10 Best Pans of 2026, Non-Stick, Steel and Cast Iron Compared

Steel or non-stick is the argument every frying pan shopper ends up having, and the HexClad hybrid is a sensible way of refusing to choose. A laser-etched hexagon of stainless steel sits over a PFAS-free TerraBond ceramic coating, and it's listed as dishwasher, oven and metal utensil safe on any hob, induction too. The 30 cm size, lid included, covers our family fry-up. Two reservations, though. HexClad asks for low to medium heat and a teaspoon of oil to season it, so it isn't as slippery as pure non-stick, and its top spot rests on a single UK roundup plus a strong spec sheet. It's heavier than the Ninja, too.

If the word PTFE makes you uneasy, the Ninja Zerostick Ceramic Pro is the pan I'd point you to first. Its ceramic coating is made without PTFE, it's rated heat-proof up to 350°C, and Ninja even allows metal scourers. It had the broadest backing here, appearing in two UK roundups. Our hob is induction, so I noticed the steel underneath is a dotted plate rather than a full base, though it's listed for induction all the same. The 10-year guarantee only counts once you register (do it the day it arrives, before the paperwork hits the recycling).

Shallow-frying chicken thighs and then tipping in a tin of tomatoes is a weeknight staple in our house, and that's where a deep pan like this Le Creuset beats a flat skillet. The 28cm pan holds 3.2 litres, has a helper handle, and is oven safe to 260°C, so it can finish a frittata in the oven. Le Creuset lists a 6-layer build and toughened non-stick that suits all hobs. The glass lid is sold separately, which feels stingy at this level, and it's no featherweight once full of sauce.

Nobody I know preheats a pan properly, me included, which is why the Tefal Hard Titanium Pro's Thermo-Signal makes sense. The spot in the middle changes colour once the pan is hot enough, so eggs don't go into a cold pan and stick. Tefal says the coating lasts three times longer than its standard non-stick, and the Thermo-Fusion+ base is built for induction. No roundup I read covered it, so it's here on its listing and Tefal's long history. I couldn't find an oven rating, and it looks plainer than the Le Creuset.

Let's start with the snag, because it matters on induction. The GreenPan SmartShape's title and spec list say induction suitable, yet two lines of its own feature text say every hob except induction, so check with the seller first. Otherwise it's an appealing PFAS-free option: Thermolon ceramic made without PFAS, PFOA, lead or cadmium, a thick base designed to resist warping, and pans that stack, which in our narrow galley kitchen is worth a lot. Like the Tefal, it had no editorial backing.

You feel a cast iron skillet before you ever cook in it, and the 26cm Lodge is no exception. It's slow to heat and then holds that heat for ages, which is why cast iron browns a steak or crispy potatoes so well. It arrives pre-seasoned and is listed for the oven, a grill or a campfire. This listing is a special edition with an anniversary logo, so check the photos. It's hand wash only, and induction isn't mentioned.

Judge the Prestige 9x Tougher on what it's for, an everyday non-stick light enough to flip pancakes one-handed, and it's hard to fault. Pancake Day is a big deal with my two, and at 29cm this is the widest pan here after the HexClad, yet it's listed at just 0.85 kg. The dimpled coating is pitched at crêpes, a steel base makes it induction suitable, and it goes in the dishwasher. The soft-grip handle limits the oven to 180°C, and the tougher-than-titanium line is Prestige's own claim rather than a measurement.

I'll be straight: this is a small pan. The Made In listing is for the 8-inch frying pan, about 20 cm across, so think eggs for two or a single steak, not a Sunday fry-up for the family. You get 5-ply stainless clad construction, a riveted stay-cool handle and induction support. Stainless has no coating to wear out, but food sticks unless you preheat and use enough fat, and only one roundup backed it. For a bigger steel pan, the Samuel Groves is the more practical size.

Carbon steel is what many professional kitchens fry in, and the de Buyer Mineral B Element is the classic French version: a 28cm Lyonnaise pan with sloped 4 cm sides and a steel handle. There's no PTFE or PFOA, it's listed for induction, and with regular seasoning it gets slicker with age. That's also the commitment. It needs drying and a wipe of oil after every wash or it will rust, and early seasoning can be patchy. No roundup covered it. Think of it as the Lodge's quicker-to-heat cousin.

Samuel Groves makes this 28cm tri-ply pan in England and calls itself Britain's oldest cookware manufacturer. A full aluminium core sits inside stainless steel, 3mm thick in total, so it suits every hob including induction and is oven safe up to 250°C. The Pan for Life scheme adds a lifetime warranty and refurbishment. It's heavy at 2.1 kg, though, and like the Made In it wants a properly hot pan before eggs go in.