6 Best Nonstick Frying Pans of 2026, Lab-Tested and Reviewed
With these pans, making perfect eggs and golden pancakes couldn't be easier
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A good nonstick frying pan is a necessity in many kitchens. Whether your sticky-food indulgences involve pancakes, skillet huevos rancheros, or creamy black-eyed peas, a great nonstick will allow them to slide out of the pan easily, making cleanup practically effortless.
In Consumer Reports’ labs, we evaluate how evenly nonstick pans heat and test their nonstick abilities by frying four eggs consecutively without oil to see how easily they release from the pan. (In a 2025 nationally representative CR survey of 2,158 adults in the U.S., 20 percent of nonstick cookware users reported that one of their top reasons for using that cookware was to make eggs.) We also measure nonstick coating durability by subjecting it to 2,000 strokes with steel wool, then we fry more eggs to see just how nonstick they are afterward.
We also specify in our nonstick cookware ratings which pans manufacturers say are made without PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), commonly known as Teflon. PTFE belongs to a class of chemicals known as PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) that linger for years in our bodies and the environment. Some recent state laws require disclosures or ban outright the sale of products, including cookware, intentionally made with PFAS such as PTFE. (PFAS can also unintentionally be introduced into products during the manufacturing process.) Still, the makers of nonstick cookware with PTFE say their pans are safe when used properly by avoiding high heat and metal utensils.
If you want to avoid PTFE-coated frying pans but still value a nonstick surface, consider a pan with a ceramic coating. In our most recent tests, nonstick frying pans with ceramic coatings performed admirably, beating out traditional nonstick pans for the top three slots.
Note, though, that nonstick frying pans aren’t necessarily expected to last a lifetime. The cookware manufacturer GreenPan told CR that the ceramic coatings of its pans are expected to last two to five years, possibly more if they’re well cared for. Still, depending on what you cook at home, having at least one nonstick frying pan may be a worthy addition to your cookware collection.
Below, in alphabetical order, are some of the top-rated nonstick frying pans from our tests. Shopping for an entire cookware set? See our full cookware ratings for the best choices. You can also buy the most necessary pieces separately (known as “open stock”). Consult our cookware buying guide for advice on choosing the best pots and pans of all types, including stainless steel, cast iron, carbon steel, and copper.
In our tests of the Caraway Ceramic-Coated nonstick pan, fried eggs easily slid out one after another, and the surface heated evenly with no hot spots. The handle is super-sturdy and stays cool to the touch as you cook. The nonstick ceramic coating, which the manufacturer claims is made without PTFE, stood up very well in our durability test. This pan is also induction-compatible and is claimed to be oven-safe to 550° F.
The GreenPan Spectra Thermobond Hybrid Ceramic Nonstick 10" & 12" Set offers a ceramic nonstick surface over stainless steel and received an excellent score in our tests for cooking evenness. Nonstick food release was also excellent, meaning four eggs fried consecutively with no oil slid right out of the pan using only the force of gravity. According to the manufacturer, this top scorer can withstand oven temperatures of 850° F (if your oven can even reach that high), and it earned very good scores for nonstick durability and handle sturdiness in our tests.
The induction-compatible GreenPan Stanley Tucci Ceramic Nonstick frying pan is a collaboration between GreenPan and the actor Stanley Tucci. It received excellent scores in four of our five tests: cooking evenness, nonstick food release, nonstick durability, and handle temperature. (The Italian-made pan received a very good score on handle sturdiness.) Also notable, these pans are oven-safe to 600° F, according to the manufacturer. (Many nonsticks are oven-safe only to 400° to 500° F.)
The Le Creuset Toughened Nonstick Pro frying pan has a traditional nonstick coating that performed exceptionally well in our test for nonstick durability, which simulates the use of metal utensils and abrasive cleaners. The induction-compatible pan also earned top scores for even cooking, handle temperature, and handle sturdiness. It didn’t earn a top score in our nonstick food-release test, but it still performed very well.
The second generation of the Our Place Always Pan performed admirably in our tests and somewhat better than the original Always Pan we tested back in 2022. It earned top scores for cooking evenness, handle temperature, and handle sturdiness, a significant improvement over the original. Its scores for nonstick food release and nonstick durability were very good, but not the best in class. This pan can be used on an induction cooktop, and according to the manufacturer, it’s made without PTFE.
We found the Oxo Ceramic Professional Non-Stick frying pan to be excellent at providing even cooking across its entire 10-inch surface. Its nonstick durability and food-release performance were also very good, and its ceramic coating is made without PTFE. This pan’s handle is cool enough after stovetop use to be easily grabbed without a pot holder. Made of hard-anodized aluminum, this pan is induction-compatible and oven-safe to 600° F.
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