Choosing a stainless steel frying pan is an admittedly tough job. This type of pan is currently taking the cookware world by storm – and for good reason. Although an uncoated pan requires more work in the preparation and cleaning departments than its non-stick counterparts, the results truly speak for themselves. These six uncoated pans provided the perfect base when it came to searing steaks and salmon, caramelising onions, and even for frying up a few eggs.
An uncoated frying pan is a better option for your family’s health, as there’s zero risk of chemicals from a coating leaking into your food. Better yet, they’re usually much easier to maintain – because of this lack of coating, they tend to be dishwasher-safe, as well as suitable for oven cooking (to a certain temperature) and you can usually use them with metal utensils.
Convenient, but they do come at a price tag, which is why we’ve made sure to test each individual pan, and as a result, these are the ones that have been approved by the Good Food team. Whether you’re searching for something on a budget or you need a lightweight option for easy handling, these are the best options on the market in 2025.
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Best stainless steel frying pans at a glance
- Best stainless steel frying pan: Zwilling Pro stainless-steel frying pan, from £94.95
- Best premium stainless steel frying pan: Le Creuset signature stainless-steel frying pan, from £145
- Best budget-friendly stainless steel frying pan: ProCook Professional Bi-Ply frying pan, from £45
- Best deep stainless steel frying pan: Kuhn Rikon All Round frying pan, from £39.95
- Best stainless steel frying pans for tossing foods: Silampos TriPly frying pan, from £65
- Best stainless steel frying pan with an additional handle: ProCook Elite TriPly uncoated frying pan, from £60
How we tested stainless steel frying pans
All frying pans were tested on an induction hob by Annie Collyer, a freelance journalist with more than eight years’ experience reviewing home and kitchen products. Across 12 pans of different sizes and materials, we cooked a range of everyday recipes to assess performance, usability and design. Every detail – from how comfortably the handle sat in the hand to how evenly onions caramelised – was considered to understand how each pan performs in a real kitchen setting.
- Capacity and size: we measured the diameter and depth of each pan to see how suitable it was for different cooking needs. This helped us judge how much food could be prepared at once and whether the shape felt practical for tasks like frying, searing or simmering.
- Ease of use: we paid close attention to how each pan felt in use. The weight, balance and handle comfort all played a role in how enjoyable cooking became. We noted whether the handle stayed cool while cooking and how secure the pan felt when lifting or tossing ingredients.
- Ease of cleaning: after every test, we cleaned the pans by hand and in the dishwasher, where suitable. We checked for any dirt traps, residue build-up or finishes that resisted staining.
- Design: we considered overall look and quality, including the finish of the metal, the feel of the handle and any thoughtful touches such as pouring lips or hanging holes.
- Sustainability: we reviewed how recyclable each pan and its packaging were, noting efforts to reduce plastic or use recycled materials. Where possible, we also checked whether manufacturers referenced responsible sourcing or energy-efficient production, since durability and sustainability now matter as much as performance.
- Cooking results: To assess real cooking performance, we used the mercury ball test to gauge heat readiness, caramelised onions to test slow, high-sugar cooking, fried eggs to see how easily delicate foods released, and cooked steak or salmon to check searing and crust development. We also monitored responsiveness to temperature changes and how evenly each pan cooked across its surface.
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Best stainless steel frying pans to buy in 2025
Zwilling Pro stainless-steel frying pan
Available from Zwilling (from £94.95)
Best stainless-steel frying pan
Pros:
- Easy to control temperature
- Lightweight
- Oven-safe up to 300C
- Compatible with all hob types
- Lifetime warranty
Cons:
Star rating: 5/5
Sizes available: 20cm, 24cm, 26cm, 28cm
Made with robust 18/10 stainless steel, this frying pan was a joy to use and produced the best fried egg on test – with a golden lacy white outer, oozing yolk and no sticking. With a depth of almost 5cm, it’s also ideal for cooking saucier dishes, making it one of the most versatile options on this list.
Its handle stays cool during use and has a hollow design, which means the pan is relatively lightweight overall. I found it was quick to react to temperature changes and didn’t suffer from any hot spots. This was most evident when I seared a salmon fillet, which had a good even crust on the skin after 5-6 minutes on the heat.
With the right care, this is a pan that could easily withstand years of use, and when you factor in the lifetime warranty and price tag of under £100, it offers excellent value for money.
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Le Creuset signature stainless-steel frying pan
Available from Le Creuset (from £195)
Best premium stainless-steel frying pan
Pros:
- Quick to heat
- Lifetime warranty
- Oven-safe up to 260C
- Suitable for all hob types
Cons:
Star rating: 5/5
Sizes available: 20cm, 26cm, 28cm, 30cm
If you have a bit money to spend, this impressive stainless-steel pan from Le Creuset is certainly worth considering. The brand best known for its enamelled cast iron dishes offers this pan in a range of sizes (I tested the 28cm version), and I loved its curved sides and slim, easy-to-grip handle.
On test, it was the quickest to caramelise onions, producing rich, sticky results in just 35 minutes on a low heat. I also seared a steak, which wasn’t entirely even but had a juicy, succulent centre and noticeable crust.
As with most Le Creuset’s cookware, this pan has a hefty upfront cost but excellent longevity – backed by the brand’s lifetime warranty.
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ProCook Professional Bi-Ply frying pan
Available from ProCook (from £45)
Best budget-friendly stainless steel frying pan
Pros:
- Three size choices
- Reacts fast to temperature change
- 25-year guarantee
- Entirely recyclable packaging
Cons:
- Handle is a little short
- Largest size is only 28cm
Star rating: 4.5/5
ProCook’s Professional Biply frying pan comes in three sizes, including 20cm, 24cm and 28cm, while its price tag starts from a happy medium standpoint of £45. It offers all of the bells and whistles you’d expect in a stainless steel pan, including induction compatibility, the fact it’s dishwasher-safe and that it’s oven-safe to 260C. Surrounding the pan is a pouring lip, to make serving a mess-free process, while its rounded and extremely comfortable handle is great, but a admittedly a little short.
I used this uncoated pan from ProCook to sear the perfect medium-rare steak, and that it did – it gave the piece of meat a nice sear and it was subtly browned. It cooked a fried egg well, too, while it made very tasty caramelised onions, all while being easy to clean and very adaptable to temperature changes.
It comes with a 25-year guarantee, and its packaging received top points from us as it was entirely recyclable.
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Kuhn Rikon All Round frying pan
Available from Kuhn Rikon (from £39.95), Harts of Stur (£39.95)
Best deep stainless steel frying pan
Pros:
- Four sizes – largest being 32cm
- Affordable price
- Reacts well to temperature changes
- Lifetime warranty
- Deep at 5.5cm – great for tossing foods
Cons:
- It conducts heat very well – so it gets a lot hotter than other pans
- Handle isn’t rounded
- Harder to clean – burnt marks were tricky to remove
Star rating: 4.5/5
If you are on a budget, then the Kuhn Rikon All Round frying pan might just be calling your name. Choose from four sizes – 20cm, 24cm, 28cm and 32cm – and don’t be afraid to go bigger as the smallest size costs £49.95 and the largest size £89.95. As you’d expect from this Swiss cookware giant, this pan is metal utensil-safe, induction-compatible, dishwasher-safe and oven-safe to 240C. It’s also one of the deepest pans I tested, sitting at 5.5cm high, making it great for tossing foods.
Thanks to this Kuhn Rikon pan, I managed to perfectly sear and brown my steak and it was cooked to perfection. When it came to eggs, I noted the same – evenly cooked and the egg was sliding around the pan. My caramelised onions were slightly browned and a little crispy, as I noted that this pan does react to temperature change, but it seemed to conduct a lot more heat than other pans I tested. Cleaning-wise, I did note that brown marks formed on the pan after cooking the steak, which proved tricky to remove.
The best part about this uncoated pan is its warranty – a limited lifetime warranty comes included. Packaging-wise, there was some excess wrapping, but it was totally recyclable.
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Silampos TriPly frying pan
Available from Borough Kitchen (from £65)
Best stainless steel frying pan for tossing foods
Pros:
- Minimal packaging
- Deep design – great for tossing foods
- Reacts to temperature changes well
- Comfortable handle
Cons:
- Only oven safe to 200C
- Slightly more difficult to clean
Star rating: 4.5/5
Made in Portugal, the Silampos TriPly frying pan comes in your choice of 20cm, 24cm and 28cm, with its price ranging from £65 to £95, which is great value. Though it is dishwasher-safe and induction-compatible, it can only be heated in an oven to 200C, which is low in comparison to other pans. It sits at 5cm high, meaning it’s great for tossing foods and when it comes to serving, a pouring lip surrounds the pan, to avoid mess.
In cooking, I loved how comfortable its handle feels, while it heated fast and responded to changes in temperature well. It was easy to clean, the only issue I had was with some oil around the rim, which was difficult to clean off. Cooking-wise, my eggs, steak and caramelised onions all turned out perfectly.
It comes with peace of mind thanks to its 10-year guarantee, and packaging-wise, it surprised us: mostly cardboard and paper, with the exception of one plastic bag.
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ProCook Elite TriPly uncoated frying pan
Available from ProCook (from £65)
Best stainless steel frying pan with an additional handle
Pros:
- Largest size (30cm) has a second handle
Cons:
- High price tag – from £109 for 22cm size
- Takes longer to heat than other pans
- Slower to react to temperature changes
Star rating: 4/5
ProCook’s Elite TriPly pan comes in three size options, 22cm, 26cm and 30cm. It has all of the functions you need – oven-safe to 260C and dishwasher safe – plus you can use it on induction hob types. It even has a rolled edge for serving. What sets it apart from the other ProCook uncoated pan I tested? I reviewed the 30cm pan, which features a second handle to balance the weight of whatever you’re cooking.
In testing, I noted that it took longer to heat up than other pans I’ve reviewed, which could be because of its 3mm thick base. While its long handle is comfortable, it did take longer to heat up than other pans, and it wasn’t as responsive to changes of temperature, either. The caramelised onions took a whopping 50 minutes to cook and I did note some sticking at certain points, while my egg cooked perfectly – the pan had to be very hot, though, to avoid sticking. My salmon was browned, but I did note that it cooked slightly unevenly.
The same warranty applies to this pan – 25-year limited lifetime – while you can use it with metal utensils. When it comes to its packaging, it did arrive wrapped in cardboard and bubble wrap, which I thought to be a little unnecessary. If you are going to choose this pan, then I’d definitely recommend splurging on the 30cm size for the extra handle.
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How to use a stainless steel frying pan
When using a stainless steel frying pan, it is important to heat it properly before adding any oil or ingredients. Begin by placing the pan over a low to medium heat for two to three minutes. To check if the pan is ready, add a few drops of water: if they form one bead and dance across the surface of the pan then it’s ready. If the water fizzes and spits it’s not hot enough. Only once the pan is hot should you add oil, ensuring it coats the surface evenly. This method helps prevent food from sticking and promotes even cooking. It is also advisable to allow ingredients to come to room temperature before cooking, as cold food is more likely to stick to stainless steel.
Photography: Annie Collyer/Good Food
How to cook with a stainless steel frying pan
Cooking with a stainless steel frying pan may seem daunting if you are used to non-stick pans, but a few simple techniques can make all the difference. After preheating and adding oil, put your ingredients in the pan and allow them to cook without moving them too soon, particularly when searing meat or fish. Patience is key, as food will naturally release from the pan once it is properly seared. Stainless steel pans conduct heat efficiently, so it is best to lower the heat after adding ingredients to avoid burning. Cleaning is straightforward: let the pan cool completely before washing and use hot soapy water to remove any residue. For stubborn marks, a little white vinegar can help restore the pan’s shine.
What size stainless steel frying pan should I buy
Choosing the right size stainless steel frying pan depends on your household and cooking habits. A 20cm pan is suitable for individuals or couples, perfect for frying a couple of eggs or making a small omelette. For most families, a 26cm or 28cm pan offers greater versatility, allowing you to prepare larger portions or multiple items at once. If you regularly cook for a group or like to batch cook, a 30cm pan provides ample space for searing meat, frying vegetables or preparing one-pan meals. Consider your hob size and storage space as well, ensuring the pan fits comfortably and is easy to handle.
Photography: Annie Collyer/Good Food
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If you have any questions, suggestions for future reviews or spot anything that has changed in price or availability, please get in touch at goodfoodwebsite@immediate.co.uk.
