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 running into the hundreds, how much do you need to spend to get a good one, and which cheaper pans scored well enough to be recommended by our experts?
We'll talk you through what's worth paying extra for and, exclusively for CHOICE members, we'll reveal the best frypans on a budget.
If you just want to get straight to the best products, you can jump straight to the results now.
Cheap vs expensive frypans
CHOICE experts have put more than 50 pans through their paces in our kitchen lab, assessing factors such as how easy they are to use, their durability and how well they perform tasks, such as cooking pancakes.
Pan vs pan: some cheaper models outperform expensive brands.
Not only do we cook up lots of pancakes and eggs, but we use a mechanical arm to scour the surface of each non-stick 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.
When looking at the final score each pan receives, our experts say that some cheaper frypans do stack up against more expensive brands, outscoring pans that cost hundreds of dollars more.
"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 kitchen expert Chantelle Dart.
Some cheaper frypans outscore 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 frying pans we've tested range in price from just $9 up to $519.
If you're eyeing a more expensive pan, it's worth shopping around – you can often find pricier models heavily discounted.
What are the best cheaper frypans from CHOICE tests?
We independently test and review dozens of frying pans each year in our onsite kitchen lab, and our experts know exactly what to look for to help you find the best product.
Our detailed testing data is available exclusively for CHOICE members. If you're not yet a member, join CHOICE to get instant access to all of our expert, independent reviews, from fridges and freezers, toasters and TVs, kettles and cots, and more.
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