Which Skillet Is Right for You?

We've tested them all. [America's Test Kitchen]( [The Well-Equipped Cook. A weekly newsletter from your favorite unbiased tasters and testers.]( [America's Test Kitchen: Notes from the Test Kitchen]( [recipes]( [product reviews]( [Equipment guides]( [gear heads]( The Latest from the ATK Reviews Team [Bench Scrapers]( The Best Bench Scrapers We use bench scrapers for far more than just making pastry—and we have strong opinions about what makes a great model. [Learn more ›]( [Save 42%]( ATK Exclusive Deal on Our Winning Cutting Boards Two Boards. Two Sizes. Double Deal. [Buy the Bundle Now ›]( This Week’s Equipment Guide [Which Skillet Is Right for You?]( Which Skillet Is Right for You? [SEE EQUIPMENT GUIDE]( [Carolyn Grillo. Senior Editor, ATK Reviews] Skillets are one of the most-used pieces of cookware in the test kitchen. From cast-iron and carbon-steel skillets to classic stainless-steel and nonstick ones, my team has tested them all. Now, we want to help you find the skillet that’s right for you. In this guide, I’ve gathered the winners from all our skillet tests. These are the pans that passed our toughest tests with flying colors. Our favorite [cast-iron skillet]( is the fine wine of the cookware world, getting better with time. And our top-rated [nonstick skillet]( is superslick, so it’s able to release even sticky food with ease. A skillet’s best friend is a [tight-fitting lid]( so we’ve included a few of those as well. [A Carbon-Steel Skillet]( Must-Have of the week A Carbon-Steel Skillet Carbon steel is a jack of all trades and master of many. It sears nearly as well as cast iron, but maneuvers almost as nimbly as fully clad stainless steel. And assuming it’s well seasoned, it’s as slick as nonstick—but naturally so, boasting a supersmooth patina that improves with use. Bar none, it’s the most high-value pan in the test kitchen. We love our winning pan’s affordability, solid construction, and slick nonstick surface. Tip: These surfaces get slicker with use as heated fat molecules link up to form a hard film that bonds to the metal’s surface. Here are our methods for [seasoning and maintaining carbon steel ›]( [Read More About our Favorite 12-inch Carbon Steel Skillets ›]( [Read More About our Favorite 10-inch Carbon Steel Skillets ›]( [Matfer Bourgeat Black Steel Round Frying Pan, 11 7/8-inch]( Our Winning 12-Inch Carbon Steel Skillet Matfer Bourgeat Black Steel Round Frying Pan, 11 7/8" Cooking: ★★★   Ease of Use: ★★★   Nonstick: ★★★ [BUY NOW]( [Matfer Bourgeat Black Steel Round Frying Pan, 10¼-inch]( Our Winning 10-Inch Carbon Steel Skillet Matfer Bourgeat Black Steel Round Frying Pan, 10¼" Cooking: ★★★   Ease of Use: ★★½   Capacity: ★★★   Nonstick: ★★★ [BUY NOW]( FREE FOR TWO DAYS Related Recipes [Pan-Seared Shrimp with Fermented Black Beans, Ginger, and Garlic]( Pan-Seared Shrimp with Fermented Black Beans, Ginger, and Garlic [Get the recipe ›]( [Smashed Burgers]( Smashed Burgers [Get the recipe ›]( [Digital All Access: 12,000+ Reliable Recipes, Free Shipping in Our Shop, Mobile App, 8,000+ Product Reviews, Cookbook Collection. Join now and save 40%. TRY IT FREE ›]( Explore More Featured Products [Nonstick-Safe Spatulas]( Matfer Bourgeat Exoglass Pelton Spatula Made from a resin/fiberglass composite, this fish spatula has a relatively thin, smooth head that is long, narrow, and provides ample room for picking up food. [Buy It Now ›]( [Cast-Iron Skillet]( Smithey Ironware No. 12 Cast Iron Skillet Silky-smooth from the get-go, this roomy pan doesn’t let food stick. Its heavy weight helps it retain heat, so it sears food evenly and deeply. [Buy It Now ›]( [The Best Silicone Spatulas]( [12-Inch Ceramic Nonstick Skillets]( [Lids for 12-Inch Skillets]( [12-Inch Enameled Cast-Iron Pans]( [SEE ALL THE EQUIPMENT]( More Equipment Guides [A Blender Bonanza]( [A Blender Bonanza]( [Make the Best Seafood with These Top Gadgets]( [Make the Best Seafood with These Top Gadgets]( [Icon] Reviews you can trust The mission of [America’s Test Kitchen Reviews]( is to find the best equipment and ingredients for the home cook through rigorous, hands-on testing. 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