Best Skillets in 2022

Last update: December 9, 2022

Are stir fry pans and woks the same?

Stir fry pans and woks are not the same. Woks are round and have a concave shape, while stir fry pans are flat and have a sloped edge. Woks are designed for cooking over high heat, while stir fry pans are designed for cooking over medium heat. Woks also have a longer handle, which makes them easier to use when cooking over an open flame.

Are woks supposed to be cast iron?

A wok is a type of pan used for stir-frying, deep-frying, and other methods of cooking over high heat. It is typically round and has sloping sides. A wok is used to cook food quickly over high heat. Traditionally, woks were made of cast iron. However, woks can also be made from other materials such as carbon steel, aluminum, or copper. While cast iron woks are still used by some cooks, others prefer woks made from other materials because they are lighter and easier to handle.

Do I need a frying pan if I have a wok?

A wok is a versatile piece of cookware that can be used for a variety of cooking methods, including stir-frying, deep-frying, braising, steaming, and more. While a wok can be used for many of the same tasks as a frying pan, it is not necessary to have both in your kitchen. If you are tight on space or budget, a wok is a great all-in-one option.

Do you use oil when cooking in a wok?

Yes, oil is necessary when cooking in a wok. Without oil, the food will stick to the wok and burn. When adding oil to a wok, it is important to heat the oil until it is smoking before adding the food. This will help to create a barrier between the food and the wok, preventing sticking and burning.


Lodge L8SKL Cast Iron Pan, 10.25", Black Review:


I didn't have any particularly high hopes when I bought this. It's far larger than any other cast iron I own, and since it's a Lodge, I knew the finish wouldn't be excellent. I've recently begun using a few vintage Griswold skillets, and the mirror shine is really amazing. Having owned past lodges, I was aware that with time and effort the finish would become more than functional, but it would never achieve the same shiny polish as the older furniture.I was pleasantly surprised by the package's weight when it finally arrived. I began by using an orbital sander and heavy-grit sandpaper to smooth up the interior surface. The finish had a very rough texture. But after perhaps 10 or 15 minutes of minimal exertion, it had significantly improved. I seasoned it with lard after cleaning it with some light dish soap and water. I may have used three or four coats, and then I let it dry overnight.With the final product, I'm quite pleased. I now use this skillet almost exclusively for everything. Its size is modest, yet it has a lot of useful versatility. I am able to make multiple dishes or larger ones all at once. It has served as a baking sheet, a skillet, and an upper warmer. On my glass-top stove, a campfire, my outdoor stove, and my BBQ grill, I've used it. It works fine, however I think I'll definitely end up getting a lid for it.



Calphalon Contemporary Hard-Anodized Aluminum Nonstick Cookware, Omelette Pan, 8-inch, Black Review:


It's a pan and lid of exceptional quality. It will likely last forever because it is superior for the price and I have other Calphalon cookware that has been in my possession for years with no indications of damage. For preparing eggs, I use it every single day. The handle is somewhat brief, but given the size of the pan, a longer one is not necessary. Additionally, despite being made of metal, the handle does not get heated at all.My only gripe is that, despite the lid's excellent ability to maintain a tight seal, cooking causes a lot of moisture inside, which drips onto the food. With some foods, that's acceptable, but you need to wipe the cover off every few minutes with others. It really needs a tiny vent or hole in the lid.



Lodge P14W3 Pro-Logic Cast Iron Wok, 14-inch, Black Review:


This was heavy and large, according to every review. I chose this one since I couldn't locate any lovely cast iron woks in a smaller size and thought it would be a huge wok. It's not too bad of a size. I kind of enjoy it. I adore that this item is created in America. Great things are said about Lodge.Because it indicates it can be used on electric, I bought this because I have an electric flat top stove. I placed it on a larger burner because it takes some time to cook up and to help keep the sides heated. It went pretty well, but it may have been a little smoother if my kids hadn't picked dinnertime to interrupt me when I was making my first wok stir-fry. Despite my lack of experience, I have been utilizing cast iron on a regular basis. I haven't bought a cast iron pan in a while because they never need to be replaced. Actually, one of my pans is my MIL's old fry pan.) I've never preseasoned before, so. This morning when I made my scrambled eggs, it seemed to flake off. On the second round of scrambled eggs, though, it was still just as nonstick as my previous pans.It seems to be a well-made sculpture by Lodge. This wok performed admirably on my electric stove, but I have no doubt that it would shine even brighter on a gas one. I just added some water, used a nylon scraper to remove the water, then wiped it dry with a washcloth to clean it. After finishing drying, place on the burner and clean with some oil. This pan isn't noticeably heavier than my previous cast iron pans, and if heated through before cooking (I wait six minutes), it is largely nonstick without the need of teflon and won't ever need to be replaced. If your pan has rust, scrub it thoroughly, dry it completely (using heat), and then wipe it with oil. The pan will function like new!Here is my haphazard stir-fry attempt. It came out fantastic!



Tramontina Professional Fry Pans (2-Pack) Review:


These, according to my wife, are the nicest things I've ever bought. She kept gushing about the replacement pot I ordered her last year. Therefore, a few months ago, I found the copper pans I had purchased her were badly deformed and the coating that was intended to make it nonstick had peeled off as I attempted to fry some food for a late-night lunch. I decided it was time to gift her some high-quality, modern pans because she gushed so much over that pot. She truly adores this collection and uses largely cookware from Pampered Chef, which is comparable to Snap On. She believes in it, and I have to admit that the food tastes better—or perhaps it's only in my head. Conclusion: I'm happy that she likes it.



OXO Good Grips Non-Stick Open Frypan, 8 - Inch Review:


The greatest nonstick pan I've ever used is this one, hands down. I adore T-Fal for their durable non-stick coating, but the pans have never seemed sturdy or substantial to me. This pan is well-made, and the handle is excellent. The pan does not warp or bulge in the middle when heated and warms much more evenly than T-fal.The fact that these pans are no longer listed on the Oxo website worries me the most since I fear they may be phased out. Take advantage of them while you can!



Ozeri ZP17-20 Stone Earth Frying, Skillet, Omelet Pan, 8-Inch, Anthracite Gray Review:


I recently purchased this pan. The initial impressions are positive. Pan is substantial and rather thick, which is good. If you stack your pans, they have a beautiful flat bottom and a cute tiny pan guard. (Pic attached; it wasn't going to lay flat right out of the box; I had to set a plate on it.) I won't probably utilize it right away because mine hangs.Concerning the "Stonehenge" coating, I'm unsure. Greblon C3 is utilized, not Greblon C3 , according to the label on the pan. However, C3 isn't even mentioned as being strengthened with ceramic on Greblon's website. Only reinforced PTFE is listed.Which gets me to the following point: the coating is only PFOA free, not PTFE free. I don't personally care about this. The princess is in another castle if you're looking for PTFE-free, so keep looking.Apart from that, the coating appears to be pretty thick and has a sturdy feel. Avoid using metal utensils at all costs because they are made of PTFE and not ceramic. Certain ceramic coatings can withstand them. This won't work. I believe there is no ceramic in the simple C3; therefore, handle it like any other nonstick pan. (Source: Forgot Amazon won't allow links of any kind; however, use Google to find Greblon C3's chart of the various coatings.)Initial assessments suggest that the build quality is good. The three rivet handle ought to be secure for a very long period. The handle is firmly glued to the silicon, which is comfortable to hold. Silicon is heat-resistant, but neither the page nor the manual specify what temperature. Therefore, I would tend to say "Not oven safe."The pan's bottom is fairly flat when it is received. If it domes or not will depend on time. I'm praying it doesn't because it's very thick and hefty. There is also a picture of me testing the pan's bottom. After the initial wash, I had it sitting on a flat countertop. Water bead does not run to the edges as it would if it were a sphere; it remains in the center of the pan (or wherever you place it).There are no off-putting odors or other things that I can notice, and the exterior enamel and coating are both very even.Final thoughts: Based on my first observations, I'm happy with my purchase. Even if the lack of apparent ceramic in the coating disappoints me a little, the rest of the build quality appears to be rather good. After using it for a few weeks, I'll revise this review.PS: I've included a picture with a tape measure if anyone wants to know if lids will fit. It's 10 1/8".UPDATE: Since first impression evaluations aren't everything, as my lone commenter reminds out. This is a report.I purchased this pan about a year and eight months ago. Although the coating is no longer *completely* nonstick, it has held up better than any nonstick pan I've ever had.The main problem is a single scratch left by a housemate who was summarily spanked for using a metal object in my amazing nonstick pan. No nonstick pan will last as long if you put metal utensils in it. That is simply sound argument. The drawback is that without some oil or other substance in the pan, items will adhere to that area.At this stage, eggs will also start to somewhat stick. Because the coating in the center, which is where the flame is on our gas stove, is just a tiny bit more tan than the rest, I believe the pan may have also been overheated once or twice by the same roommate. I must conceal my good pans.Overall, after some damage and close to two years later, this nonstick is still pretty darn good. which I can't say for the majority of the nonstick cookware I've owned.



T-fal A80789 Specialty Nonstick Dishwasher Safe Oven Safe PFOA-Free Jumbo Wok Cookware, 14-Inch, Black Review:


I needed a pan to do vegetable stir-fries, and the product's current evaluations convinced me to choose non-stick over stainless steel. I'm glad I did. I quickly studied the instruction manual—who would've guessed a wok had one?—and "seasoned" the pan before using it. This only required a short cleaning with warm water and soap, heating the wok on medium heat, and dabbing some oil with a paper towel over the non-stick interior of the pan. The pan has proven astonishingly simple to clean after use; it is advised to let the pan cool before cleaning it (presumably to prevent sudden temperature changes?). I'm not sure) and I haven't had any issues at all with getting cooled-down food off the pan.ProsIt's very big. Really big pan that has the capacity to accommodate an unbelievable quantity of vegetables.Cleaning is made incredibly simple with non-stick coating. Soft sponge, warm soapy water, and detergent.Despite the cautions in other reviews, can withstand the heat. Setting this pan on burners with the High setting has been simple for me.ConsNo, as of yet. It is non-stick, thus there are some special usage and maintenance guidelines that must be followed if you want the non-stick coating to continue working. If someone doesn't pay attention, this may be a "negative."TL;DR Summary Look no further if you want a sizable wok that is very simple to clean. You want this guy. If you want the non-stick coating to continue to function flawlessly, I strongly advise using plastic spatulas and staying away from scouring pads and scratchy sponges when cleaning.Not a compensated review, p.s. Did not receive any payment for this review, etc. giving credit where credit is due.



All-Clad 8701005167 D3 Fry Lid, 10 Inch Pan, Dishwasher Safe Stainless Steel Cookware, Silver, 10-Inch Review:


Excellent kitchen gadget. It requires a little more thought and occasionally more effort to clean, but it browns and cooks like a pro.22 August 2017 updateThree times each week, this has been the workhorse for a month of Hello Fresh or Blue Apron dishes in recipes that frequently require a lot of skillet effort. Even on our electric stove, the pan heats up quite quickly and evenly distributes heat across the entire cooking surface. When the temperature is lowered, the pan cools down rapidly. Panning can be controlled by inputs.It functions best at medium temps, never going higher than 5 on the dial, still sears and browns food effectively, works wonderfully for pan sauces, and always leaves a nice fond. It IS a little more difficult to clean than nonstick. Using the right method keeps things easy to clean. However, if you burn the oil or material improperly, it can be quite difficult to clean up. Do not inquire as to how I know this. You'll need a sand blaster for a few negative evaluations with images because they resemble totally burned oil.The majority of the time, I've grown accustomed to a little patina and not "as new" cleanliness; using Barkeep's Friend every few meals prevents things from accumulating. Or prepare a tomato-based sauce.a fantastic kitchen utensil.



Craft Wok Traditional Hand Hammered Carbon Steel Pow Wok with Wooden and Steel Helper Handle (14 Inch, Round Bottom) / 731W88 Review:


This work of art is exquisite. I adore how hand-hammered it appears. I wish I had room to leave it out in my kitchen for visitors to see. made very good. This seems like it might be passed down through the years. Since about a year ago, I've used this wok at least twice a week. When you first obtain it, you must season it, and you must continue to care for it the same way you would cast iron. Use flax seed oil while seasoning, and season at least three times before using. To be cautious, I believe I repeated my work five times. Flax is the only substance that has consistently worked for me when using cast iron, which I also use. Due to the fact that I am a vegan, I have never used fat, however that could also work. When seasoning the wok for the first time, add ingredients like ginger, green onions, and garlic to enhance the flavor. Although it is a little hefty, moving it is simple thanks to the handle grip. Huge enough to cook a substantial stir fry, but not too large to pull out and prepare a meal for one or two people. With mine, I don't wear a ring. On our gas stove, it wobbles a little, but it still functions absolutely fine without a ring. I'll include pictures of the beginning of the seasoning process, right after the seasoning, and now, over a year later. I used a propane tank stand to season mine in the garage, and it worked great.



T-fal E938S3 Professional Total Nonstick Thermo-Spot Heat Indicator Fry Pan Cookware Set, 3-Piece, 8-Inch 10-Inch and 12-Inch, Black Review:


This is an honest evaluation from a chef who has used this product practically daily in their home kitchen for a whole year. I did not get paid to write this review, nor did I get anything in return for my time.Initial findings:On January 2, 2015, I bought this pan for domestic use. Because I almost never use small frying pans, choosing the 12.5" was simple. I was initially intrigued by the pan's convex bottom and questioned whether it would distribute oil or butter evenly for frying or browning. The pan's sides appeared to be angled up high enough to allow for sautéing without the need for a turner or spatula (i.e. using the wrist to move food in the pan). The grip felt nice in my hand and the riveting appeared to be robust. The pan did not feel unbalanced or heavy in general.Using and Abusing:Convex bottom or not, the pan browns food more evenly than any other pan I've ever used, despite my reservations. The pan cooks eggs better than any other skillet I've ever used. I can sautee sans utensils when multitasking. The pan is heat-resistant, won't warp, and is simple to clean. I wash the pan under water right away without letting it totally cool. I do not use ANY metal utensils in this pan. Minor scratches have accrued. After 1 year, the surface is slightly less non-stick. Use with metal utensils is NOT recommended under any circumstances. It has yet to be determined whether the coating is being removed during cooking or during non-abrasive washings. I sincerely hope it's the latter.The rivets are not flush with the pan. Food debris collects around the rivets if not cleaned properly. The handle construction has shown no sign of wear. The rivets are fastened securely to the pan. The pan's ability to heat and cool quickly is excellent.T-Fal Claims that:1. The unique T-fal Thermo-Spot heat indicator shows when the pan is perfectly preheated for cooking. [TRUE]2. Prometal Pro nonstick interior is exceptionally durable and scratch resistant. [FALSE]3. Safe for use with metal utensil. [FALSE]4. Stainless steel disc for even heat distribution. [TRUE]5. Anti-warp protection. [TRUE]6. Dishwasher Safe. {TRUE]7. Oven safe to 400 degrees F. [TRUE]8. Safe for all cooking methods including induction. [TRUE]In my professional opinion, using a metal turner/spatula is not recommended. The two most important claims that T-Fal promotes (i.e. that the surface is durable/scratch resistant and is safe to use with metal utensils) are false. Although I enjoy using this pan at the house, I do not consider this product "professional" quality. An alternative coating would eliminate this issue altogether and would not significantly increase production costs: https://www.google.com/patents./US20100276432.In short, I highly recommend this product for home use only. My 4 star review is extremely generous considering the fact that advanced material science and nano-technology are not being used to create a superior consumer product.


How can you tell a good quality wok?

When looking to buy a wok, it is important to consider the material it is made from. The best woks are made of carbon steel, as this material conducts heat evenly and allows the wok to reach high temperatures. Additionally, carbon steel woks are less likely to rust than those made from other materials. When choosing a carbon steel wok, it is important to select one that is thin and light. This will ensure that the wok heats up quickly and evenly. Additionally, it is important to select a wok with a flat bottom, as this will prevent

Is a cast iron or steel wok better?

A steel wok is better than a cast iron wok because it heats up faster and is easier to clean.

Is a wok better than a frying pan for stir fry?

A wok is better than a frying pan for stir fry because it is designed specifically for this type of cooking. The shape of a wok allows you to cook food evenly and quickly, while the sloped sides make it easy to toss and stir the ingredients.

Is it worth owning a wok?

If you enjoy cooking Asian cuisine, then owning a wok is definitely worth it. Woks are great for stir-frying, which is a popular cooking method in many Asian countries. Stir-frying is a quick and healthy way to cook food, and a wok is the perfect tool for it. Woks also have a very distinct shape that allows them to be used for other cooking methods, such as steaming and deep-frying.

Is stainless steel wok better than carbon steel wok?

If you enjoy cooking with a wok, you may be wondering if stainless steel or carbon steel is the better option. Both have their pros and cons, so it ultimately comes down to personal preference. Stainless steel woks are non-reactive, so they won't rust or stain. They're also easy to clean and can go in the dishwasher. Carbon steel woks, on the other hand, are more lightweight and conduct heat better. They also develop a patina over time that can give food a more authentic flavor. So, which is better

Should you use a non-stick wok?

If you're looking for an easy-to-use wok, non-stick is definitely the way to go. Non-stick woks heat up quickly and evenly, and food slides right off the surface, making them ideal for stir-frying. However, non-stick woks have a few drawbacks. First, they're not as durable as carbon steel or cast iron woks, so they won't last as long. Second, because the non-stick coating can scratch or chip over time, it's important to take care of your wok and avoid using