Buyer’s Guide To Stainless Steel Pans
by Holly Thomson
Select the right stainless steel frying pan for your kitchen in our guide to stainless steel cookware. Stainless steel is a fantastic choice for frying pans, and often seen in professional kitchens.
Frying with stainless steel can require a little practice, especially if you're more used to using non-stick. However, you can achieve an almost non-stick effect with the right techniques.
Stainless steel is durable, versatile, and built to last. If you want a pan that can handle anything from searing to deglazing, it’s a solid investment.
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5 Best Stainless Steel Frying Pans For 2025
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What you should look for in stainless steel pots and pans?
Best stainless steel pans
Stainless steel cookware FAQs
What stainless steel pans do chefs use?
Which are the best stainless steel pots and pans?
Start with the material. 18/10 stainless steel is a type of stainless steel cast with 18% chromium and 10% nickel. It is some of the very best steel composition for kitchen pans, as it resists rust and keeps its shine.
Plus, look for a stainless steel pan with a core of aluminium or copper. This combination ensures even heat distribution, essential for cooking without hot spots.
You might see stainless steel pans with 3-ply or 5-ply thickness for instance. Which refers to the layers of metal in the pan.
What you should look for in a stainless steel pan?
Choosing the best stainless steel pan depends on quality and features that improve your cooking performance.And everyone has their own preference.But here are the testing criteria we like to measure pans against at Sous Chef.
- When selecting the best stainless steel cookware, consider both composition and construction. A minimum of 3-ply cookware is a good place to start. These pans often have a core of aluminium sandwiched between layers of stainless steel, which helps distribute heat evenly, reducing hot spots. This makes it excellent for everything from searing meat to simmering delicate sauces.
- Also, consider features that enhance usability, such a pouring lips or internal measurement lines. Pans with curved rims can be better beneficial for mess-free pouring. Or you might prefer straight rims, for shallow frying, for example.
- ‘Lyonnaise’ stainless steel pans have high, flared sides, called the "Lyonnaise cut". This particular shape, without any sharp angle, allows to easily slide food from the pan into a plate or a dish.
- Handles that are welded or riveted and stay cool on the stovetop improve handling and a pan with a wide, flat bottom offers more surface area, perfect for frying multiple items like eggs or pancakes without overcrowding. The De Buyer Alchimy Frying Pan is a great example, providing ample space and excellent heat distribution.
- You might consider a stainless steel pan with a non-stick coating, such as in De Buyer Affinity Non-Stick Frying Pan. A double non-stick coating means no or little oil needs to be added when cooking - food will naturally move without force, ideal when flipping pancakes and frying eggs. This also makes the pan easy to clean.
- Handles that stay cool are a bonus, making the cooking process safer and more comfortable. Look for pans with sturdy, riveted handles that are easy to grip, like the De Buyer Affinity or Alchimy ranges.
- Lastly, consider a pan that is dishwasher safe and easy to clean. All stainless steel pans are dishwasher safe (if they don't have a non-stick coating or a wooden handle).
Best stainless steel pots and pans
The De Buyer Affinity frying pan is a top-tier choice for serious cooks. Built with multi-layered stainless steel and an aluminium core, it delivers fast, even heat across the entire pan—including the sides. It responds quickly to temperature changes, ideal for precise cooking. The curved ‘lyonnaise’ edge makes food slide out effortlessly, while the ergonomic stainless steel handle stays cool and is built to last. Designed for professional kitchens but perfect for home use, it’s available in four sizes (20–32cm). Durable, responsive, and versatile, this is one of the finest stainless steel pans you can buy.
The De Buyer Affinity stainless steel saucepan is a professional-grade pan perfect for everyday use. Its multi-layered stainless steel with an aluminium core ensures fast, even heat across the base and sides. Ideal for tasks like cooking rice or keeping food warm, it comes with a stainless-steel lid and is available in 16cm, 18cm, and 20cm sizes. The rolled lip allows drip-free pouring, and the ergonomic, riveted handle stays cool enough to hold during cooking. Built for demanding kitchens, yet perfect for home use, this pan delivers lifetime performance. Suitable for all hobs, including induction.
The De Buyer Prim Appety stainless steel sauté pan brings professional quality to your home kitchen. Durable, dishwasher safe, and easy to maintain, it features a magnetic heat-diffusing base for compatibility with all hobs, including induction. Ideal for browning meat, reducing sauces, or shallow frying, its high sides and all-round pouring lip make cooking and transferring liquids easy. Finished with an elegant satin polish, the Prim Appety pan combines style with everyday practicality, making it a versatile and long-lasting addition to your cookware collection.
The De Buyer Affinity curved sauté pan is perfect for reducing sauces and sautéing vegetables, whether in a professional kitchen or at home. Its curved sides and rolled lip allow for smooth stirring and easy pouring. Made with multi-layered stainless steel and an aluminium core, it delivers fast, even heat across the entire pan. The ergonomic stainless steel handle stays cool enough to handle and is securely riveted for long-lasting durability. Available in 20cm and 24cm sizes, it's compatible with all hob types, including induction. Built to perform and last a lifetime.
The SCANPAN HaptIQ saucepan combines sleek design with professional performance. Built from five layers of stainless steel with a durable Stratanium+ non-stick coating, it ensures easy cooking and cleaning—even with metal utensils. Perfect for everyday use, it’s great for boiling rice, making porridge, or simmering sauces. The high sides and glass lid make it practical, while oven safety up to 250°C adds versatility. Compatible with all hobs, including induction. Available in 16cm and 18cm sizes. Though dishwasher safe, handwashing is recommended for longevity. Stylish, resilient, and chef-tested—this is a long-lasting investment.
Stainless Steel pots and pans FAQs
What are the downsides to stainless steel cookware?
At Sous Chef, we love cooking with stainless steel. But we understand it may not be for everyone. Here are some considerations you might see as a downside. Stainless steel isn’t instantly non-stick, so you need to heat the pan more before cooking, and sometimes use a little more oil. Plus stainless steel can discolour more than a non-stick pan. Although, we personally love the look of a well-loved pan!
Which brand of stainless steel cookware is best?
At Sous Chef we love De Buyer’s range of stainless steel.
What should not be cooked in stainless steel?
Certain foods or cooking methods can be tricky or potentially damaging in stainless steel:
- Highly acidic foods (like tomatoes, vinegar-based sauces), cooking these for long periods might cause a metallic taste or damage the finish, especially if the cookware is low quality.
- Sticky foods without oil or butter. Eggs, pancakes, or fish can stick badly if the pan isn’t preheated and greased properly.
Is stainless steel a good material for pots and pans?
At Sous Chef, we think its one of the best materials. It’s a material of pan that every member of the team has at home - for its fantastic versatility and durability. Its a common choice in restaurant kitchens too for exactly that reason
What stainless steel pans do chefs use?
When it comes to the stainless steel pans professional chefs and restaurants use, durability and performance are key. Many prefer using 18/10 stainless steel pans, for better durability and a lasting shine.
Chefs also value pans that can handle the rigours of a busy kitchen, including various heat sources like gas, electric, and induction. They look for features such as flared rims for easy pouring and riveted handles that are secure and don't conduct heat.
What is a stainless steel pan good for?
- It’s strong, reliable, and built to last. Great for searing, deglazing, or tossing into the oven.
- They can handle very high heat
- When the stainless steel pan is a 3-ply/5-ply/multiply pan, they conduct quickly and evenly.
- Easy and simple to clean
- Robust and resilient to busy kitchen use
- Doesn’t react to food, or tarnish easily
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Read more: Understand the best ways to cook with stainless steel, and browse all stainless steel pots and pans.
