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Skillets: Ratings of Sources
Total of 12 Sources

For an explanation of how we rank reviews, see our ratings criteria page.

1. ConsumerReports.org
May 2011
Cookware Ratings
by Editors of ConsumerReports.org
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentEditors at ConsumerReports.org don't specifically review skillets, but in this review of 35 sets of cookware skillets are tested during a variety of cooking tasks. The review compares 19 nonstick cookware sets, including eight with "green" coatings made without potentially harmful chemicals. The skillets' nonstick coating is evaluated by frying eggs and using a machine to scrub it with steel wool up to 2,000 times. Editors also evaluate each skillet's ability to cook pancakes evenly. Most cookware sets are judged either "very good" or "excellent" on cooking performance, so the overall score depends heavily on the handle (which has three separate scores for safety, comfort and sturdiness) and ease of cleaning. Although 10 nonstick brands are recommended, only two receive a "good" or "very good" rating in all seven categories. Three stainless-steel cookware sets are recommended, but there's not much variance in the overall scores.
2. Cook's Illustrated Magazine
Sept. 1, 2009
Green Skillets
by Editors of Cook's Illustrated magazine
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentEditors test eight Teflon-free skillets in this review but don't give any glowing recommendations. Pans are rated for nonstick performance, design and durability. The editors cook eggs, fish, steak and vegetables in each pan to assess its nonstick performance. They also test scratch resistance by cutting a frittata in the pan with a chef's knife and removing slices with a metal pie server. The design is evaluated based on the skillet's balance, weight and shape. Three skillets are "recommended with reservations" and the other five are not recommended at all. Overall, editors say quality and durability did not measure up to traditional nonstick skillets.
3. Cook's Illustrated Magazine
Jan. 2009
Traditional Skillets
by Editors of Cook's Illustrated magazine
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentEditors compare seven 12-inch stainless-steel skillets with gently sloping sides. Most of the pans have one or more layers of aluminum sandwiched between layers of stainless steel. Two less expensive pans have disk bottoms, which are aluminum plates attached to the bottom of a solid stainless-steel pan. Each pan is evaluated on several cooking tasks. Testers also melt lead solder in the pans to see how quickly they come up to temperature. Heated skillets are plunged into ice water to see if they warp and banged against concrete to gauge durability. Testers prefer pans with at least 10 inches of cooking surface and low sides. Unfortunately, three of the five recommended pans are now discontinued.
4. Cook's Illustrated Magazine
Sept.1, 2010
Inexpensive Nonstick Skillets
by Editors of Cook's Illustrated magazine
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentEditors put seven low-cost (under $50) nonstick skillets through their paces: cooking eggs without oil, stir-frying beef with vegetables and preparing crepes. They also test durability by using metal utensils on the pans, plunging them into ice water and banging them repeatedly on the countertop. Two more expensive pans are put through the same tests to see if higher price adds up to better performance. The result: one modestly priced pan aces most of the tests, beating out its pricier rivals. This pan is now discontinued.
5. Cook's Illustrated Magazine
Jan. 2009
Omelet Pans
by Editors of Cook's Illustrated magazine
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentEditors test six 8-inch nonstick omelet pans to see which can produce a perfect French omelet. They "highly recommend" a heavy, cast-aluminum pan that is quite expensive. They also recommend one stainless-steel skillet and two others that are priced under $25.
6. Fine Cooking
Jan. 14, 2009
Test Drive: Nonstick Skillets
by Maryellen Driscoll
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentWriter Maryellen Driscoll tests 10 nonstick skillets by cooking pancakes to check heat evenness, pork chops to evaluate browning and fish and eggs (without oil) to see if they stick. She picks the Cuisinart GreenGourmet as the favorite, saying it "conducted heat in a controlled and even manner" and didn't stick. What's most interesting is that this review contrasts with the tests at Cook's Illustrated, where editors didn't have the same good results. Other picks from Driscoll include Scanpan Professional as the most comfortable, Swiss Diamond for the largest cooking surface and Anolon Advanced French as the deepest.
7. Cook's Illustrated Magazine
Sept. 2007
Cast-Iron Skillets
by Editors of Cook's Illustrated magazine
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentEditors explain the history as well as the pros and cons of cast-iron cookware, which has been around since the sixth century. Advantages include price, versatility and durability, while the downsides include the weight and special care required. Eight pans, both pre-seasoned (to improve their nonstick qualities) and unseasoned, are tested with four different dishes to evaluate their cooking performance and design. All eight pans are recommended, two of them highly and three with reservations. The article also provides tips on caring for cast iron.
8. Food & Wine Magazine
Nov. 2008
Testing Skillets to Find the Best
by Kristin Donnelly
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentFood & Wine magazine editor Kristin Donnelly tests cast-iron, nonstick and stainless-steel skillets and makes three recommendations in each category. Donnelly details what to look for in each type of skillet, but testing methodology isn't described, and she doesn't discuss her recommendations beyond listing them. For cast iron, the Lodge Logic, Emerilware and Le Creuset Iron Handle pans make the list. For stainless, the All-Clad Stainless 13-Inch French, Mauviel M'Cook and Weil The Healthy Kitchen (now discontinued) are the recommended skillets. Nonstick recommendations include the Cuisinart GreenGourmet Hard Anodized, Anolon Ultra Clad and Calphalon One Nonstick (now discontinued).
9. Amazon.com
As of Nov. 2011
12-Inch Skillets
by Contributors to Amazon.com
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentAmazon.com primarily sells nonstick skillets, with the Cuisinart Chef's Classic Nonstick Hard Anodized 12-Inch Skillet receiving a high average rating of 4.4 stars out of 5 from more than 200 owners. The Calphalon Contemporary Nonstick Omelet Pan Set comes in a close second with 4.1 stars from about 175 owners. The eco-friendly Cuisinart GreenGourmet Hard Anodized 12-Inch Skillet has accumulated as many reviews, but it receives a lower average rating of 3.6 stars. The negative reviews of this pan consistently note that the nonstick coating deteriorates after only a couple of weeks and, thereafter, food begins to stick. We found similar complaints (though not nearly so many) about the eco-friendly EarthPan skillet. The Lodge Logic 12-Inch Skillet has accumulated 700 reviews that average 4.5 stars, which is by far the most reviews for any skillet here. Among the few stainless skillets, the Cuisinart Chef's Classic Stainless 12-Inch Open Skillet and the All-Clad Stainless 12-Inch Fry Pan are standouts.
10. The New York Times
June 7, 2006
In Search of a Pan That Lets Cooks Forget about Teflon
by Marian Burros
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentFood writer Marian Burros embarks on a quest for Teflon-free cookware that can cook with very little oil and still clean up easily. During her search, she tests eight skillets of different types and consults with expert chefs. She cooks chicken breasts, eggs, onions and potatoes with only a thin film of oil in each skillet, and foods frequently stick to the pan bottom. All-Clad and Calphalon pans both fall short in these tests, while cast-iron pans perform well. Burros prefers the Le Creuset enameled cast-iron skillet for its imperviousness to acidic foods, but Lodge preseasoned and unseasoned cast-iron skillets come in a "very close second." Note that this review predates the emergence of alternative nonstick coatings, so none of these newer technologies is tested.
11. Cooking.com
As of Nov. 2011
Skillets and Fry Pans
by Contributors to Cooking.com
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentCooking.com sells hundreds of skillets, and many have accumulated more than 50 reviews. Oddly, most receive a perfect rating, but not every owner writes a review. The standout product here is the Calphalon Contemporary Nonstick Omelet Pan Set (10-inch and 12-inch skillets), which receives an average rating of 4.7 stars from nearly 3,500 owners. The All-Clad MC2 12-Inch Skillet receives the same overall rating from about 50 owners and is the top-rated stainless product. Cast iron skillets haven't accumulated as many reviews, but the Lodge Logic 12-Inch Skillet and Le Creuset 11.75-Inch Iron Handle Skillet receive overwhelming praise.
12. Bon Appetit
April 2008
Skillets (Also Called Frying Pans)
by Editors of Bon Appetit magazine
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentBon Appetit magazine has several brief but descriptive articles on cookware online. Each article is followed by a short list of picks, but they aren't backed up by any test results or discussion, so we really have no idea why these products are recommended over others. The All-Clad MC2 (no longer available in the 14-inch size), Scanpan Professional and Viking Professional are the favorite skillets.
     
 

This is our assessment of the review’s relevance, clarity of testing and thoroughness.

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