Beka Chef Eco-Logic 100% Fry Pan

Bottom Line

The Beka Chef Eco-Logic 100% Fry Pan is an eco-friendly nonstick pan with a ceramic coating, free of both polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), two chemicals used in making. No other PTFE-free pan matches the Beka's performance in professional tests for performance and ease of use. However, we did not find a significant sample of user reviews to support these findings and assess the skillet's durability.

Performance

Aced all performance tests at Good Housekeeping. Made of stainless steel with an encapsulated aluminum disk in the bottom, the Beka Chef Eco-Logic 100% Fry Pan heats evenly on both gas and electric stoves. It can brown a steak evenly -- something many nonstick pans can't do -- and maintain a steady simmer. As for the nonstick surface, editors say it releases food easily. Most owners at Amazon.com agree: One says the ceramic coating is "much smoother than traditional non-sticks." However, a couple of dissenters say that eggs will stick to the pan. One owner reports no success with eggs, even after trying different levels of heat and amounts of cooking oil. On the other hand, this user says the pan is great for pancakes, veggies, meat and firm-fleshed fish.

Ease Of Use

Comfortable, versatile and easy to clean. The Good Housekeeping review says the pan's depth makes it "a great choice for one-dish dinners, while the sloped sides are convenient for making omelets. Owners at Amazon.com find this pan very comfortable to use: We saw more than one review that says it "feels good in the hand." However, they warn that this pan requires special care to keep it in good shape. It can't be used on high heat or with cooking spray, and it isn't dishwasher-safe (although at least one user has put it through the dishwasher anyway). Most reviewers, however, say the pan isn't difficult to clean by hand. The Good Housekeeping editors say it doesn't stain with use, but one owner reports that dark brown stains often appear after sautéing. However, a combination of vinegar, baking soda and soapy water quickly takes these discolorations off "with a swish of a sponge."

Appearance

Attractive, matte finish. Though most reviewers don't mention appearance specifically, those that do say that this is an attractive pan. However, at least one owner says it takes careful handling to keep the matte finish looking good. This owner used a scouring pad to remove the sticker residue from the pan's bottom surface and scratched the finish.

Durability

The jury is still out. We read mixed reports on the durability of Beka's ceramic nonstick surface. One owner complains that "I always treated it with care," but after 10 months of use it "doesn't really behave like a non-stick pan anymore." Another says that the nonstick coating began to develop scratches after two months of moderate use, even with scrupulously careful handling. On the other hand, other users consider the finish more durable than Teflon; one says it remains totally nonstick after four months, and another who uses metal utensils with it can "detect no deterioration after a year of use." On the whole, there doesn't seem to be enough information out there to evaluate how this pan holds up over the long term.