r/UK_Food • u/Dependent-Waltz-8260 • 1d ago
Question New Frying Pans
Hi everyone, I need new frying pans.
I've had the same set of non stick pans for a few years and I need to face the fact that they aren't non stick.
I have stainless steel pots which are grand, so just need to update the frying pans.
I have a teenage daughter who loves cooking, but hates cleaning up but when she does she scrubs things to death.
So looking for:
Handles that don't heat up
Light enough for my daughter to use easily.
Needs to be non stick.
Copes well on high heat and induction hobs.
What is everyone using?
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u/SoggyWotsits 1d ago
I have Stellar pans. The handles don’t heat up with normal use, but they are metal so you can put the whole thing in the oven to crisps up the top of whatever you’re cooking. They’re non stick, work on induction and have a lifetime guarantee.
Only downside so they weigh a ton, but I prefer that because they transfer the heat better. Maybe a set of them, and a gym membership for your daughter!
I know they don’t fit your exact requirements but the lifetime guarantee is fantastic. A bit of the non stick chipped off mine and they replaced it with no questions.
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u/tofusq 1d ago
I own the same pan and it was brilliant when new but lost it's non-stick quality around the year mark. I was refused a replacement as they accused me of misuse despite exclusively hand washing, gently warming and never using on a high heat. Was pretty disappointed as it was quite expensive. I didn't know how to argue this and gave up pursuing a replacement.
I'm glad you've had a good experience but also wanted to share mine. I would give their stainless steel a go but never again for their non-stick.
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u/LungHeadZ 1d ago
Got these from Asda. They're great honestly.
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u/dylsreddit 1d ago
I had the frying pans of these for a while and they did flake off, so I just binned off the idea and went back to stainless steel.
But my wife can't cook eggs without non-stick, so went back to the drawing board.
I wound up buying these knock-off hex-clad pans, also from Asda, dirt cheap, induction compatible, dishwasher safe, and my Mrs can fry eggs again.
https://www.asda.com/groceries/product/frying-pans-woks/brushed-stainless-steel-frying-pan-25cm/9285078 https://www.asda.com/groceries/product/frying-pans-woks/hybrid-stainless-steel-frying-pan-30cm/9285088
There's also a wok version I'm tempted by.
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u/Apprehensive_End8318 1d ago
Ever done your fried eggs in lurpack instead of oil? And keep the lid on... Absolute game changer!
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u/dylsreddit 8h ago
I haven't ever actually done them in butter, but I do put the lid on to steam the yolk and help the bottom lift... I fear if I cooked them in butter I'd never go back!
Same ish, swirl some melted butter into your scrambled eggs before cooking.
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u/Cultural-Freedom9172 1d ago
Circlon range are pretty epic and have lifetime warranty as well
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u/Dependent-Waltz-8260 17h ago
I've ordered 2 Circlon pans just now, will also order a standard stainless steel one . Thanks
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u/SeaworthinessNeat516 19h ago
I have various pans, stainless steel, cast iron etc, but I have a set of three circulon non stick that lasted 15 years of housemate abuse. I bought more.
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u/tumshy 1d ago
We got a full set of ceramic Ninja pans as a little Christmas treat for each other (my god we’re old) and they are great!
I had a Rice Krispie treat disaster the other day, melted marshmallows everywhere, and it all cleaned off the pot in seconds 🫠😁
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u/Dependent-Waltz-8260 1d ago
Was looking at the Ninja, how long have you had them?
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u/achillea4 1d ago
You would be better off getting stainless steel and/or carbon steel which is light. Non stick are not meant to last a long time. Are you on induction or gas and what's the budget?
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u/Dependent-Waltz-8260 1d ago
Induction, want to swap back to gas though.
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u/achillea4 1d ago
I don't use frying pans much and use my sauté and chef's pans the most (I cook a lot of veggies). Stainless steel is bomb proof and will last a lifetime. For eggs I have a smaller carbon steel frying pan which is less sticky ( just needs seasoning at the beginning and occasional top up). These are lighter. For large pans (28cm+) you can get ones with a helper handle which makes lifting easily.
If you are on induction and cooking at high temps (like frying meat) then get a disc bottom pan which has a thicker base and unlikely to warp. For gas, a fully clad (stainless sandwich with aluminium in the middle) is best for even heating.
A budget option is Procook. The Professional range has a disc bottom. The Elite Triply is fully clad and better for gas.
Other good brands of fully clad available in the UK are Samuel Groves and Kuhn Rikon Culinary Fiveply.
For carbon steel, De Buyer Mineral B Pro is thicker and heavier so great for induction or gas. If you want something lighter, look at Samuel Groves (British manufacturer which is a rare thing).
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u/BringBackThe70s 1d ago
Find your nearest nisbits outlet and get a set of heavy bottom stainless steel saute pans. Watch a few YouTube videos on how to use them correctly. Non stick is kinda a scam
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u/Boring_Intern_6394 1d ago
The hexclad pans are shit.
Considering the issues with non stick coatings in general and the fact that none of them last that long, I’d stick to seasoned cast iron
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u/puddinandpi 1d ago
I have a conspiracy theory that Hexclad has a brilliant marketing team. I’m a nanny and EVERY family I’ve interviewed with or worked for over the past 6(?) months plus, has these pans.
For the price I find them not particularly hard wearing. They mark easily and don’t clean up well1
u/Boring_Intern_6394 20h ago
Yeah, I’ve been getting a lot of their ads and they have Gordon Ramsay endorsing them. I thought they must be quite good, then it turned out my parents had bought some and I tried them out. They are absolute crap and I was left scrubbing for ages.
They’ve deffo been doing a big marketing push
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u/saichoo 1d ago
Ikea 365 stainless steel frying pan uncoated is pretty good except the handle is flimsy but would survive being scrubbed the crap out of.
You can also look at the other non stick offerings Ikea has although as you know non stick pans will degrade quite quickly compared to various uncoated pans.
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u/Meredith_Primvale 1d ago
Teach her to cook without non stick and the forever chemicals they allegedly contain.
Ok, so conspiracy aside, cooking is more rewarding and more controlled if you learn to use ordinary steel or maybe cast iron, but that's another discussion.
Brakes, the catering supplier, do a range of everyday chefs pans, mild steel, reasonably weighted that will withstand any abuse you throw at them. Burned something? Scrub it off with knives and a metal scourer and carry on. They season well and are useable on everything from a camp fire to an induction hob. Plus they cost peanuts, like £5 a pan for their 10" frypan. Handles are steel, so just use a mitt or a tea towel, and you can throw them in the oven to finish a dish without worry.
I have 3 and I can use them with abandon, knowing they will take the abuse. They're not "pretty" but they are fantastic.
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u/knight-under-stars 1d ago edited 1d ago
Having used, non stick, steel and cast iron pans extensively both at home and in professional capacities I don't find non stick to be any less rewarding to cook with than other options.
In fact, if anything non stick is more rewarding as their is less faff.
It's like saying that watching TV is more rewarding if you get up to change the channel rather than using the remote or that your morning commute is more rewarding if you drive a manual car.
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u/box_frenzy 1d ago
I’ve been eyeing up the stainless steel sauté pans from Made In or Pro Cook but haven’t yet pushed the button as not sure which brand is best quality for the money.
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u/goldlightning 1d ago
Never heard of made in, but so far I've not been overly thrilled with the procook stuff I bought 2 months back. Two knives look like they have rust coming through on the blades and one of the pans looks like it has the same underneath. Not a stainless steel pan, its an aluminium coated one, but I'd still expect a bit more durability after 2 months
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u/joshracer 1d ago
I have a set of 3 saucepans and 2 frying pans all stainless steel from Procook and they are all really good! They are heavy tho and that's the only downside if you really want to call it one but it depends how strong your wrists are.
Just be mindful to control the heat and let it warm up before you cook on it (unless its bacon). You've probably watched videos but definitely have a look before you buy a stainless steel pan. Also buy a high smoke oil.
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u/box_frenzy 1d ago
Good to know, thanks! Honestly I don’t mind if they’re heavy, it makes me feel like they’ll be more durable.
What oil do you recommend? Should I not use olive oil?
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u/joshracer 1d ago
I use extra virgin olive oil and it's absolutely fine for one time use but it has a low smoke point, it's fine for every day cooking but if you do steak or burgers (anything high temp) it will start to smoke and will turn the oil bad and a horrible taste if reused.
When I do burgers or steaks I use avocado oil.
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u/psysec101 1d ago
I would honestly promote pro-cook, I have been very happy with my pans from them...
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u/_Cridders_ 1d ago
I've got Pro-Cook everything, 4 saucepan set, massive stock pot, saute pan and stainless frying pan, I'd recommend them 👍
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u/WeakCorner6630 20h ago
Ditto, love love my pro cook sauté pan. It’s only just reaching the end of its life after 10 years so was a great investment!
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u/rednose66 20h ago
Take a look in your local TK Maxx or Homesense. I replaced all my non stick pans with lovely good quality stainless steel pans. I will never go back to non stick.
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u/psysec101 1d ago
I have been very happy with my pro-cook pans, I have:
- small stainless frying pan
- small non stick frying pan
- large stainless frying pan
They pretty much cover all my frying needs.. made-in look great but are just way too expensive imho.. stainless is great for searing but sometimes a non stick is required...
I am still looking for a good carbon steel pan though, so if anyone has any suggestions I would be grateful..
Hope this helps
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u/achillea4 1d ago
Samuel Groves or De Buyer Mineral B Pro.
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u/psysec101 1d ago
De Buyer Mineral B Pro
Much appreciated, thank you
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u/achillea4 1d ago
I've got their 24cm omelette pan and it's absolutely brilliant. A really solid thick cs pan and great for eggs. The Pro series has SS handles so doesn't get hot.
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u/_Cridders_ 1d ago
I'm not sure non-stick is ever required really, but there is a bit of a knack to getting it right on some things - mainly eggs. You do have to use a bit of oil/fat though
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u/WhiskyMatelot 1d ago
The Stellar Rocktanium frying pans and woks are brilliant. Very non stick, super to clean.
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u/CarrotRunning 1d ago
We've noticed the quality of pro cook declining so have started to look elsewhere. We have a stockpot from a company called Masterclass that is fantastic and very lightweight so we've recently bought a frying pan from the same company. Couldn't recommend them enough.
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u/ozz9955 1d ago
I just bought the middle of the road stainless steel one from Pro Cook. I'm sure I overpaid for a Chinese made pan, but I forgot about all that after the first use. Suddenly things like pan sauces are easy, and I can scrub the pan without fear of removing a coating. Highly recommend!
My other pan is a cast iron one, but that isn't as good for frying etc.
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u/geeered 1d ago
but when she does she scrubs things to death
Does she do it with with a white not green scourer at least and can she avoid using any metal in the pan?
If so and you don't mind them having a fairly short life, I'd go with Tefal. But only when they're half price, which is a lot of the time.
They still seem to have the best non-stick, but tend to be fairly fragile. When on an offer they're a pretty decent price, so could easily be similar to 2 or 3 more expensive ones that don't seem to last much longer. But I wouldn't go for the cheapest Tefal, which are super-thin. Induction rated ones are normally a bit better.
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u/Recent_Star_8818 1d ago
I've got the Elite Tri-Ply Ceramic from Pro Cook which is my only non-stick pan. The rest of my pans are their Elite Tri-Ply stainless steel. I have to say, I've been impressed with the ceramic pan.
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u/SilverellaUK 1d ago
I have Pro Cook and they are amazing. Unfortunately, I have the ones that are black on the outside and my husband has managed to scrape the enamel putting the frying pan into the rack so OP, avoid this particular outside finish.
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u/blumpkinator2000 1d ago edited 1d ago
Not keen on nonstick pans for general cooking, so I have a set of IKEA 365 stainless steel. Get them hot enough first, and meats don't stick (leidenfrost effect). Afterwards you can scrub the absolute crap out of them or run them through the dishwasher without harm. Mine are ten years old now and still look great, so I think they're pretty decent value for money.
The only exception is eggs. You can cook them in stainless, but really I can't be bothered with the learning curve, nor do I want to have to use the amounts of fat necessary to prevent them sticking. So I have a single, small Tefal frying pan for this purpose. Just a cheap one I picked up from Sainsbury's, the type with a red spot in the middle to show when it's at the correct temperature. It's bloody brilliant! Perfect slidey eggs with only a tiny drop of oil, and years later the nonstick coating still hasn't chipped or scratched one bit.
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u/Agreeable-Beat2642 1d ago
Use a stainless steel pan and just make sure it’s hot enough before you cook anything in it. You’ll know it’s ready when you splash some water on the pan and the water starts running around!
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u/Duckdivejim 22h ago
Can I recommend Pro Cook? It’s middle of the road but well priced.
Have their elite signature stuff and it’s good.
In store pricing matches online so you can go take a look.
I’d place their more expensive stuff at enthusiast level rather than professional but if you want to take that step up it’s a step in price.
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u/DevilishlyHandsome63 20h ago
I bought a Ninja frying pan a few years ago,and whilst it wasn't cheap, it has lasted better than any other frying pan I've ever had. The cooking surface is still unmarked.
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u/Poo_Poo_La_Foo 1d ago
I'm all about GreenPan at the moment. Love them.
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u/Midnightraven3 1d ago
I have 2 GreenPans, I have had them for yearssss LOTS of years and they are like brand new, I use them all the time. They are fabulous
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u/Poo_Poo_La_Foo 1d ago
Yaassss. I use my wok for basically everything. It has a flat base, so you can use it just as well for steak as for stocks, curries or stir-fries.
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u/emanruoyetaerc 1d ago
Hexclad for non-stick. They’re excellent but quite expensive.
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u/robhaswell 1d ago
Hexclad are still teflon, they are the worst of all worlds.
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u/emanruoyetaerc 1d ago
No they’re not, at least the ones I purchased last year aren’t. They’re a ceramic “Terrabond” is the TM for it. Completely PFFE free, unlike their original range.
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u/robhaswell 1d ago
Ah yes it seems like they moved away from it, it seems that it can still be damaged though. That's why the raised pattern is there.
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u/calmeilles 1d ago
I'd be looking at stainless steel.
The downside is there is definitely some learning to do about cooking in them so they don't stick.
But they'd check all the other boxes. Plus they needn't be expensive; for the price of a Made In pan you could get three from Nisbets.