

$20 at Amazon $20 at Walmart

This brand’s signature diamond-infused ceramic nonstick is harder and more durable than traditional nonstick coating, and it’s more conductive than copper. The forged construction prevents warping and it’s oven safe up to 600°F. It’s even safe to put in the dishwasher. 

Allstar Angela Sackett has had this same ceramic nonstick for two years, and she’s even bought a few as gifts. It’s less than $20, which is a steal for a quality egg pan, and comes in several different colors to match any aesthetic. Those stocking a new kitchen or dorm room can grab the same pan in a few sizes—it also comes in 8-inch, 9.5-inch, 11-inch, 12-inch, 12.5-inch, and 14-inch—for a full set. 

The Details: Diamond-infused ceramic, aluminum; 10-inch diameter; 1.76 pounds; dishwasher safe

Best Splurge

All-Clad Stainless Tri-Ply Fry Pan, 12-inch

$190 at Amazon $150 at Williams Sonoma $130 at Sur La Table

Allstar Brenda has been using this 10-inch All-Clad nonstick pan for at least five years. “When I consider a new pan for cooking eggs, I want excellent non-stick, even heating, a well-balanced handle, and a stainless steel pan body for my glass top stove,” she says. 

All-Clad is a brand trusted by home cooks and professional cooks alike, so it’s bound to be a big investment. However, when properly cared for—washing only by hand, using non-scratching utensils, etc.—these pans will last virtually forever. In tests, scrambled eggs and fried eggs cooked evenly without any burning or browning. The eggs slid out easily, with only small traces of oil or butter left in the pan.

The Details: Stainless steel; 10-inch diameter; 3.2 pounds; hand wash only

Best Heavy Duty

Zwilling Madura Plus Non-Stick Frying Pan

View on Zwilling $70 at Wayfair

Allstar Ashley Schuering says she looks for reliably nonstick, scratch-resistant, induction-safe pans with even heating and lightweight designs for easy flipping. This Zwilling pan fits the bill and then some, with a sleek all-black construction and generous 11-inch diameter. 

The pan’s sturdy forged aluminum provides pro-level heat distribution and retention, and there’s a whole line of matching cookware—from saucepans to deep frying pans—to stock up your kitchen. Cooked eggs will slide off like butter from the three layers of DuraSlide granite nonstick coating, which, apart from adding 40 times more durability than traditional nonstick, helps make this pan easier to clean.

The Details: Forged aluminum; 11-inch diameter; 2.95 pounds; dishwasher safe

Best Small

Le Creuset Toughened Nonstick PRO 8" Fry Pan

$110 $88 at Amazon $110 $88 at Sur La Table $142 at Macys

While Le Creuset is better known for its lightweight and long-lasting cast iron, the brand also has several lines of nonstick cookware made using forged hard anodized aluminum. Allstar Alyson Richardson has used this Le Creuset Toughened Nonstick Pro since 2012, which is a pretty impressive length of time for any nonstick pan. 

It’s safe to use in the oven up to 500°F and has a slightly textured, triple-reinforced coating to promote even browning and searing. When it comes time to clean, you can throw it in the dishwasher—though hand washing is recommended to maintain the quality. Although the pan is a little pricey for the smaller 8-inch size (it also comes in 9.5-inch, 10.25-inch, 11-inch, and 12-inch), it’s well worth the investment for a pan with the potential to last over a decade. 

The Details: Forged hard anodized aluminum; 8-inch diameter; 1.5 pounds; dishwasher safe (hand washing recommended)

Best Design

Beautiful by Drew Barrymore 10-Inch Ceramic Non-Stick Fry Pan

$20 at Walmart View on Beautifulbydrew.com

This pan truly lives up to its name—Beautiful. The entire collection by Drew Barrymore is aesthetically pleasing, filled with modern style in a suite of pastel colors. The skillet has an eye-catching golden handle, which Allstar Kim Mancuso says adds a touch of elegance to the kitchen.

But the skillet is more than just a pretty pan. In terms of the handle, it's double-riveted for a secure hold, and always stays cool to the touch. The pan itself has sloped sides, which Kim reports makes it "a breeze" to reach all corners of the pan. She did notice, however, that while the pan warmed up quickly, the heat seemed to concentrate in the center. Kim recommends hand washing the pan to keep it pristine, as putting it in the dishwasher may lead to chipping.

The Details: Ceramic; 10-inch diameter; 1.97 pounds; dishwasher safe (hand washing recommended)

Best Deep

Caraway Frying Pan

$95 $85 at Amazon $96 $86 at Target $95 $86 at Macys

Whatever you're cooking, the last thing you want is to have it slosh over the side. Fortunately, this frying pan from Caraway comes with fairly tall walls to keep all the ingredients securely inside the pan. Kim remarks that the walls make it great for tasks like flipping omelets or stir-frying.

In addition to the deep nature of the pan, Kim enthusiastically praised the nonstick coating. "I'm obsessed with this pan! The non-stick surface is amazing—eggs just slide right out," she says. "It looks great on the stovetop too. The only thing is, it's a bit on the heavy side. If weight isn't an issue for you, this pan is a winner!" It's a bit on the pricey side, but the pan can last a long time if properly cared for. To that end, Kim recommends hand washing.

The Details: Ceramic-coated aluminum; 10.5-inch diameter; 2.13 pounds; dishwasher safe (hand washing recommended)

Best for Everyday Cooking

KitchenAid Stainless Steel 3-Ply Base Nonstick Frying Pan

$49 at Amazon $50 at Target $50 at Macys

If you need a simple yet dependable workhorse of a frying pan, Kim heartily recommends this three-ply stainless steel pan from KitchenAid. During tests, she found that the pan heated evenly and had no hot spots. Additionally, Kim praised the heat control of the pan, noting that it never got too hot and her eggs never once burned.

When it comes to cleaning, a simple scrub with warm water and soap is all it takes. Some food did get stuck around the rivets—a common issue with pans—but Kim just scrubbed it off with a sponge, easy-peasy. "Overall, this pan offers good value for the price, especially considering the lifetime warranty," she says. "If you're looking for a well-made, non-stick pan for everyday cooking, this could be a great option."

The Details: Stainless steel; 9.5-inch diameter; 2.32 pounds; dishwasher safe

Best for Families

OXO Good Grips Pro 12-Inch Frying Pan Skillet

$70 $59 at Amazon View on Oxo

Oxo is well known in the cooking world for a myriad of kitchen gadgets. This 12-inch frying pan is likewise beloved, sporting over 13,000 five-star reviews on Amazon. Brenda loved the skillet, too, praising it for being lightweight, well-balanced, and having a comfortable stay-cool handle. "I was thrilled to see that the designers addressed one of my pet peeves: the rivets are coated with the same non-stick as the pan," she says. "Yay! It's truly 100 percent non-stick!"

The pan is on the larger side, making it an ideal pick for cooks who need to feed an entire family. "It's great for sautéeing chops, chicken, or fish, and it can handle a four or six serving skillet meal with ease," she says. "For busy families who don't want to spend a lot of time cleaning up, this pan is a godsend." Though dishwasher safe, Brenda prefers hand washing the pan and drying it immediately. She notes that the black interior can show water spots if it remains damp.

The Details: Hard anodized aluminum and stainless steel; 10-inch diameter; 2.5 pounds; dishwasher safe (hand washing recommended)