The best frying pans compatible with every hob type

We don't blame you if realise your frying pan has seen better days, it's probably the most used pan in your cupboard thanks to its versatility.

Whether you're making a stir fry, whipping up some pancakes or showing off your culinary skills by sautéing onions to go alongside your perfectly cooked steak, a frying pan is no doubt your go-to piece of kitchen equipment.

If you're tired of your scratched cookware and in need of a new non-stick or cast-iron set, we've rounded up a selection of the best frying pans that will suit all your needs and are compatible with every type of hob. So don't worry about your induction hob not working because you picked up the wrong style – all bases are covered.

What features to consider when buying a frying pan

Picking a frying pan isn't too complicated, you just need to factor in what you will use it for the most.

Non-stick - easy to cook with and means less oil is needed.

Size - a good size to start with for an all-purpose frying pan is around 24cm. Cooking a stir fry or flipping pancakes, all bases are covered. Frying pan size can vary between 16cm right up to 32cm.

Material - This will either be aluminium or stainless steel, unless you’re looking for a cast-iron frying pan. There is no difference between a frying pan or cast-iron skillet either, the names are simply interchangeable and both pans do the same job, it’s down to preference.

Hob compatibility - Check what type of hob you have and that they are suitable for electric, ceramic, gas or induction. All the frying pans on our list are compatible with all hob types.

The best frying pans

Specifications

Size: 20cm, 24cm, 28cm and 30cm

Material: Hard anodized

Suitable for: All hob types (including induction)

Dishwasher safe: Yes

Non-stick: Yes

Lid: No

Reviewed by Digital Writer Emily Gilbert: "Using the Venice Pro has been a total dream. It's really lightweight and the non-stick coating is flawless. I love how effortlessly food moves around the pan which makes cleaning up a doddle too although it's so handy to be able to pop it in the dishwasher too."

Specifications

Size: 24cm and 28cm

Material: Stainless steel and Aluminium

Suitable for: All hob types (including induction)

Dishwasher safe: Yes but handwash recommended

Non-stick: Yes

Lid: No

Customer review: “Had this pan about a month now and I cannot fault it. Used five times a week for breakfast, lunches and evening meals it handles everything I cook in it. Particularly good for omelettes even without greasing and great for vegetable stir-fries with just a spot of oil. So easy to clean with hot water it truly is non-stick. It is a solid pan though not too heavy to lift. Would recommend it to those wanting a medium-sized frying pan.”

Specifications

Size: 20cm and 24cm

Material: Aluminium

Suitable for: All hob types (including induction)

Dishwasher safe: Yes

Non-stick: Yes

Lid: No

Tried and tested by Deputy Commercial Content Editor, Natalie Corner: “After too many months cooking with a scratched non-stick pan, this Salter Megastone frying pan really blew me away. It meant not struggling with half my meal sticking to the pan and cleaning it afterwards a total breeze. The pan is also not too heavy to handle, so I can flip my pancakes and omelettes with ease.”

Specifications

Size: 24cm and 28cm

Material: Aluminium

Suitable for: All hob types (including induction)

Dishwasher safe: Yes

Non-stick: Yes

Lid: Yes

Extra features: 10 year guarantee

Customer review: “Good sturdy pan, easy to clean because nothing had stuck to it so far. Hopefully will get years of use from it.”

Specifications

Size: 16cm, 20cm and 23cm

Material: Enamelled cast iron

Suitable for: All hob types (including induction)

Dishwasher safe: No

Non-stick: Yes

Lid: No

Extra features: Available in 10 colours, lifetime warranty

Customer review: “I have had this piece of art in a form of a skillet for nearly 18 months now and to be honest I love cooking every single day because of this pan. I now look forward to cooking almost always. Initially, it took me a while to get used to using it as it's a skill to cook on cast iron but once I got the hang of it - I am never ever going back to stainless steel or Teflon. The food tastes so much better. The stakes are juicy and with a perfect crust. Chicago style deep dish pizza is a discovery for me. The omelette is amazing and the salmon comes off so juicy. It's almost hard to believe the difference and prior to buying it I wouldn't have believed the adverts praising how good the food can taste. I do believe the Le Creuset adverts - truly converted now.”

Specifications

Size: 20cm, 24cm, 26cm, 28cm, 32cm

Material: Stainless steel and Aluminium

Suitable for: All hob types (including induction)

Dishwasher safe: Yes

Non-stick: Yes

Lid: No

Customer review: “Normally, I get a new non-stick pan every year or two, since I'm yet to find one that doesn't deteriorate. But it's kind of wasteful and decided to take the plunge on a top-quality pan. Went for this, because it seemed surprisingly light and the quality means it's razor flat, which is good for my induction hob. Seven months in, and the surface is just about as good as new - couple of scratches from my carelessness, but still works like new. Also still razor flat. Very happy and am confident this will last for a good few years. I use it a lot too - daily high heating.”

Specifications

Size: 24cm and 28cm

Material: Stainless steel and Aluminium

Suitable for: All hob types (including induction)

Dishwasher safe: Yes

Non-stick: Yes

Lid: No (sold separately)

Extra features: 10 year guarantee

Customer review: “Great frying pan. Good weight without being too heavy. Non-stick and easy to clean. Liked it so much bought a different size as well.”

Specifications

Size: 20cm and 24cm

Material: Aluminium

Suitable for: All hob types (including induction)

Dishwasher safe: Yes

Non-stick: Yes

Lid: No

Customer review: “It's the perfect pan. I have the medium size and it's light, pretty and seems to be very good quality. If I need another pan, I will buy this again. It's also eco-friendly material.”

Specifications

Size: 25.4 cm

Material: Ceramic and Aluminium

Suitable for: All hob types (including induction)

Dishwasher safe: No

Non-stick: Yes

Lid: Yes

Extra features: Custom stainless steel steamer basket, pour spouts, spatula and integrated spoon rest

Tried and tested by writer Emily Thorpe: “It evenly distributes heat and sautéing is a dream in the Always Pan thanks to the non-stick surface and I really like that you don't need much oil at all. As a result of the pan's impressive non-stick surface, washing up the pan was super easy. Some reviews of the Always Pan have found that after around six months, the non-stick coating begins to wear off, so keep that in mind when caring for it. It's a nice bit of kit that is certainly multi-functional but there are plenty of cheaper alternatives if you just want a bog-standard pan that won't cost too much - they just aren't half as pretty.”

FAQ

What is the best material for a frying pan?

Non-stick pans have become a bit of a contentious issue because of worries over the chemicals in the nonstick coating known as polytetrafluoroethylene or Teflon. However, it is not dangerous and poses no real risk to users.

A non-stick pan is your best option when it comes to choosing cookware, because you will need less oil or fats when cooking and it’s easy to clean. Ceramic frying pans are a good choice if you have concerns but could degrade more quickly.

What frying pan do chefs use?

If you’re ever watching Masterchef or any other cooking show featuring professional chefs in the kitchen, you’ll notice the lack of non-stick pans.

It’s not necessarily down to a worry about Teflon, it’s down to how fragile they are. Repeatedly heating a pan will degrade more quickly over the years, and in a professional kitchen, this can prove to be very costly. Cast-iron is a favourable option for chefs because not only can it withstand high heat, but it can also be seasoned ready for whatever food you need to cook. A cast-iron pan is more likely to last 10 years than an aluminium pan that’s been in the dishwasher several times.

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