Equipment Review: The Best Stainless Steel Skillet, Our Testing Winners and Why All-Clad is Worth It

Perfect searing, flavorful sauces, and stove-to-oven versatility make stainless-steel frying pans a hot item. But can you get a great one for less than $100?

Bottom line: We can’t fully recommend any of the pans that cost less than $100.00. None of the truly cheap pans met our standards. A few of the pans closer to the $100.00 mark were OK, but none was as good as our longtime favorite, which also comes with a useful lid. If you can spend a bit more, we highly recommend the original fully clad skillet, which our tests proved is still the best: the All-Clad d3 Stainless Steel 12" Fry Pan with Lid ($119.99). It’s an investment, but it will last a lifetime.

ABOUT US: Located in Boston’s Seaport District in the historic Innovation and Design Building, America's Test Kitchen features 15,000 square feet of kitchen space including multiple photography and video studios. It is the home of Cook’s Illustrated magazine and Cook’s Country magazine and is the workday destination for more than 60 test cooks, editors, and cookware specialists. Our mission is to test recipes over and over again until we understand how and why they work and until we arrive at the best version.

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[ML-slbs]

Please bring back review videos like this one; it's what made this channel a go to for me!

[StephenWorth]

thank you for leaving in the scene where the green bean flies out of the pan when you're flipping them. it makes me feel better about my own flipping.

[tanglediver]

As a welder, (and someone who also likes to eat occasionally), I appreciate the veracity of your testing and research. I am glad I paid a visit here BEFORE buying a stainless skillet! I'm sold, D3 Allclad it is!

[shanealvarez]

You have no idea how happy I was to see a comparison of the 5 layer pans to the 3 layer.

[oneshenellonly]

This is SUCH a VALUABLE review. I’ve been researching and agonizing over what pots to buy. This helped tremendously, now I don’t have to get the super expensive 7 ply!

[inkblue]

I owned at one time both the demeyere 11 inch and all clad 12". Hated the handle on the all clad and I actually dislike the sloping sides, I never pick up my pans to toss, I'm a weakling. Love my demeyere, it cooks evenly and cleans up nicer than the all clad which stains over time. Sold the all clad for $50. I bought a few pieces of all clad based on test kitchen reviews, and honestly left me wondering if these reviews are bias.

[Yayojayoful]

When I first started cooking for myself in 2007 I got an All Clad pan based on their recommendation. That same pan is still cooking for me practically every day. It's just a good pan.

[ArkansasBadBoy]

This very review got my attention almost 2 years ago. I only used cast iron up to that point but just knew in my heart that I would love this pan so I bought one and I absolutely love it. This is a one-time buy so the price is absolutely worth it. Thanks so much for your thorough and honest reviews, they have never let me down.

[vorshack]

I have reservations about the honesty of this review.

Demeyere/Zwilling is an excellent line of cookware, and a very well known company, and it isn't mentioned once. Here or on the page linked in the description. Which makes me feel like this just an advertisement for All Clad, considering that their biggest competitor for price/quality has been left out of the running.

[RachellesCrafts]

I already knew the All-Clad D3 would be my next fry pan. I appreciate the comparison and explanation as to why it's the best choice.

[lesliegooch]

I've loved my All-Clad stainless cookware set since I got it for a wedding gift over 26 years ago. It came with a 10" skillet, but I've always wanted a bigger one. I've had numerous other 12" sllets over the tears but just treated myself to the All-Clad 12" a few days ago. I was so happy to hear it's you favorite too!

[markschommer]

I have the 8 inch and 10 inch D3 All-Clads and love them. Price may seem a little steep but remember, if you take care of it these things will last for life. They are an investment just like cast iron or carbon steel both of which I also have.

[RyanLackey]

I bought a Demeyere Atlantis from eBay for $130 or so when I was working in Iraq; that pan went with me to Rico. Heavy, but no rivets, and has worked on gas, a portable gas burner, electric smoothtop, induction. That, a saucepan, a big stockpot, and a carbon steel wok pretty much cover my cookware needs.

All-Clad d3 might be good enough, but I’d happily put this head to head with a d3 or d5.

[LoveTravelAway]

I have SO MUCH RESPECT for Americas Test Kitchen I've been married for as long as they been on the air. I might not buy high end clothing but when it comes to my kitchen and how I prepare food for my family. I buy nothing but the best in quality for healthy meals.I bought my All-Clad years years ago and they look as new as the day we purchased them. Thank you test kitchen for being my guide in this journey of cooking and quality stuff for my kitchen.

[dyancampbell]

I love my All Clad skillet!! So much so that I also bought 2 sauce pans and a large soup pot. They were expensive, but well worth the cost.

[thequantaleaper]

Having owned the D3 12" for over a year now and using it a ton... this review is legit. It can be as non-stick as teflon when used the right way, it's easy to clean, durable, sears better than my cast iron, and still (with a little Barkeeper's Friend if I want to) look like the day I bought it... though developing a light seasoning actually contributes well to its non-stick qualities.

Highly recommended... it beats the socks off any pan I've had before.

[effytraveler]

Goes to show me that buying Cuisinart skillets and saucepan at the thrift store was the best choice over paying full price. Don't just go by brand names. It has the disk bottom. I have had issues cleaning the sides and dealing with quick scorched bottoms. Thank you for explaining this.

[monikaW]

This was so good. I love how you literally answer all our questions.

[sandraloux]

Just bought the 12 inch saute pan (copper core) with lid at Marshalls tonight for $199. Looked it over good. Didn't see any flaws. I've never had an expensive pan like this, but I'd rather have one good pan than a bunch of crappy ones. Came home and immediately threw away the cheap Walmart teflon bent up one I've been using for several years.

[bramnovak]

I purchased the 12" all-clad after I saw this video, last year. I love everything about it except the handle, which tends to hurt the hand when the pan is full. It does such a good job, though, I still use it more than any other pan I own. It is so nice to have a large pan again to sear in and make pastas--we have an old glass top stove that specifically states not to use cast iron on. I find I make far less of a mess regardless of what I cook due to its large size and the sloped sides. I recommend getting one!