12 Best Skillets 2023

May 15,2024

I tested eight skillets in varying materials and price points to find the best ones, and chatted with professional cooks to add their favorites to the list, too..
This has been in my cart for probably five years. Whenever I get close to clicking “Check Out,” I start getting neurotic and Google how to care for cast-iron pans — a black hole of conflicting internet advice — and then I feel guilty for not appreciating my simple nonstick pan which has served me well enough. This cycle repeats every couple months, whenever I see one of those cast-iron pan glamor shots on Instagram. Everyone who has one tells me it’s really not a big deal to care for, so I think I just need someone to buy me one and save me from overthinking it. .
Lee gave Sunée this Joycook ceramic frying pan as a gift, and both cooks love using it to make Korean food. “The reason why I really like that is because compared to wok, it has a wider surface at the bottom, so it’s easier for you to get that sear,” on marinated meat like bulgogi, says Lee, “and it’s taller than most braising pans, so you can quickly toss.” This pan is also light enough to toss food, like japchae noodles, quickly and easily. “Usually, you just need one size. I recommend a 12-inch for people with less than a family of four. Anyone more would want something like a 14-inch, which covers up to six to eight people.” One caveat: This ceramic pan doesn’t work on an induction stove, so if you have one of those, a metal wok will do fine.