The first thing that comes to mind when we think of fast, convenient, and healthy cooking, is a stir-fry pan. If you prefer cooking at home on a regular basis, then you might want to invest in a good quality stir fry pan as they come with multiple lucrative features such as non-stick coating, long handles with riveted grips, compact design, and much more. These fry pans are especially useful if you’re trying to prepare lower oil and fat content recipes.
Aside from all the convenience that they bring, there are several critical factors that you need to consider on your quest for the best stir fry pan. From heat conductivity to the shape of the pan, we break down every factor, helping you make an informed purchase decision. Check it out!
Best Pick
Utility, comfort, and aesthetics have been combined flawlessly in this stir fry pan from Bialetti Aeternum, an Italian brand. With an elegant design, a large capacity and thick gauge construction, this pan has achieved the best pick position on our list.
Budget Pick
Large, versatile, and durable, this is a great choice for anyone who wants a cookware that is both a wok and a stir fry pan. As it gives you multiple useful features within an affordable price, this pan from T-fal is the budget pick for our list.
Quick Comparison: Top 12 Best Stir Fry Pans
| Product Name | Material | Color | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bialetti Aeternum Red 7193 Stir Fry Pan | Aluminum | Red and White | A+ |
| T-Fal A80789 Non-Stick Stir Fry Pan | Aluminum | Black | A+ |
| Te-Chef APW12 Stir Fry Pan | Aluminum coated with Teflon | Aubergine Purple | A |
| Calphalon Triply Stir Fry Pan | Stainless Steel | Silver | A+ |
| Cook N Home Stir Fry Pan | Aluminum | Green | A- |
| Swiss Diamond 6418T Stir Fry Pan | Aluminum | Black | A |
| Circulon Acclaim 82366 Stir Fry Pan | Aluminum | Black | A |
| Rachael Ray 87644 Stir Fry Pan | Hard-Anodize Aluminum | Gray and Blue | B+ |
| Cuisinart Chef’s Classic 626-32H Stir Fry Pan | Hard-Anodize Aluminum | Black and Silver | B |
| Anolon 84613 Stir Fry Pan | Hard-Anodized Nonstick material | Indigo | B+ |
| Debo Nonstick Stir Fry Pan | Stainless Steel | Green | B |
| MSMK Small Frying Pan | Aluminum | Black | B- |
1. Bialetti Aeternum Red 7193 Stir Fry Pan
Bialetti Aeternum is a renowned Italian brand that makes quality kitchenware and you would surely feel the European classy taste in the design of this stir fry pan. The exterior has a rich red color that would add warmth and beauty to any kitchen décor. The pan has been made with thick-gauge aluminized steel.
Aluminized steel is an aluminum that has been coated with an alloy made of aluminum and silicone. This combination of materials makes it highly heat resistant, corrosion resistant and durable. Both the exterior and the interior surfaces of this pan are non-sticky, which means you can stir-fry, sauté, and accomplish various other cooking methods with very less oil.
To ensure food safety, this pan's construction does not contain any harmful materials such as Cadmium, PTFE, and PFOA. The handle is made of a phenolic compound and will stay cool even after prolonged cooking periods and provides you with a cool and soft grip for comfortable cooking. It also has a round and spacious pan area with high flared rims, which prevents food from escaping even when you are cooking a family-sized meal.
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Cons
2. T-Fal A80789 Non-Stick Stir Fry Pan
If you are one of many people who is having a hard time trying to decide whether to go for a wok or a stir-fry pan, this can help you say bye to all your dilemmas. It is large, with wide and deep sloping sides, just like a wok, but also has the advantage of having a long handle like a frying pan. This makes it a powerful kitchen tool to make quick family-sized meals without any troubles.
Apart from the long handle, there is a smaller helper handle on the other side you can move the pan with ease even when the contents are heavy, like a rice, stew, or pasta. The surfaces of this pan are effectively non-sticky and allow you to stir-fry with less oil.
Thanks to its non-stick surfaces and an aluminum body, it is dishwasher safe, minimizing the work you would have to put in for cleaning it up. The aluminum body of the pan not only makes it durable but also enables it to conduct heat fast and evenly, which is a big plus point for a stir-fry pan. Not only is it dishwasher safe, but it is also safe to go into the oven in case you want to use it for oven-based recipes.
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3. Te-Chef APW12 Stir Fry Pan
One of the main advantages of the stir-fry cooking method is that it uses less oil compared to other cooking methods. However, a perfect stir fry with very less oil can turn into a disaster if your pan requires a good amount of oil to be used.
To be able to truly enjoy stir-frying your favorite food ingredients with as less oil as possible, it is important to have a stir-fry pan that has truly effective nonstick properties. This pan from TeChef with 5 layers of powerful DuPon Teflon coating is one such pan that is perfect for low-fat stir-frying.
What is even more reassuring is that the nonstick coating used on this pan is certified to be safe for your health so you do not have to have nightmares about health hazards caused by cookware coatings. The pan also has a unique design at the center of the pan which are two circles that indicate 1 tablespoon and 3 tablespoons of oil, so you will know how much oil you are using to cook your food.
The pan itself is made of thick-gauge aluminum which it conducts heat well and helps your pan to heat up fast. Another thing that we love about this pan is the splendid color that the pan comes in, which is a distinctive aubergine purple to add elegance to your kitchen interior. The pan has a handle which is covered in a soft material which gives you a soft and comfortable grip throughout the cooking process.
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Cons
4. Calphalon Triply Stir Fry Pan
If you are looking for a stir fry made of a material that is completely safe for your health, then you will not regret looking into this stir-fry pan made of stainless steel and hence posing no risk of harmful material leaching into your food.
This pan has an optimum size of 12 inches, which is not too small nor too big and is perfect for preparing a large variety of dishes. There is another secret gem hidden inside the stainless steel construction and the technical term for it is tri-ply steel.
This means that the pan has a core made of aluminum which is covered with stainless steel on both sides. The aluminum core of this construction provides durability and the ability to conduct heat uniformly, preventing hot spots on the pan. However, since the aluminum is coated on both side by stainless steel, it is completely safe for your health. What a genius idea! The pan draws the inspiration for its design from a traditional wok, and hence has deep rims, but with a flat base instead of a round one, making it exceptionally stabilized on your stove.
The handle of the pan is contoured in an ergonomic design, is long, and made of stainless steel to keep it cool during cooking. The pan also has a small supporting handle on the other side for the pan to be carried safely to and from the stovetop. The pan comes with the additional advantage of being compatible with induction cooker so you can use it for cooking even if you do not have a stove. The pan is not only compatible with these two heat sources but is also safe to go into the oven and broiler, expanding the culinary possibilities that you can achieve with this pan.
The excellent performance of this pan is also accompanied by its contemporary look, which comes partly from the satin brushed stainless steel which has a smooth and frosty shine to it. If you want to cook soup and similar recipes in this pan, you can easily do so by using the glass lid that comes with the pan. The fact that the pan comes with a lid also reduces your worries as you do not have to go to the market to look for a lid that fits the pan.
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5. Cook N Home Stir Fry Pan
For those of you who are looking for a stir fry pan that can be used on versatile types of heat sources, then this stir fry pan could be your best choice. This pan from Cook N Home can be used on gas, electric, ceramic, halogen stoves, and also on an induction cooktop.
In places where the regular gas or electric stoves are not available, this stir fry pan may be the most reliable kitchenware. It has a thick-gauge aluminum construction with a nonstick interior which makes it a great pan for stir-frying your vegetables, rice, meat, etc.
Another thing that we think is unique about this pan is its color, which is a bright green, and it is not every day that you come across a green stir-fry pan, which adds so much liveliness to your kitchen. As the pan has a generous amount of depth, you can easily cook medium sized meals in it. The handle of this pan has been covered with a soft material and has been made in a sturdy style to give you a secure grip while you cook with the pan.
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6. Swiss Diamond 6418T Stir Fry Pan
We have looked at several pans that can cook family-sized meals, but what if you are a single person living in a dorm or a small apartment and looking for a stir fry pan that would not occupy too much space in your kitchen? Yes, that is exactly why we are introducing you to this 7-inch compact size stir fry pan from Swiss Diamond with an excellent nonstick surface.
This pan is made in Switzerland and comes with an impeccable European quality and durability. This fry pan has a unique construction including multiple layers of quality materials. The base layer of the pan is cast aluminum which has been made by casting liquid metal into a mold under high pressure.
This creates a perfectly flat base which conducts heat fast and evenly, preventing warping at the same time. On top of the aluminum base, there is a layer of sand-blasted plasma coating to create an unbreakable bond between the aluminum layer and the nonstick layers. Then comes the final three layers of diamond-reinforced nonstick coating. As we all know, diamond is extremely durable and it resists abrasion and damage.
As diamond is also naturally non-stick, it makes the frying pan well-suited to making stir-fry dishes with low oil content and makes it easy to release the food from the pan to your serving plates. Due to the tough build of the pan, it can go into the oven and withstand temperatures as high as 500 degrees F. Apart from the above-mentioned excellent features, another thing that we love about this pan is its well-built ergonomic handle, which gives you a cool, comfortable grip throughout the cooking process. This long-lasting and excellent nonstick construction has won many prestigious awards for this fry pan, and it is a cooking ware that you can use in your kitchen with pride.
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7. Circulon Acclaim 82366 Stir Fry Pan
With a cooking surface of 12-inch diameter and highly flared rims, this stir fry pan from Circulon is a frying pan that is highly suited to stir-fry cooking methods. The fry pan features a technology called total nonstick system which involves three layers of nonstick material with a pattern of raised concentric circles.
This system makes the nonstick feature long-lasting by resisting staining, abrasion, scratching and chipping. The nonstick layers cover both the interior and exterior of the frying pan, making it easier not only to release the cooked food but also to clean the pan after cooking.
The core of the pan is made from hard-anodized aluminum which is twice as hard as stainless steel, and also distributes heat uniformly, preventing the formation of hot spots. The handle of the pan has been attached with double rivets and has been covered in rubber to give you a secure and comfortable grip so that you can effortlessly cook using the pan.
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8. Rachael Ray 87644 Stir Fry Pan
This stir fry pan from Rachel Ray has a distinctive appearance with soothing blue handle and an espresso colored nonstick pan surface. The blue tone on the handle and the lid make it an aesthetic addition to any contemporary kitchen interior.
The fry pan is made of hard anodized aluminum which is highly durable and allows fast and even cooking without burning your food. We love the fact that the stir-fry pan has a bowl-like round shape, which offers a generous depth and space for making stir-fried dishes with multiple ingredients as the food will stay inside the pan even when you are stirring it.
Another great feature of the pan is that it comes with a tempered glass lid, which has a stay-cool silicone handle and a stainless steel rim. This allows the pan to prevent the flavors and moisture of the food from escaping while allowing you to monitor the cooking process through the transparent lid. The fry pan can not only be used on the stove, but also in the oven, as it is heat resistant up to 400 degrees F. Another unique feature of this pan is that it can be safely washed in the dishwasher, making your post-cooking cleanup a breeze.
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9. Cuisinart Chef’s Classic 626-32H Stir Fry Pan
When it comes to kitchenware, Cuisinart is a name that is well-renowned among seasoned home chefs, since they have been making reliable home cookware that is user-friendly and durable for many years. From this company is a stir-fry pan that we have included on our list as it has a superior nonstick coating made of Quantanium.
Quantanium coating is an exceptional nonstick coating that has been reinforced with titanium particles. Due to the incorporation of titanium, this pan has an interior surface that has an excellent protection against scratching, abrasion, and corrosion.
In addition to the durability, this surface has effective nonstick properties that ensure the smooth and quick release of food and is highly suitable for fast and low-fat cooking. The rim of the pan is high and flared so that you can stir and mix the food inside it with the comfort you would have cooking in a wok. The fry pan has a handle that will stay cool during cooking, and also comes with a support handle on the other side, making it easy to maneuver the pan any way you want to.
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10. Anolon 84613 Stir Fry Pan
Anolon 84613 Stir Fry Pan has incorporated advanced technologies into its production process to ensure a PFOA-free non-stick surface. Its commitment to premium quality becomes evident as soon as you unbox the package and put the cookware into use.
The pan has a diameter of 8 inches, with an ability to cook on stovetops of all kinds as well as in an oven. Although it’s not safe for dishwashers and needs to be hand-washed only, the cookware offers effortless cleanup with quick food release.
Moreover, the pan comes with a heavy-duty build thanks to its hard-anodized construction. Yet, the hard construction does not hinder its heat conduction to the slightest. It provides even heat distribution, minimizing the risk of burning food. Besides, the stir fry pan comes with a sleek stylish design, in an indigo finish. This is sure to elevate your kitchen’s decor.
The pan is supported by a sure-grip handle that is dual riveted, offering additional strength and a comfortable grip during stir frying. It also minimizes the risk of burning your hands. The handle is color-coordinated, adding further value to its elegant design. Moreover, the pan is safe to go into the oven. It can work in up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit without sustaining any damage to its body.
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11. Debo Nonstick Stir Fry Pan
The Debo Nonstick Stir Fry Pan is made of stainless steel coated with a non-stick surface. It is certified to be 100% PFOA-free, and there’s been no use of Teflon in the production process, making it a healthy alternative to many of its competitors. Being coated with an efficient non-stick surface, the pan is low maintenance and easy to clean. You can get rid of any food particle or stain on the surface simply by handwashing it.
The pan, being 12 inches in diameter, is relatively large. So, it’s a great pick if you plan on cooking in large quantities.
The pan has a 3mm encapsulated body that is supported by an encapsulated base of 4mm. As a result, it ensures quick and even heats conduction. It minimizes the risk of burning your dish and promises brilliant cooking results. The handle is also made of stainless steel, which is riveted to ensure a secure grip. Its lid has a riveted handle for easy pickup. The glass lid allows you to monitor the dish without having to lift it unnecessarily. All these design factors translate to great convenience for home cooks and professional chefs alike.
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12. MSMK Small Frying Pan
This slope-sided small fry pan by MSMK has a sturdy aluminum exterior and a heavy-gauge 4 mm stainless steel interior. Its nonstick base comes with a promise of long-lasting service and easy cleanup after every use. The pan’s bottom is even, making it easy to place on top of a stove or an inside an oven. With only 8 inches in diameter, the pan is relatively small and lightweight, making it an ideal pick for small-quantity cooking.
The non-stick surface is PFOA-free, which promises a healthy outcome for your dish without any particle or chemical release into your recipe.
It is a great pan to prepare sticky dishes like mac and cheese, fondue, and other gooey dishes as the food particles come off quite smoothly. It’s as simple as wiping off the food after cooking.
The stainless steel handle is designed to stay cool and comes with an excellent grip, making it very easy to flip food while they’re cooking. The handle does not allow oil or food particles to sit on it, making it very easy to clean up later. The pan is safe to go into an oven. It can sustain temperatures up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. It is also compatible with almost every domestic stovetop, including gas, electric, induction, and ceramic stove.
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Factors to help you choose your perfect stir fry pan
Heat conductivity
Stir-frying is one of the most preferred cooking methods at home kitchens because it is quick and yet delivers a mouth-watering dish. For this to be done, a cookware that can deliver heat to the food quickly is essential. This is why your stir fry pan should be made of a material that is a very good conductor of heat. Not only it should be a good conductor of heat, but it should also be able to distribute the heat evenly so that bits of the food is not burned. Some of the best heat conductors for stir-frying are aluminum, steel, cast iron, etc. but each of them has their own pros and cons, so you need to know about their properties before you choose the material that suits you the best.
Nonstick coating
As many people are becoming aware of eating and cooking with less oil, it is best to look for a pan that has a nonstick coating. Different stir fry pans use a different nonstick coating on their interior, and sometimes also on their exterior, and it is best to go for a durable nonstick coating that would not peel off or be damaged easily. It is also important to look for a nonstick coating that is safe to your health.
The shape of the pan
Unlike many other dishes that require gentle stirring of the food, stir-frying requires fast tossing movements with your utensil. This is why is it important to have a stir-fry pan that has a deep cooking interior and a flared rim that will prevent the food from flying outside the pan when you toss them roughly. However, the base of the pan should be flat so that is can securely sit on the flat stovetops. It is also useful to have a lid for your stir fry pan, and some pans come with a lid so you can use the pan for other purposes such as making soup and sauces.
Handle
One important advantage that stir-fry pan has over a wok is that they come with a long handle, which is easier to use when you want to move the pan while you are cooking. The long handle should also have an ergonomic contouring so that it does not make your hand ache after a cooking session. It is best to go for pans that have a handle covered with a soft material such as rubber so you can have a soft yet secure grip. And most importantly, it should stay cool even when the pan is on the stove so that it does not burn your hand. Some stir fry pans come with an extra support handle at the other side of the pan, which is an excellent feature for you to carry the pan safely as stir-fry pan can be quite heavy, especially when they are full.
Dishwasher safe
It can be tiresome to have to wash a stir fry pan after you have cooked and had dinner. You would be tempted to throw it in the dishwasher along with all the other items near your kitchen sink. However, as most stir fry pans come with a nonstick coating, they are not dishwasher safe. The good news is that they are easy to clean if you are using warm water and mild soap, due to their nonstick property. Nonetheless, if you are determined to leave the washing to the dishwasher, then you can find stir fry pans that are dishwasher safe, and we have included some of them on our list as well.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is stir frying healthy?
Stir-frying is a fast and effective method to cook small quantities of food in a hot, non-stick pan or wok. You can prepare quick and healthy dinners at home on stir-frying pans. The best stir frying pans have a PFOA-free non-stick surface. As a result, the recipes require much less oil and fat content compared to other dishes. To make it even healthier, you can opt for safflower oil, soybean oil, or sunflower oil. However, refrain from using olive oil on your stir fry pan as it can potentially ruin the nonstick surface. You can prepare a healthy and delicious dish of fish, meat, poultry, or vegetables using your stir fry pan, in a very short time.
How should I clean a non-stick pan?
Nonstick pans often come with instructions to wash by hand and not put into the dishwasher, no matter how much of a hurry you’re in, as it can potentially ruin the coating. Instead, you can simply use a detergent and microfibre cloth to clean up the surface. And occasionally, prepare a vinegar solution to clean off stubborn food particles and stains. Simply mix half a cup of vinegar with one and a half cups of water and put it into the pan. Cook the solution in low heat for up to 10 minutes. Let it cool down, and then wash off the pan with dishwashing soap. This process will help you thoroughly clean a non-stick fry pan.
Conclusion
Whether you are making Chow Mein, fried rice or stir-fried chicken with mixed vegetables, stir fry pans are a great cookware to help you make delicious dishes. Since they are nonstick, you can make them in a healthy way with less oil, and have to worry less about the excessive browning of the food. Once you have determined your preferences and requirements, it is time for you to buy the best stir-fry pan for your kitchen and explore different culinary possibilities with the help of your stir fry pan.
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