tramontina: Between Calphalon and this Tramontina bread, I ended up with the best budget skillet in the photo. In the tests I did, the Calphalon outperformed his Tramontina capable 10-inch skillet, which costs less than $40, with a bit more even heat distribution.
material:Material’s $125 10-inch saute pan is a great option if you’re looking for a sturdier (i.e. heavier) pan with a lid.the Technically I used a sauté pan instead of a frying pan because the sides are straight, and it worked out great overall.
de bayer: This traditional French manufacturer makes an excellent 11-inch frying pan, but it may be better suited for professional kitchens. It’s heavier than most and costs a whopping $225. All of this makes it difficult to recommend it to the casual home cook.
Demayer: This Belgian-made 7-layer skillet was the heaviest of all the skillets I tested, despite being only 9 inches in diameter. The 4-pound skillet heated evenly and seared food well, but considering its weight and hefty $270 price tag, it’s probably not a good option for most people.
360 cooking utensils: This American-made 5-layer frying pan performed about as well as the other pans, but at $200, the other pans offer better value for money.
Thaxton Home: I don’t have a lot of bad things to say about this affordable frying pan, but it was a little harder to clean than other pans. Tuxton’s Homemade 3-Layer Pan costs less than $50 and will definitely get the job done.
All-clad graphite core: This All-Clad frying pan has a lightweight graphite core, so it might be a good choice for those who have trouble handling standard frying pans. That said, it’s not cheap, at $200 for 10 inches, and has more uneven distribution than its aluminum-core counterpart.
