Mustering the energy to cook dinner after work isn’t always easy, but having the right tools for the job is one of the only ways to change it from a job to a joy. Of those kitchen tools, good-quality frying pans are one of the best things you can own, not only to improve the quality of your cooking, but also to make washing up a breeze.
As you might imagine, however, not all flying pans are made equal. Some don’t evenly distribute the heat from your stove, while food sticks to others like glue.
To separate the great from the grim, we’ve put together a list of the best frying pans you can buy in Australia right now, to make cooking something you look forward to when you get home. Let’s get into it.
Best Frying Pans Highlights
- Best Overall Frying Pan: Woll Diamond Lite Induction Detach Handle Frypan 28cm ($220)
- Best Affordable Frying Pan: Chef Inox Profile Non-Stick Aluminium Frypan 20cm ($33)
- Best Premium Frying Pan: Le Creuset Signature Cast Iron Round Skillet 26cm ($370)
BH Approved: Our Favourite Frying Pan For The Aspiring Home-Chef
Woll Diamond Lite Frypan 28cm
95/100
SCOREPROS
- 5-layer non-stick surface
- Induction compatible
- Removable handle for storage
- Dishwasher safe
CONS
- Expensive
- Lid sold seperately
German-made Woll is one of the best in the game for frying pans, and there’s a laundry list of reasons why.
This Diamond Lite Frypan is remarkably lightweight and easy to use, while also having a strong squeeze cast aluminium body and an 8mm thick induction suitable base. It also has a 5-layer diamond hard base non-stick surface that’s scratch and cut-resistant, and a removable handle with a patented locking mechanism to make it easy to fit into the dishwasher and cupboard.
At 28cm in diameter, it’s large enough to cook most dishes without being too heavy or too big to store. If you only want one nice frying pan in your kitchen, the Woll Diamond Lite Frypan 28cm won’t disappoint.
The Best Frying Pans Money Can Buy
Le Creuset Cast Iron Round Skillet 26cm
SPECIFICATIONS:
Height: 5.5cm
Material: Enamelled cast iron
Non-stick coating: No (however, enamel interior develops a natural patina that will behave like a non-stick surface)
PFOA free: Yes
Dishwasher safe: Yes
The traditional cast iron skillet is loved by chefs everywhere for its versatility, even temperature dispersion, and synthetic coating-free surface. Le Creuset is the undisputed king of cast iron cookware and this 26cm skillet is perfect for use on the stovetop, in the oven, or even on a grill.
Using a cast iron skillet, you can expect your dish to cook evenly, brown wonderfully, and stay hotter for longer after you remove it from a heat source. The team at Le Creuset also offer more than a dozen different colour options for the skillets, bringing a vibrancy to your kitchen that other frying pans can’t.
The trade-off is a frying pan that needs oven gloves to be picked up while hot, isn’t ideal for very high-temperature cooking, needs to be soaked before cleaning, and shouldn’t be cleaned using abrasive cleaning agents or metal brushes. If you’re happy to spend a little more time cleaning and caring for your frying pan, the Le Creuset Cast Iron Round Skillet 26cm will faithfully serve you for decades to come.
Chef Inox Profile Non-Stick Aluminium Frypan 20cm
If you’re after a great frying pan that won’t cost you a fortune, this Chef Inox Profile Non-Stick Aluminium Frypan is one you’ll find in most commercial kitchens around Australia.
Constructed from 4mm gauge aluminium, the handle is secured with rivets and is coated with heat-resistant epoxy resin to pick it up safely up to 200°c. The interior surface features a Dupont Teflon Platinum heavy-duty non-stick coating to make cleaning easy, and it’s also safe to put it in the dishwasher when you’re finished cooking.
It’s affordable, robustly built, and reliable enough for cooks around the country to reach for it every day.
Essteele Per Vita Copper Base Stainless Steel French Skillet 24cm
This 24cm Essteele Per Vita frying pan is a premium option for those who want perfect heat distribution through the surface of their pan.
Constructed primarily from stainless steel, the base features a sheet of solid copper which — along with several heavyweight aluminium discs permanently sealed into the stainless steel section of the base — promises even temperature across every square centimetre of the pan surface. With a wide lip to make pouring from the pan drip-free, this is another excellent option for the home chef who wants to elevate their cooking.
Swiss Diamond XD Induction Nonstick Deep Sauté Pan 32cm
Swiss Diamond is another respected name in the frying pan world and this 32cm XD Induction Nonstick Deep Sauté Pan is an excellent all-rounder.
It comes with a robust stainless steel hand, a lid for cooking a little more slowly, and a PFOA-free XD surface that’s safe, easy to clean, and abrasion-resistant. Another of the best frying pans that could be the only one you ever need to own.
Pujadas 1921 Non-Stick Ceramic Frying Pan 20cm
The Pujadas 1921 range is another favourite of Australia’s hospitality industry thanks to its affordable price point, reliable quality, and easy-to-clean surface. This 20cm version is a nice size for home cooking and features a complete ceramic non-stick coating that allows for high-heat cooking with little oil.
Swiss Diamond Premium Steel Induction Fry Pan 24cm
This Premium Steel Induction Fry Pan is another excellent option from the folks at Swiss Diamond, crafted using 18/10 stainless steel for the body and 18/0 stainless steel with an aluminium core for the base. The long riveted handle is specifically designed to stay cool while the pan is hot, and the surface is easy to clean, making it one of the best affordable frying pans on the market right now.
If you’ve enjoyed this round-up of the best frying pans, here are a few more of our favourite home-cooking stories to keep you reading:
