Best frying pans under $150

The cheapest and best non-stick pans for frying eggs, cooking pancakes and more.

Pru Engel

Last updated: 18 August 2022

A good non-stick frying pan is an essential item in your kitchen kit. It means you can use less (or no) oil or fat when cooking, and your pancakes will still gracefully slide off your pan when they're done.

They're generally easier to clean than other types of frying pans and although you shouldn't use them for high-heat cooking tasks such as searing, a good non-stick pan should be your go-to for things such as a perfectly cooked fried egg.

But with prices for non-stick pans headed into the hundreds, how much do you need to spend to get a good one and which cheaper pans receive the CHOICE Recommended tick of approval by our experts?

Cheap vs expensive frying pans

Each year, CHOICE experts put over 30 pans through their paces assessing factors such as how easy they are to use, their durability and how well they perform tasks such as cooking pancakes.

Not only do we cook up lots of pancakes and eggs, but we use a mechanical arm to repeatedly scour the surface of each pan 10,000 times to assess the resilience of the coating – a good sign if the pan is going to go the distance in your kitchen. The frying pans we tested recently range in price from just $14 up to around $450. When looking at the final score each pan receives, our experts say that some cheaper models do stack up against more expensive brands, outscoring pans that cost hundreds of dollars more. However, some of the high-end brands may have more premium features that could be important to you.

"The aspects that separated the best and worst models mostly came down to their durability and things like how easy they are to clean, the ergonomics of the handles and how well-balanced the pan is," says CHOICE expert Chantelle Dart.

Which cheaper frying pans scored well in CHOICE tests?

CHOICE members can access detailed reviews from our frying pan test to discover which pans give you the most bang for your buck. Become a CHOICE member or sign in to find out which budget buys under $150 our experts recommend.

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1. Raco Bravo 24cm frypan

Choice Expert Rating: 89%
Performance score: 100%
Cost: $130

Not only does this frying pan sit at the more budget-friendly end of the scale, but it was also the highest performer in our test, scoring a perfect 100% on performance and rating very good for durability and excellent for evenness of heating.

Our experts also noted that it's very lightweight (coming in at just 600g as compared to other pans of a similar size that weigh over a kilo), with a handle that's comfortable to grip, which is excellent news if you have weaker wrists or dexterity issues.

2. Kmart Anko 24cm frying pan

Choice Expert Rating: 88%
Performance score: 100%
Cost: $18

At an eye-poppingly low price of $18, the 24cm stainless steel Kmart Anko frypan impressed our testers, who gave it one of our highest scores, proving yet again that price is not always an indicator of performance.

"It's a lightweight, well-balanced pan that's easy to clean," says Chantelle. "In our tests, it scored well for evenness of heating and durability. Even though it's only $18, it's comparable with other brands that are significantly more expensive."

If pancakes are a regular on your breakfast menu, this pan delivers the goods. It has excellent distribution of heat, making evenly cooked, golden-brown pancakes in our tests. On the downside, our testers did note that the non-stick capabilities are not perfect. A little oil was needed to fry an egg in it without sticking (an issue that may be avoided if you opt for a more expensive pan).

3. Tefal Ultimate Non Stick Induction 26cm

Choice Expert Rating: 88%
Performance score: 100%
Cost: $120

If you're after a low-cost lightweight pan that works well on induction (but is compatible with all hobs), this Tefal buy might tick a lot of your boxes. It rated 'very good' overall, including in the durability test where we repeatedly scrub the non-stick surface of the pan 10,000 times with a mechanical arm to assess the resilience of the coating.

Our expert testers proclaimed it 'excellent' when it comes to its non-stick capabilities and how evenly it heats your food, plus the interior is easy to clean (however our testers did note that when washed in the dishwasher there was a discolouration of the handle).

4. Circulon Genesis Plus Hard Anodized Skillet 25cm

Choice Expert Rating: 82%
Performance score: 90%
Cost: $120

Although the non-stick capabilities on this pan may not perform as well as others (our testers say you may need to add a little oil), this pan ticks the lower budget box and also scores well on durability and performance, including an "excellent score" on evenness of heating.

As with all frying pans we test, it is suitable for use on all cooktops, including induction, and is dishwasher safe and oven safe up to 260C (although our experts recommend washing non-stick pans by hand to ensure the coating lasts as long as possible). It also comes with a lifetime warranty which is an advantage of buying from a well-established cookware brand.

Stock images: Getty, unless otherwise stated.

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