Choosing the best nonstick cookware isn't easy. There are hundreds of options, and it's hard to know which one is best, and what makes it best. And is nonstick cookware even safe? Should you even be buying it at all?
To answer your questions and help you buy the best nonstick cookware for your kitchen, we put together this guide. We try to answer all the possible questions, cover all the possible issues and look at all the features to consider before buying.
We start with our recommendations for the best nonstick cookware, then go into detail about why we think these are the best choices.
The Best Nonstick Cookware at a Glance: Our Recommendations
Here are our favorite nonstick (and pseudo nonstick) skillets. Note that we recommend only skillets--nonstick coatings wear out quickly, and you really only need it on a skillet (more on this below). We think these pans are the best nonstick cookware options on the market.
We also like All-Clad HA1 nonstick as runner-up for best PTFE Overall.
NOTE: Table may not be visible in mobile view.
Header | Best PTFE Overall | Best Ceramic Overall | Best Environmental Choice | Best Pseudo-Nonstick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Cell |  |  |  |  |
User Rating | ||||
Price Range (skillets) | $30-$75 | $30-$60 | $60-$150 | $15-$60 |
Construction | cast aluminum | heavy aluminum/glass lid | cast aluminum | cast iron (bare) |
Dishwasher/Metal Utensil Safe? | No | No | No | Yes |
Induction Compatible? | Yes | No/ | Yes | Yes |
Design Notes | 0.6mm copper in base plus 4mm alum, long sides, stainless handle, flush rivets | stainless handle, somewhat deep, well made | Bakelite handle, no rivets, shallow | Deep, heavy, very durable |
Lid Included? | No | Yes (12" only) | No | No |
Weight | 10"--2.7lbs | 12"--4.2 lbs | 10.5"--2.7lbs | 10.25"--5.4 lbs |
Oven Use | Up to 500F | Up to 600F | Up to 500F | Good at any temp |
Warranty | Lifetime mfr warranty | Lifetime on pan, | Lifetime warranty on construction | contact Lodge |
What Are the Best Uses for Nonstick Cookware?
People love nonstick cookware because it's easy to clean: because it's slippery, food doesn't stick to it, so it washes up with little effort.
As great as that is, nonstick cookware isn't good for everything. Because both kinds of nonstick cookware are rather delicate, breaking down easily under high heat and requiring careful use, you should only use it when you need it. That is, for super sticky foods, and preferably those that cook best on low-to-medium heat.
Thus, nonstick cookware is best for foods like eggs, fish, crepes, and pancakes--food you could ruin if it stuck to the pan. It's also a good bet for anything with a lot of sugar or syrup, such as making caramel or candying nuts, as long as you can do it at a low temperature.
Though a lot of people use their nonstick cookware for everything and own entire sets of it, we don't recommend this. One or two nonstick skillets are enough for any kitchen, and you should use it only for delegated tasks like those we listed.
If you use your nonstick for everything, you'll wear your pans out much faster than you need to. This is bad for your wallet and also bad for the environment, as most used nonstick cookware ends up in landfills. (Nonstick cookware is recyclable, but few curbside programs take it, so it requires some effort to recycle. Because of this, a lot of it ends up in landfills. If you want to recycle your worn out nonstick cookware, check your local recycling center for more information.)
The Two Types of Nonstick Cookware (PTFE and Ceramic)
There are only two real types of nonstick coatings: PTFE and ceramic. You may think there are other nonstick coatings such as granite, titanium, and diamond, but all of these these are merely additions to PTFE or ceramic nonstick coatings.
Some nonstick coatings, such as ScanPan, are composites containing both PTFE and ceramic (though we're not sure how they're combined). There are no nonstick coatings that aren't PTFE, ceramic, or a combination of these two.
When a nonstick pan contains granite, titanium, or diamond dust, it is only to strengthen the PTFE or ceramic. None of these materials are nonstick by themselves.
We include this info because the market is huge, and finding the best nonstick cookware can be confusing. Makers can market their products without clearly stating what the primary nonstick material is, leading consumers to believe they're buying a granite or titanium pan, when in fact they're buying a PTFE or ceramic pan that's been reinforced with small amounts of these other materials. (This is particularly true of PTFE, as concerns about toxicity have caused makers to try to distance themselves from it.)
Here, we look at the two "real" nonstick coatings, PTFE and ceramic. This is only because they are the only cooking surfaces that can be officially classified as nonstick. We also include "pseudo" nonstick, cast iron, because we think it's the better overall choice for your wallet and for the environment. When well seasoned, cast iron (as well as carbon steel) becomes almost nonstick, yet it lasts pretty much forever. It's an excellent alternative to PTFE pans.
PTFE
PTFE, which stands for polytetrafluoroethylene, is also known by its first trade name, Teflon®. PTFE is a long-chain hydrocarbon molecule and is considered a type of plastic. PTFE was accidentally discovered by a chemist at Dupont in 1938. It was used in many industrial applications before someone thought of coating cookware with it--this happened in the 1950s, and the rest is history.
PTFE/Teflon® is completely safe when used at temperatures below about 490F (this can't be an exact figure because the temperature at which off-gassing begins depends on the brand of PTFE). Above that temp, PTFE begins to break down. It gives off toxic gases that can cause flu-like symptoms in humans and is deadly to birds. If you have a pet bird, you should definitely not own any PTFE cookware.
(At 390F, PTFE will begin to break down, but it doesn't give off any fumes until about 490F.)
But below those temps, PTFE is perfectly safe. It is inert, so you can even get flakes of it in your food and it will pass through your body unchanged. PTFE is even used in the medical device industry for implants because it is so stable at low temps. best nonstick cookware
PFOA: The more significant concern about PTFE is PFOA, or perfluorooctanoic acid, a substance used in the manufacturing of PTFE cookware (it'a an adhesive that helps PTFE adhere to the pan material). PFOA is in the chemical family called PFAS, which are used in manufacturing hundreds of different products. They are hazardous to human health in many ways including being carcinogenic. Just as serious, they are environmental contaminants that pollute water and soil and do not break down naturally. Nearly all Americans have traces of PFOA in their body. It is found in most sources of drinking water as well as common objects like food packaging, carpeting, and personal care products.
The use of PFOA in cookware manufacturing was outlawed in 2015 so is no longer found in cookware sold in the US. Unfortunately, its most common replacement is GenX, which is a shorter chain PFAS that was at first considered safe, but has proven to have many of the same concerns, including being carcinogenic, as PFOA.
Having said that, these chemicals are almost completely used up in the cookware manufacturing process. So even when PFOA was widely used in the making of PTFE cookware, it was not considered a significant source of PFOA/PFAS. For this reason, PTFE cookware has always been considered safe when used properly--i.e., at temperatures below 490F. When heated above this, the PTFE breaks down into many unsafe PFAS, including PFOA. So don't overheat your PTFE cookware.
The bigger issue with these chemicals is that the PTFE cookware industry is not well regulated, so manufacturers can still legally dump PFAS chemicals--including PTFE, PFOA, and GenX--into the environment. Nearly all sources of drinking water on the planet today contain traces of PFOA and/or other PFAS, and this is largely from the unethical dumping of these chemicals by the cookware industry. So even if you use your nonstick pan safely, buying this cookware contributes to contaminating the planet. This is true no matter which brand of PTFE pans you buy.
(And because of our planet's contaminated water supply, we strongly recommend buying a reverse osmosis filter for your drinking water--it's one of the simplest steps you can take to protect yourself and your family from hazardous chemicals.)
Ceramic Nonstick
Ceramic nonstick--which is a different material than glass or ceramic cookware like Xtrema or Corningware and officially classified as "quasi-ceramic"--was invented in 2007. As evidence mounted that PTFE cookware may not be safe, people began turning to ceramic as a safer alternative. The ceramic nonstick market is still a small fraction of nonstick cookware sold, but it's growing, especially in the direct-to-consumer market, where several brands have popped up in the past few years. (Caraway and Our Place, for example.)
Ceramic nonstick coatings are silicone-based, meaning that they are made from sand. They are inorganic, inert substances, and are marketed as a safe alternative to PTFE.
Ceramic nonstick coatings are applied to cookware using a sol-gel process. The coating is sprayed onto the pans in liquid form, then baked to a hard, slippery finish. Ceramic nonstick is harder than PTFE, so it doesn't scratch as easily and can take a lot more abuse--metal utensils, high heat, etc.--without scratching or ruining the nonstick coating. It's safe to about 700F--a temp which few kitchen appliances can achieve.
Having said all of that, ceramic nonstick is--ironically--notoriously short-lived; it tends to lose its nonstick properties even faster than PTFE. If you read reviews, you'll find that people love these pans early on, but after just a few short months or a year, they're disappointed in the nonstick qualities. Even though ceramic nonstick is marketed as tougher than PTFE, if you want it to last you have to take the same precautions: low heat, non-metal utensils, wash by hand, etc. The only thing you don't have to worry about is aerosol cooking spray, which will not degrade ceramic nonstick as it does PTFE.
Despite what you may have heard, the jury is still largely out on whether ceramic nonstick is safer than PTFE. The sol-gel application process uses something called titanium dioxide nanoparticles, which have been linked to tumors and other adverse health consequences. The evidence seems to be that extremely high heat is required to release any of these particles, so ceramic nonstick cookware is considered safe. But there isn't a lot of research out there, so we believe it's too soon to say with absolute certainty that ceramic nonstick is safe.
Are There Other Options for Nonstick Cookware?
Yes--sort of. While nothing else is officially considered nonstick, cast iron and carbon steel are considered pseudo-nonstick. These materials have to be seasoned: a process of coating the pan surface with polymerized fat, which forms a protective layer between the pan and your food. This polymerization creates a slippery surface that resists sticking and is easy to clean. The surface continues to get more and more smooth and slippery with use--meaning that unlike actual nonstick cookware, the nonstick properties get better with age, not worse (with the caveat that they occasionally require re-seasoning due to soap, scrubbing, liquids in the pan, and other routine use that strips the polymers).
Cast iron and carbon steel are also very safe, stable metals that contain no substances unsafe to human health. Some people worry about the polymerized oil that coats properly seasoned pans, but there is little evidence that this is something to be concerned about (the consensus is that the potentially dangerous free radicals are burned off in the seasoning process--so be sure use your range hood when seasoning).
If you love nonstick cookware but want to avoid the potential toxins in PTFE and ceramic nonstick, cast iron and carbon steel are the best alternatives.
Our recommendation for cast iron is Lodge, which is inexpensive, made in the USA, and will last forever. You can buy artisan cast iron for ten times as much and it will be smoother out of the box--and some brands are a bit lighter--but the Lodge will become smooth with seasoning and use. Also, the heating properties are pretty much identical for all cast iron, regardless of how much you spend (so boutique or artisanal cast iron is a bit of an oxymoron).
Carbon steel is also an option, but we're not big fans of it. Cast iron's best feature is its ability to retain heat, and carbon steel is thinner, so it doesn't have quite the heat retention of cast iron (though it's not terrible, either). Both cast iron and carbon steel heat slowly and unevenly--so with carbon steel, you get all of the undesirable traits of cast iron (slow and uneven heating) while compromising on its best trait (heat retention).
If you can handle heavy pans, we much prefer cast iron to carbon steel. And if you can't handle heavy pans, we recommend you avoid them both; carbon steel is lighter than cast iron, but they have about the same density--so they're both heavy.
About enameled cookware: Many people (possibly because of marketing) believe that enameled cookware (usually enameled cast iron) is nonstick, but at best, it's pseudo-nonstick. But it cleans up pretty easily, and is another decent alternative to PTFE or nonstick ceramic cookware.
read more about nonstick cookware chemicals
Nonstick Cookware Pros and Cons (A Summary Table)
Overall, both types of nonstick coatings have similar pros and cons.
Pros
Cons
Which Type of Nonstick Is the Most Durable?
Winner: PTFE
You would think that because ceramic nonstick coatings are extremely hard (basically made from rocks, remember), they would have the longest life span. It turns out, though, that when all things are equal--meaning cookware is used and cared for properly--PTFE tends to retain its nonstick properties longer than ceramic.
If you google for the life span of nonstick cookware, both PTFE and ceramic are said to last 1-5 years. If you read reviews of various brands, you'll get a clearer picture of how long nonstick cookware actually lasts. While both tend to only last for a couple of years even with the best of care, PTFE typically keeps its nonstick properties longer on average than ceramic nonstick.
One difference, though, is that even after losing its nonstick properties, ceramic pans are still safe for use with a little cooking oil added. Also, you can sometimes bring back the nonstick properties by scrubbing a ceramic pan with a gentle abrasive like Barkeeper's Friend (never try this on a PTFE pan).
But when PTFE wears out, it's because it has broken down, and it may no longer be safe to use. Broken down PTFE is easy to spot: the smooth, shiny finish goes dull and flat, and may have streaks, scratches or chips. Heat takes its toll on PTFE, and the effects are cumulative, so even if you never heat your pan on high, medium heat over time will break down the coating.
Bottom line: Even though ceramic is a harder, more durable substance, PTFE tends to keep its nonstick properties longer.
Which Type of Nonstick Is Safest?
Winner: Neither (or both)
Most people know that PTFE (Teflon) breaks down at temps greater than about 490F. When it breaks down, it releases fumes that cause flu-like symptoms in humans and are lethal to birds.
Below this temp, PTFE is perfectly safe and inert and does not present any safety issues.
Some PTFE cookware also uses PFAS or similar substances in manufacturing; even though use of PFOA was outlawed in 2015, manufacturers are now using similar substances. These substances are toxic, but they are used up in the manufacturing process so they don't present a safety issue (or possibly a very, very small one, and the reason why you should never use a scratched PTFE pan), but they are terrible for the environment (as discussed above).
For these reasons, though PTFE cookware is fine to use under normal circumstances, it does present potential safety issues under certain conditions.
More importantly, the industry is not well regulated, so makers freely dump chemicals into the water supply and are largely responsible for the contamination of the world's water supplies with PFAS.
As for ceramic nonstick, people have turned to it because it's touted as safer than PTFE. However, the sol-gel process that applies the coating to pans uses titanium dioxide nanoparticles, which have been associated with cancerous tumors and other health issues. There's not a lot of evidence yet that this is a valid concern for ceramic nonstick cookware, and most studies have found that it is only released at temps above those found in normal cookware use. But if you want to err on the side of safety, you should avoid ceramic nonstick cookware.
Thus, both types of nonstick cookware are considered safe to use under normal conditions, but both also present potential safety issues.
Here are our recommendations:
-If you have a pet bird, don't buy PTFE-based cookware; the best nonstick cookware options are ceramic or cast iron.
-If you have family members who won't follow safe use instructions and will use pans on high heat, don't buy PTFE-based cookware; your best nonstick cookware options are ceramic or cast iron.
-If everyone in your household will use cookware properly (i.e., no high heat), go with PTFE, as it will last longer than ceramic.
-If you don't want to contribute to an unethical industry that is polluting the planet, don't buy PTFE cookware.
What Is the Best Nonstick Cookware for Use with Metal Utensils and Dishwashers?
The short (and best) answer is: none of it.
Newer nonstick cookware--both PTFE and ceramic--is often touted by the manufacturers as "metal-utensil safe", as well as safe to put in the dishwasher. You can certainly do this, but if you want your nonstick cookware to last as long as possible, you should never use metal utensils or put it in the dishwasher.
Many manufacturers will even say this somewhere on their website--even as they claim their cookware is metal-utensil safe.
As for dishwashers, the detergent has abrasive particles that are hard on nonstick surfaces. So they will cause nonstick cookware to wear out faster, even if billed as "dishwasher safe."
Here's our recommendation:
If you want your nonstick cookware to last--either kind--do not use metal utensils on it ever, and always wash it by hand, even if the maker says you can.
How Much Should You Spend on a Nonstick Pan?
In mot of our articles about nonstick cookware, our mantra is to "buy cheap--but not too cheap." Nonstick pans have short life spans (we may have mentioned this already), so you don't want to invest a lot in one. However, if you go too cheap, you'll get a pan with thin construction and poor heating properties, so you'll be constantly battling scorching and hot/cold spots.
We recommend spending not more than about $50 on a 8-inch or 10-inch pan, and about $70 on a 12-inch pan. Some of the best nonstick cookware is in this price range (and you don't have to spend more to get better quality).
There are reasons to spend more, though: If you want to buy a non-Chinese brand, or want to buy from a maker who is actively working to reduce their carbon footprint, these are reasons to spend more and buy a brand like ScanPan. Just don't expect the pan to last longer than less expensive brands.
What Makes Some PTFE or Ceramic Better than Others?
People will rave about how great certain brands of nonstick are. The truth, though, is that no matter how much you spend, PTFE and ceramic nonstick coatings are all pretty much the same.
Some nonstick coatings are reinforced with durable substances such as diamond dust, titanium, or granite. These reinforcements sit slightly above the nonstick coating and protect it from scratching. But even so, there's not a lot of evidence that reinforced nonstick lasts much longer than non-reinforced coatings. This is most likely because reinforcements do nothing to protect from heat, and heat destroys all nonstick coatings over time (and the damage seems to be cumulative).
Some makers--probably most makers today--apply several coats of nonstick to their pans to increase durability. This may help, like the other reinforcements, but there is also not a lot of evidence that pans with several layers of nonstick coating last significantly longer than other pans.
The bottom line is that no matter which brand you buy or how much you spend, even the very best nonstick cookware will last about 1-5 years. Makers have tried all kinds of things to improve the durability of nonstick, but none of them have been terribly successful.
This is another reason to buy on the cheap end: You might think if you spend a small fortune, you'll get a pan that lasts forever. But this is not the case.
But what about the lifetime warranty? you ask. If you're lucky, a maker may replace a worn out pan for you. But more often than not, the nonstick coating is not included in the lifetime warranty, or the maker will claim that the pan shows signs of "improper use," thus nullifying the warranty--and this is true even for reputable companies like All-Clad and ScanPan. (Just read the reviews on Amazon to find out people's experiences with the "lifetime" warranty on their nonstick pans.)
GreenPan, a reputable brand, clearly states that their lifetime warranty is for the pan construction, and that the ceramic coating itself has a two year warranty. That seems about right to us (and more honest than some other manufacturers). best nonstick cookware
What's the Best Nonstick Cookware Construction?
Nonstick cookware is made by applying a coating, either PTFE or ceramic, to a base that's usually either aluminum or clad stainless steel.
Since aluminum is the less expensive of the two, we think aluminum makes the best nonstick cookware. Not only that, but decent quality aluminum cookware has excellent heating properties; in many cases better than more expensive clad stainless.
There are different types of aluminum cookware. These are stamped, cast, and forged. Stamped aluminum is the thinnest and cheapest type, while both cast and forged aluminum are thicker and heavier (though still lightweight) and higher quality. Our favorite nonstick options--Anolon Nouvelle Luxe, All-Clad HA1, and ScanPan--are cast or forged aluminum. T-fal Professional is an example of a stamped aluminum pan--it's not terrible, but there are higher quality options, with more even heating, for not a lot more money.
Anolon Nouvelle Luxe also has a thick disc base with 4mm of aluminum and 0.6mm of copper (real copper) which gives it heating properties better than any other pan at this price point, and as good as pans that cost much more. This base in addition to its 2.5mm forged aluminum body gives it more than 6mm of aluminum, plus the copper. This is a truly outstanding configuration, especially when you realize that Nouvelle Luxe is a very affordable brand.
Bottom line: Cast and forged aluminum is better quality for not a lot more money, and Anolon Nouvelle Luxe is at the top of the heap because of its aluminum/copper base.
Which Is Better to Buy: Individual Pieces or a Set?
A lot of people love nonstick cookware and will buy it in entire sets. We find, though, that a nonstick coating is most important in a skillet or sauté pan, and not as important in other pieces of cookware.
Your skillet gets the hardest use out of all your pans. You use it primarily for frying--dry heat along with cooking oils. This creates the hardest-to-clean messes, so nonstick skillets make cleaning much easier.
Sauce pans and stock pots are typically used for liquids, so they typically do not get the cooked-on mess that skillets get. Therefore, a nonstick coating isn't really necessary in these pieces.
Sauté pans can go either way: if you're using your sauté pan as a skillet, then you may appreciate a nonstick coating. However, if you use your sauté pan mainly for braising vegetables and other tasks that involve liquids, then a nonstick coating isn't needed. (And nonstick sauté pans tend to be much higher-priced than skillets.)
Dutch ovens benefit from weight and a heavy lid (to hold heat and keep liquids in during braising), so we like enameled cast iron for these--rarely would a nonstick coating be appreciated here.
There are exceptions, and depending on how you cook, you may benefit from an entire set of nonstick cookware. But for the most part, nonstick is most useful in skillets.
If nonstick were more durable, it wouldn't matter. But we hate to see people having to replace an entire set of cookware every few years when they could be replacing just a skillet instead.
Bottom line: In the long run, you'll save money if you stick to just nonstick skillets instead of entire sets (pun intended).
How to Choose the Best Nonstick Cookware
After reading through all the basic info, it's now time to think about buying.
When choosing cookware, you should look at these features: heating properties, durability, safety/stability (lack of reactivity), ease of cleaning, design, warranty, and price. We'll look at each of these here.
Heating Properties
Since transferring heat to food is the primary purpose of cookware, heating properties are arguably a pan's most important characteristics. Even if you buy nonstick because it's easy to clean, you wouldn't use it if it didn't heat well--quickly and evenly.
There are two main aspects of heating: thermal conductivity and thermal retention.
Thermal conductivity is a measure of how quickly and how evenly a pan spreads heat throughout. Copper has the highest thermal conductivity rating of all cookware materials, with aluminum in close second place. Since aluminum is inexpensive, it is by far the most common cookware material. Stainless steel has very poor thermal conductivity, which is why it's "clad" with an internal layers of aluminum or copper. But aluminum cookware tends to have more aluminum--and thicker aluminum--than clad stainless, so it tends to have better heating properties (yes, even though it's less expensive).
Thermal retention is a measure of how long the pan hangs onto heat. It's kind of the opposite of thermal conductivity: Copper has very high thermal conductivity, so it has poor thermal retention: that is, it is very responsive to temperature changes, heating and cooling quickly. Cast iron, on the other hand, has poor thermal conductivity and excellent thermal retention: it heats up slowly and unevenly, but once hot, it hangs onto heat for a really long time.
Both properties are important, but thermal conductivity probably edges out thermal retention for most cooking tasks. That is, most people prefer a pan that heats quickly and evenly over a pan that heats slowly but hangs onto heat for a long time. Cast iron is great for searing and deep frying because of its excellent thermal retention, while copper isn't the best choice for these tasks because it's so responsive to temperature changes. (When you throw that cold steak into a cast iron pan, the pan won't cool down much; when you throw the cold steak into a copper pan, the temperature crashes because copper is so responsive.)
Additionally, the mass of the pan matters to both aspects: The heavier/thicker a pan is, the greater both its thermal conductivity and thermal retention. This is true regardless of the material the pan is made of. Thus, a thick aluminum pan heats more evenly and hangs onto heat better than a thin aluminum pan, a thick copper pan heats more evenly and hangs onto heat better than a thin copper pan, etc.
If you've ever used a cheap, thin pan and been frustrated by the hot and cold spots, you know exactly what we're talking about.
So you want to look at two things when considering heating properties: 1) the material, and 2) the mass/thickness.
We talked about heating above in the section on cookware construction. To reiterate, aluminum has excellent heating properties, and the thicker the aluminum, the better its heating properties. Thus, cast or forged aluminum is our number one choice for nonstick cookware. It's thick enough to have excellent heating properties, it's inexpensive, and it's lightweight.
Our recommendation: Cast or forged aluminum is our material of choice for the best nonstick cookware. It's inexpensive and it has excellent heating properties. Clad stainless is also excellent, but it's expensive, so not a great investment for a pan you'll be replacing every few years.
Durability
Durability refers to how long a pan will last and how much abuse it can take.
As we've already said, nonstick cookware is notoriously un-durable. It can scratch or chip easily and wears out from repeated heating (yes, even if you use only low-medium heat). Metal utensils, abrasive sponges, and cooking spray are all no-nos with nonstick coatings.
Thus, the durability rating of nonstick cookware--both PTFE and ceramic--is the lowest of all cookware materials. This is why nonstick manufacturers are always coming up with new ways to market their un-durable product. They may add substances to it to make it tougher; they may use several layers of nonstick coating; or they may come up with new formulas of PTFE or ceramic nonstick that are "more durable." But the truth is that no matter what nonstick you buy, you'll be lucky to get 5 years of use out of it--which is why we recommend you buy cheap (but not too cheap, because you want decent heating properties).
Safety/Stability
Safety is, for most people, the number one concern when buying any cookware. So maybe it should be listed first, but since most cookware sold in reputable markets is reasonably safe, we usually put it third.
We put safety and stability together because most cookware that's non-reactive is also safe: it won't leach chemicals into your food or react with foods or the environment to produce toxins or other unhealthy substances. Stable cookware is safe cookware.
When used correctly, both types of nonstick cookware is safe. This means avoiding high heat, metal utensils, aerosol cooking spray (for PTFE cookware), and washing by hand so as not to scratch the coating.
Unfortunately, the PTFE cookware industry produces a huge amount of environmental pollutants and is not safe by any measure--so if you care about the environment, don't buy or use PTFE cookware.
Ease of Cleaning
If nonstick cookware weren't so easy to clean, it would be nowhere near as popular as it is. People love that nonstick cookware requires such little upkeep. It can be a huge time-saver in the kitchen, and it can eliminate one of the most hated of all kitchen tasks: scrubbing pots and pans.
Thus, nonstick cookware gets a top rating on ease of cleaning: it's the whole reason people buy it at all, and put up with all of its quirks (e.g., low heat, no metal utensils, etc.).
If ease of cleaning is important to you, then nonstick cookware should be your number one choice.
Design
Design is about two things: 1) the cookware's functionality, and 2) how it looks (i.e., aesthetics).
Design is the most personal category, because the best pans for you may not work for someone else, and what you find beautiful other people may not. This makes it probably the most important category next to heating properties because it's about what makes daily use a pleasure (or a pain).
Design is also the reason why you shouldn't necessarily trust other people's opinions about cookware. It's a very personal choice. Advice can be helpful, but in the end you have to buy what works for you.
Functionality: Functionality is about deciding whether cookware is practical.
To decide, you consider things like:
- Pan shape (is it roomy? does it have a lot of flat cooking surface?Is it shallow or deep?)
- Handles (Is the handle comfortable? Is it easy to stabilize the pan? Does it have a helper handle?)
- Weight (is the cookware light enough to maneuver easily?)
- Size (How many people do you cook for? What will you be using the pan for?)
- Lids (does the lid fit well? is it durable?)
In short, you look at whether a pan is designed such that you will find it easy and enjoyable to use.
Functionality will vary depending on how people use their cookware, their ergonomic issues, and other things. But in general, you want a skillet with 1) a lot of flat cooking surface; 2) a handle that's easy to grip and safe to use; and 3) if it's a large skillet or sauté pan, a helper handle opposite the long handle is a huge plus as it makes the pan much safer to handle, especially when full.
Weight may also be an issue for you: though heavier cookware tends to perform better, most people prefer cookware that's easy to handle. If you're big and strong and don't have any ergonomic issues, you can go for the best performance. If not, then you should pick out a happy compromise between heft and performance.
Size: You also need to think about the size you want. We generally recommend a 12-inch in clad stainless skillets, however, if you're using the nonstick pan only for eggs (as many people do), a 10-inch may be big enough. Or, if you're using it for crepes, an 8-inch is an even better size.
Many nonstick skillets come in sets of 2, an 8-inch/10-inch combo or a 10-inch/12-inch combo. This is a great way to get deal on two pans, and both sizes can be useful in most kitchens.
As for lids, we prefer stainless lids to glass lids because they're lighter and more durable, but for some reason, nonstick cookware tends to have glass lids. Since most skillets are sold without lids--and we recommend buying only nonstick skillets--this may be a moot point. But if a lid is included, make sure it's what you want (and note that you can buy universal lids for pans that don't come with one--though you may already own a pan with a lid that will fit the new one, so check before you buy).
Aesthetics: This is about how pretty the cookware is. And yes, it matters, because if you think your cookware is ugly, you won't enjoy using it.
Finding beauty in your cookware will greatly enhance your time in the kitchen. So while it's not your number one consideration, we recommend that you buy cookware you think is beautiful as well as functional.
For more information: We talk more about cookware functionality in our Stainless Cookware Buying Guide and The Best Cookware Set for Every Budget.
Warranty and Price
If your budget is unlimited, you can ignore this section. However, if you want to get the most bang for your buck, then both price and warranty are important considerations.
As we've already said, our primary recommendation for the best nonstick cookware is to buy cheap--but not too cheap. Our favorite nonstick pans are made of cast aluminum, which is inexpensive yet has excellent heating properties.
All of our recommendations are cast or heavy aluminum construction, which provide great heating at an affordable price.
As for warranty, you may find some frustration with nonstick cookware. You may think a maker with a "lifetime warranty" will replace your pan when the nonstick coating starts to fail, but they almost never do. While the lifetime warranty will honor any defects with the pan itself (that is, the aluminum body, the handle, or the lid), it will probably not cover wear-and-tear on the nonstick coating.
GreenPan is the only nonstick maker we know of that has a lifetime warranty on the body and a 2-year warranty on the nonstick coating. Most other makes just let you believe the lifetime warranty will cover the nonstick coating. (2 years may not sound like much, but GreenPan gets huge respect from us for their honesty.)
Lifetime warranties are a great thing, but don't expect them to cover issues with the nonstick coating.
Are There Good Brands Other than These Recommendations?
Sure. There are a lot of good options for nonstick cookware. Some other brands we like are Tramontina and Vollrath--at least some of their lines. And GreenPan makes a number of affordable ceramic nonstick pans in addition to the pan we recommend here (though many are more expensive).
Any brand with a thick aluminum construction is probably going to be just fine. Just keep in mind that, though there are reasons to spend more (see our ScanPan article for more on that), we picked these brands because they are good quality and affordable.
And again, nothing comes close to the performance of the Anolon Nouvelle Luxe, our top recommendation for PTFE nonstick skillets.
Best PTFE Overall: Anolon Nouvelle Luxe
See Anolon Nouvelle Luxe skillets on Amazon
See our runner up: All-Clad HA1
We have recommended the Anolon Nouvelle Luxe skillet in many of our cookware articles. It is one of our overall favorite picks for the best nonstick pan. It was formerly called Copper Nouvelle, but the Nouvelle Luxe has the same superb build quality.
For a surprisingly affordable price, you get a 2.5mm cast aluminum body with an induction base that has 4mm of aluminum plus a 0.6mm layer of copper--that's about 6mm of aluminum, plus the copper. This gives this pan heating properties superior to other pans in its price range. In fact, its heating properties are superior to many pans costing much more.
Here's an exploded view of Anolon's Nouvelle Luxe induction base:
No, 0.6mm isn't enough copper to compete with copper brands like Mauviel, but it is enough to put this pan's heating into a different category than other cast aluminum nonstick pans. The copper helps this pan heat up and adjust to temperature changes extremely quickly--enough to notice the difference.
The pan also has a sturdy stainless steel handle and a nonstick coating that are highly rated by users. Will it last longer than other nonstick coatings? Probably not, but you're still getting one of the very highest quality PTFE nonstick pans on the market.
The price of this pan has increased recently, but for about $75, you can get an 8-in./10-in. set, or about $34.50 apiece. This is very reasonable.
Pros: Copper in base plus 4mm aluminum for excellent heating properties, induction compatible, stainless steel handle, lifetime warranty (though probably won't honor deteriorating nonstick coating), induction compatible.
Cons: The pan's flat cooking surface is on the small side.
Recommendation: If good old-fashioned PTFE is what you're looking for, the Anolon Nouvelle Luxe skillet is one of the highest-performing brands at any price point (yet is very affordable).
All-Clad HA1: This is also an excellent quality cast aluminum pan. It has an induction base and thick walls for excellent heating properties:
It also has more flat cooking surface than the Nouvelle Luxe pan and is also induction compatible. If it had the copper base, this pan would definitely be our number one choice. You can get the 8-in./10-in. set for about $60.
We recommend the HA1 over the Nouvelle Copper if you prefer the shape of the All-Clad skillet.
buy anolon nouvelle Luxe skillet:
Best Ceramic Nonstick Skillet: GreenPan Lima
See GreenPan Lima 12" skillet w/lid on Amazon (not induction compatible)
See all GreenPan Valencia Pro 11" skillet on Amazon (induction compatible)
See GreenPan GP5 on Amazon (5mm thick body, newest coating)
See our Ultimate GreenPan Review (more buying options!)
GreenPan is a popular brand of ceramic nonstick, for the simple reason that it is high quality cookware that is affordably priced. (Many new brands, like Caraway and Our Place, are claiming to be higher quality and longer lasting ceramic nonstick, but they're basically the same construction as GreenPan for more money.
We like the Lima 12-inch skillet because it comes with a lid, but if you need induction compatibility, you can go with the Valencia Pro, or check out our GreenPan review to see what your options are.
We also like the GreenPan GP5, one of their newer lines. It has a 5mm thick aluminum body that gives it excellent heating properties, plus GreenPan's newest coating.
Pros: Good quality, stainless handle, 12-inch pan includes lid, lots of buying options, affordable, lifetime warranty on pan and 2 yr. warranty on nonstick coating.
Cons: Ceramic coating probably won't last as long as PTFE coating, lid is glass (not stainless).
Recommendation: If you like the idea of ceramic nonstick cookware--it's tougher and probably has fewer safety concerns than PTFE--then GreenPan is the right brand for you. We like the Lima 12-inch because it comes with a lid, but there are a lot of other buying options.
buy greenpan lima 12" skillet w/lid:
Best Environmental Choice: ScanPan
See all ScanPan at Williams-Sonoma
Go to our detailed ScanPan review (more buying options)
If you have a big budget, you may want to consider ScanPan. This is a Danish brand and still made in Denmark. ScanPan is an environmentally conscious maker actively trying to reduce their carbon footprint by using recycled aluminum in state-of-the-art manufacturing plants.
ScanPan is top quality nonstick cookware. The coating is a PTFE/ceramic hybrid, which they claim adds years to the pan's longevity. Though we're not entirely convinced, we do love using this pan. The Classic is their oldest line and though we don't love the bakelite handle, we do love that the cooking surface is free of rivets, which makes cleaning even easier. If you want to see other lines, click on the Amazon or Williams-Sonoma buttons below.
We do have to say: even though ScanPan is environmentally conscious, they are still using PTFE and other PFAS chemicals in their cookware that contribute to global contamination with toxins and "forever" chemicals that are very unsafe. As far as PTFE cookware goes, there is really no good environmental choice except to not buy it.
Pros: Excellent quality, nonstick may last longer than other brands (though we can't promise this), Classic line has a rivetless cooking surface, environmentally conscious manufacturing (in Denmark, not China), comes in both traditional and induction compatible options.
Cons: More expensive than other brands and the nonstick may not last longer, contributes to PFAS pollution of the planet.
Recommendation: If you have a big budget and want top quality nonstick cookware with a smaller carbon footprint, ScanPan is good choice. Note that the nonstick coating may not last any longer than it does on less expensive brands, and the brand uses PTFE, so they're not as environmentally conscious at they'd like buyers to believe (but definitely better than Chinese-made brands, which includes most of the nonstick cookware sold in the American market).
shop for scanpan:
Best Pseudo-Nonstick: Lodge Cast Iron
See Lodge cast iron at Wal-Mart
Lodge has been around forever. Most of it, including all their bare cast iron, is still made in the USA. (Their enameled cast iron and some other pieces are made in China.) It's durable and extremely affordable. Yet despite its affordability, Lodge cast iron lasts pretty much forever. Though not technically nonstick, it functions very much like a nonstick pan.
It comes pre-seasoned, but requires further seasoning for best nonstick results. The best part of using cast iron is that it becomes smoother and more nonstick with use.
Cast iron has a few drawbacks. Namely, it's heavy, and it heats slowly and unevenly. Where it shines is in heat retention, because once hot it stays hot for a very long time, and can hold heat even when assaulted with cold food. This is what makes cast iron so excellent for searing steaks, deep frying, and braising (though for braising we much prefer enameled cast iron because of the prolonged contact with liquids--see our enameled cast iron review for more information).
One weird thing about Lodge is that they have kind of a sketchy warranty policy. They don't have a set-in-stone warranty, but they do promise to make things right if a customer is unsatisfied with their product. And being that cast iron is such a durable product, quality is rarely an issue.
Pros: Affordable, lasts forever, gets more nonstick over time, induction compatible.
Cons: Heavy, heats slowly, requires seasoning.
Recommendation: If you're trying to avoid the potential issues that can come with nonstick cookware, cast iron is the way to go.
Nonstick Cookware FAQs
Here are some common questions about nonstick cookware.
What Is the Best Nonstick Cookware?
Honestly, our recommendations is to go with seasoned cast iron or carbon steel. Neither type of nonstick cookware will last more than a few years, but cast iron and carbon steel will last for decades or even generations. But if want nonstick, PTFE will give the best (and longest) performance; ceramic nonstick is better for the planet (as far as we know--this may change as more findings come out).
Which Type of Nonstick Is Safest?
Ceramic nonstick is probably safer to use and definitely safer for the planet. But PTFE cookware is safe when used correctly (no high heat, no metal utensils, no aerosol cooking spray, and always wash by hand).
Can You Really Not Use Metal Utensils with Nonstick Cookware?
You should not use metal utensils if you want your nonstick pans (both types!) to last as long as possible. This is true even if the manufacturer says metal utensils are okay.
How Long Will a Nonstick Pan Last?
The average life span of a nonstick pan is about 1-5 years. However, many nonstick pans stop being nonstick after just a few months (true for both types of nonstick, but especially true for ceramic nonstick).
Are Nonstick Pans Dishwasher Safe?
No, they're not. Even if the manufacturer says they are, you should always wash your nonstick pans by hand if you want them to last as long as possible.
Final Thoughts on How to Buy the Best Nonstick Cookware
Nonstick cookware can be hard to buy. The terminology can be confusing, and you can have a difficult time figuring out exactly what you're paying for. We tried to clear up as much of the confusion as possible in this article and teach you about the important issues. We also recommended our favorite PTFE, ceramic, and pseudo-nonstick brands to make your shopping as easy as possible.
We hope we've helped you get some clarity on how to buy the best nonstick cookware.
Thanks for reading!
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