12 great nonstick pans available in Canada

A good nonstick pan is an essential item in any kitchen and ideal for eggs, pancakes, delicate fish, or crepes. The coating doesn’t just help prevent food from sticking either; it also makes clean-up significantly easier. To find out which nonstick and ceramic pans deserve a home in your kitchen, we selected some of the best pans on the market and put them to the test. After flipping dozens of eggs, cooking way too many omelets and pancakes, we came away with a ranked list of the best nonstick pans available in Canada.

1. OXO Good Grips 10-inch Non-Stick Pro Open Fry Pan

We were pleasantly surprised when one of the least expensive pans in the test group also received the highest scores on our tests. We’ve tested several OXO Good Grips products over the years, and their attention to detail rarely disappoints. This 10-inch Non-Stick Pro Open Fry Pan was a winner from the beginning. The long metal handle was smooth with an ergonomic design, and it made this medium-weight pan comfortable to hold and balance.

When it came to performance, the OXO aced all our tests. The fried eggs moved freely around in the pan—even without any cooking oil—and the angle of the pan’s edges made it effortless to flip over-easy eggs with the flick of a wrist. The omelet we made was similarly impressive. It didn’t stick at all or leave any residue in the pan, and we ended up with a dish we’d be proud to serve at a restaurant. What's more, the handle stays cool while you use it.

The pan heated quickly, and when we added room-temperature water to the pre-heated pan, it was one of the only pans to recover to its original temperature within one minute. Our pancake test further evidenced that heat recovery, creating a light and fluffy pancake that had even browning on both sides.

When we put it all together, we had no problems naming this 3-layer PTFE, heavy-gauge anodized aluminum pan our choice for Best Overall. The only flaw we could find is that it’s not induction-capable, so you’ll have to look elsewhere for induction cooktops.

Get the OXO Good Grips Non-Stick Fry Pan from Wayfair Canada for $64.64

2. All-Clad 4110 NS R2 10-inch

The All-Clad brand is well-known for producing bonded stainless-steel pans that top everyone’s performance list. They make our favourite stainless-steel skillet, so we weren’t surprised when they aced our nonstick pan tests. This pan features their renowned all-clad stainless-steel bottom with three layers of PFOA-free nonstick coating on top. Although we recommend hand-washing nonstick pans, the pan is also dishwasher-safe and oven-safe to up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit (260°C).

Features aside, the induction-compatible All-Clad earned top marks on all our tests. Our French omelets slid easily on the nonstick surface, and the pancakes turned out light and fluffy. Of all the pans in our test group, the All-Clad was the quickest to warm up and provided the most even heating, browning both sides of the pancake nicely. It was one of the heaviest pans we tested, but the straight handle design created balance by putting the weight towards the far edge of the pan. While it was slightly too hefty to flip eggs comfortably, the nonstick coating still performed. The eggs released easily, and we could flip them with the flick of a spatula—even when we weren’t using any cooking oil.

Get the All-Clad 4110 NS R2 from Cook Store for $127.99

3. Mauviel M'Steel Round Frying Pan, 12.5-Inch

Unlike the other pans on this list, the Mauviel M’Steel 12.5-inch Black Carbon Steel Fry Pan doesn’t contain a nonstick coating. Instead, carbon steel cookware is seasoned with a coating of oil (similar to the seasoning you’ll find on cast-iron skillets). That makes the pan naturally nonstick, so it will last longer than coated nonstick pans, although it can’t be washed with soapy water.

When we tested the best carbon steel pans, the Mauviel M'Steel exceeded our expectations in almost every way. This French-made pan was easy to season and immediately obtained a nonstick coating. Our fried eggs and French omelet slid easily around the pan without sticking, making clean-up a breeze.

In addition to cooking eggs, this pan also heated up quickly and maintained that heat to create an even sear on both sides of a steak. It’s also oven-safe, and it excelled at cooking sauteed vegetables. We loved that it was one of the lightest carbon steel pans we tested at just over three pounds, and the straight, nine-inch handle balanced that weight perfectly to make it feel like an extension of our arm as we used it.

If we had one complaint, it’s that the handle is a little uncomfortable and the inside cooking area was a touch smaller than the other pans we tested. That’s a small sacrifice to make for perfectly cooked food.

Get the Mauviel M'Steel Round Frying Pan from Amazon Canada for $206.08

4. GreenPan SmartShape Ceramic Nonstick

GreenPan made the first ceramic nonstick pans to hit the market, and today they offer the most variety. You’ll find several different models in their catalogue, allowing you to choose from stainless steel, hard-anodized aluminum, or aluminum coated with their Thermolon ceramic coating.

We tested the SmartShape Ceramic Nonstick because of its high ratings and magneto base for induction. The pan performed admirably, allowing the fried eggs to move freely and flip with ease. The omelet left a tiny bit of pan residue, but it released with a presentation-ready finish.

We also love that the pan doesn’t have any rivets inside, making clean-up a breeze. Our only major complaint was that the pan didn’t maintain heat well, and the pancake took longer than we’d like to brown on the second side.

Get the GreenPan SmartShape Ceramic Nonstick from Amazon Canada for $77.39

5. Hestan ProBond Forged Stainless Steel Nonstick Skillet

The price on the Hestan ProBond Forged Stainless Steel Nonstick Skillet is high enough to take your breath away. That said, we can't deny this pan is exceptionally well made.

It features an exclusive TITUM nonstick coating with three layers of PFOA-free nonstick reinforced with diamond particles anchored to the pan with durable titanium plasma technology. The pan is a little on the heavy side, but the eggs moved around freely during testing, and it created one of the best omelets in the group. It also conducted heat very efficiently, heating quickly and maintaining its heat exceptionally well. If budget isn’t an issue, we have no hesitation recommending this pan.

Get the Hestan ProBond Forged Stainless Steel Nonstick Skillet from Hudson’s Bay for $279.99

6. Gotham Steel Ti-Cerama 9.5-Inch Nonstick Fry Pan

Considering its extremely low price tag, we were impressed with the Gotham Steel 9.5-Inch Nonstick Fry Pan. It was one of the lightest pans we tested, and its all-aluminum base helped it heat up very quickly.

The Ti-Cerama titanium-reinforced ceramic coating created a tremendous nonstick surface, and our omelet turned out the perfect colour with no stick at all. It certainly rivalled more expensive pans when it came to performance, but the handle was very uncomfortable, and it got hot after extended use.

The pan also had a few scratches after regular use, so we don’t expect it to last a lifetime.

Get the Gotham Steel Ti-Cerama Nonstick Fry Pan from Amazon Canada for $32.87

7. Scanpan Classic 9.5-Inch Fry Pan

This Danish-made nonstick pan features a proprietary PFOA-free ceramic titanium, making it unique amongst the PTFE pans we tested. This type of nonstick coating is said to be safe for use with metal utensils, which is typically a big no-no with nonstick pans.

Sure enough, the Scanpan Classic Fry Pan was one of the only pans to pass our scratch tests with flying colours. Visible marks were apparent after we scoured it with steel wool and scraped it with metal utensils, but none of the scratches penetrated the surface. However, it was the only pan we tested that warped when heated and placed in cold water.

During testing, the pan felt light in my hands, and its short handle made it easy to maneuver—although the handle’s plastic material did get hot after extended use. It was one of the few pans we tested that didn’t have rivets connecting the handle to the inside of the pan, making for easier cleaning. Unfortunately, the pan’s heavy base made it the slowest to preheat.

The Scanpan Classic Fry Pan is an appealing purchase, thanks to its ease of cleaning and scratch resistance. This pan could last a long time, so long as you’re careful not to expose it to extreme changes in temperature, like placing it in the sink while it’s still hot.

Get the Scanpan Classic Fry Pan from Amazon Canada for $90.91

8. Cuisinart 6422-24 10- Inch Contour Hard-Anodized Skillet

The Cuisinart Contour Hard-Anodized Skillet is a favourite on Amazon, and it’s easy to see why. The pan’s heavy weight is well balanced by a contoured handle that angles up, so it’s comfortable to hold and use. While the pan’s tall, sloped sides make it slightly harder to flip eggs, it performed well overall. It browned our pancakes a bit unevenly but returned quickly to its preheated temperature when we added room-temperature ingredients to the pan.

Overall, this pan is solidly constructed and gets the job done. It also comes with a limited lifetime warranty, which won’t cover any damage you do to the nonstick surface but will cover manufacturer defects.

Get the Cuisinart 6422-24 Contour Hard-Anodized Skillet from Wayfair Canada for $62.99

9. Anolon Advanced Home 10.25-inch Frying Pan

Anolon has been a long-standing name in nonstick cookware, so we weren’t surprised that the Anolon Advanced Home 10.25-inch Frying Pan performed well when it came to nonstick properties. The PTFE coating had no issues releasing eggs freely, and it created a beautiful pancake.

We had an issue with some of the design decisions, though. The hard-anodized aluminum was heavy, even when compared to other pans made from the same material. The edges are fluted strongly upward, too, so the cooking surface area is much smaller than pans of a similar size.

We also found small scratches around the edge of the pan after normal use, leading us to question the longevity of this pan.

Get the Anolon Advanced Home Frying Pan from Bed Bath & Beyond Canada for $72.99

10. Our Place Always Pan

In general, we like the highly sought-after Our Place Always Pan. It’s designed to replace several pots and pans to streamline storage: It has a nonstick ceramic coating, deep walls for pan-frying, a large surface area for stir-frying, and a steamer basket insert, all wrapped up in a gorgeous package. But is it a proper replacement for a nonstick frying pan? We don’t think so.

The fried eggs stuck on both sides, and the pancake had patchy colour. The water tests confirmed what we saw on the pancake: This pan might heat up quickly, but it doesn’t retain heat well. If you only have storage space for one pan, the Always Pan would work in a pinch, but it wouldn’t be our first choice for cooking eggs.

Get the Always Pan from Our Place for $145

11. Misen 10-inch Nonstick pan

We weren’t super impressed with the Misen 10-inch Nonstick pan. For starters, it was one of the heavier pans we tested, with a five-ply stainless base. It went a long way to promote even heating and good heat recovery, but it was too heavy for comfort when flipping eggs. The handle is also longer than most of the pans in the test group, throwing off the balance of the already heavy pan.

Although the pancake cooked beautifully, both the fried eggs and omelet stuck to the pan despite the PTFE coating. Since the pan was also pretty slow to heat, it fell to the bottom of our list.

Get the Misen Nonstick pan from Misen for $71

12. Tramontina Professional Restaurant 10-in. Non-stick Frypan

The Tramontina Professional Non-stick Restaurant Frypan has a long, rubber handle that is hard for me to love. While it did keep my hands away from the heat during testing, the balance and grip felt weird and uncomfortable to use.

On the flip (heh) side, the pan has an exceptional nonstick surface, producing a perfect omelet and fried eggs that flipped without clinging to the pan at all. Less sticking should mean quicker cleanup, but the handle has three rivets connecting it to the pan instead of the classic two-rivet system. While it’s not a deal-breaker, it does make the pan slightly harder to clean, forcing you to really dig your sponge into the sides.

Get the Tramontina Professional Restaurant Non-stick Frypan from Amazon Canada for $75.71

13. T-Fal E93805 Professional Non-stick 10.25 Inch Fry Pan

From one of the most well-known names in inexpensive nonstick cookware, the T-Fal Professional Nonstick Fry Pan seemed poised to perform. The pan’s claim to fame is the Thermo-spot indicator, an area of the surface that displays a solid red spot when the pan is preheated, but unfortunately, this feature didn’t work well on my gas cooktop. While it did heat up quickly, T-Fal’s nonstick abilities paled in comparison to the other pans, producing the worst omelet of the group.

The contoured silicone handle provided a nice grip, with a shape that makes flipping motions easy. The silicone material on the handle extends all the way up to the base of the pan which causes the whole handle to heat up very quickly. While I liked the pan’s shape and compatibility with induction cooktops, its performance fell disappointingly short.

Get the T-Fal E93805 Professional Non-stick 10.25 Inch Fry Pan from Amazon Canada for $41.12