10 BEST INDUCTION PANS FOR EFFICIENT AND EXPERT COOKING

There is no one perfect induction pan or set of pans. The requirements in terms of number of pans, and their size, shape and weight will vary from household to household, and cook to cook, depending on the number of people being fed and the type of food being prepared.

But there are qualities that every pan should have. Ideally, the pan will have a perfectly flat base, so it achieves maximum contact with the hob, to ensure even cooking and optimum energy efficiency. The base will be thick enough to ensure ingredients won’t stick and burn, and will react quickly when you increase or decrease the heat. It will be robustly constructed, so it will last a long time. and, if it says it’s non-stick, surely nothing will stick to the surface.

Happily, our testing showed that there are lots of options at different price points that meet all of those requirements. However, the old saying that ‘you get what you pay for’ holds true with induction pans. In our experience, pans with higher price points, made from high-quality 18/10 stainless steel or enamelled cast iron, were generally more robustly constructed and likely to outlast lower-priced options.

We were very pleasantly surprised by the aluminium pans we tested, which had the advantage of being particularly lightweight, too (it’s worth noting that not all aluminium pans work on induction hobs, and need either a magnetised base or a layer of iron in the base to work with the technology, so always check product details before you buy).

There is a continuing debate around non-stick pans and the presence of potentially harmful PFOA and PFAS chemicals in the coating, although it appears that the jury is still out on the matter. However, many brands are now proudly stating that their pans are PFOA and PFAS free, so it’s worth doing some research before you buy. There is also competition between Teflon and ceramic coatings, as to which is the most effective and durable. Although our favourite non-stick pan in this review was ceramic coated, all of the non-stick pans we tested performed very well, so the choice may come down simply to personal preference. 

How we tested

We cooked with all the pans several times, to see how well they performed in terms of even heat distribution, versatility (including if they were oven safe), ease, comfort of handling and, if applicable, how well its non-stick coating performed. We assessed them in terms of the robustness of their construction, their weight and how easy they were to store (for the pan sets, we judged them on if they stackable or not). We also hand washed every pan, to assess how easy they were to clean, as well as if they were dishwasher safe.

The best induction pans for 2023 are:

  • Best overall – Stellar induction 28cm frying pan, non-stick: £75, Stellar.co.uk 
  • Best non-stick pan – GreenPan Barcelona pro 18cm saucepan with lid: £90, Fenwick.co.uk
  • Best budget pan – Swan retro five-piece pan set: £79.99, Shop.swan-brand.co.uk 
  • Best cast-iron – STAUB 25cm tomato cast iron cocotte: £289, Zwilling.com 
  • Best design-led pan – Smeg 24cm casserole pan: £129.95, Smeguk.com
  • Best family pan – Kuhn Rikon allround cookware five-piece set: £284.95, Kuhnrikon.co.uk 
  • Best for aspiring MasterChefs – Saveur Selects voyage series tri-ply chef’s pan with insulated lid, 21cm: £100, Buymeonce.com
  • Best uncoated pan – Zwilling simplify five-piece stainless steel pot set, silver: £349, Zwilling.com
  • Best versatile pan – Our Place always pan: £130, Fromourplace.co.uk 
  • Best durable pan - Zyliss cook ultimate non-stick three-piece set: £135, Zyliss.co.uk

Stellar induction 28cm frying pan, non-stick

This roomy pan became our first choice for so many different reasons during the testing process that we just had to pick it as our all-round favourite. Whether it was a Saturday morning fry up with beautifully crispy bacon, nicely browned sausages and eggs that just slid off the pan, a mid-week meal of crispy-skinned chicken thighs, or a Friday night treat of perfectly cooked steaks, the Stellar did the job.

The 18/10 stainless steel construction, triple layered Teflon coating (free of potentially harmful PFOA chemicals) and thick ‘hot forged’ base delivered even heat and a premium feel beyond the price point. The silicon soft grip stay-cool handle felt good to hold and enabled safe transfer from hob to oven (the pan is safe up to 180°C).  At 7cm high, the pan has enough depth to make it suitable for paella or a ragu, too. The non-stick coating made the pan especially easy to clean by hand, but it can also go in the dishwasher. With a 10-year guarantee, we expect the Stellar to be our go to pan foryears to come. 

Buy now £75.00, Stellar.co.uk

GreenPan Barcelona pro 18cm saucepan with lid

The non-stick coating of this smart looking pan is so smooth and effective that it should probably come with a hazard warning, at least for the ingredients that slip and slide over its mirror-like surface. Green Pan is rightfully proud of what it calls its ‘Thermolon Infinity Professional ceramic non-stick coating’ which is free from PFAS chemicals that are potentially harmful to the environment. It’s also scratch resistant and extremely easy to clean. 

At 5mm thick, the aluminium and stainless-steel constructed pan felt pleasingly weighty and robust, yet easy to handle and heated up evenly and efficiently. The 2.1l pan and glass lid are oven safe up to 200°C making the pan perfect for starting a stew on the hob and finishing off in the oven.

Buy now £90.00, Fenwick.co.uk

Swan retro five-piece pan set

If you’re looking for great value but don’t want to sacrifice on style, this 1950s inspired pan set fits the bill. With their retro ribbed design, the 16cm, 18cm and 20cm saucepans and 20cm and 28cm frying pans looked great and performed beyond their relatively low price point. The ceramic non-stick coating worked like a dream, too.

We particularly loved the 28cm frying pan which produced beautifully crispy bacon and was the perfect size and shape for a family-sized chorizo frittata that just slid out of the pan onto the plate. We used the saucepans for everything from boiling potatoes (the tempered glass lids meant we could cover the pan to bring it up to temperature quickly, while keeping an eye on things to ensure it didn’t boil over), to making a spicy tomato sauce and found that they heated quickly and evenly and were responsive to changes in temperature.

On the downside, the pans are not oven proof or dishwasher proof, although they were very easy to clean by hand. The pressed aluminium construction may not be quite as robust and durable as the other more expensive pans reviewed and the Bakelite handles, though nicely designed and comfortable to use, looked less than premium (we also found that we needed to use a cloth to safely lift the lids as the lid handles became hot after a while). However, we thoroughly enjoyed cooking with the set that met our everyday cooking needs with ease.

Buy now £79.99, Shop.swan-brand.co.uk

STAUB 25cm tomato cast iron cocotte

A pot in the shape of a giant cherry red, beefsteak tomato might not sound like the most sensible addition to your kitchen, but hear us out. Yes, it’s a head turning piece of cookware that will look fabulous on your dinner table, but it’s practical too. The cast iron construction is not only hard wearing and scratch resistant, but can be heated to high temperatures which allowed us to achieve a great sear on some lamb for a curry. Once the snug fitting lid was on (we loved the stalk-shaped handle) and the heat reduced, the cocotte retained an even all-round heat and sealed in the juices and aromas to produce a fantastic end result. We got even better results finishing a stew off in the oven (the cocotte is safe to use up to 260°C) and the 2.5l capacity meant we could cook for a crowd.

Although the cocotte is dishwasher safe, it does take up a lot of room, so we preferred to hand wash it, and it took little effort to get it looking pristine again. The only downside is that the cocotte is so enjoyable to use that you may only ever cook stews, casseroles and braises, but a lifetime of delicious, easy to prepare and economical dishes doesn’t sound too bad to us.

Buy now £289.00, Zwilling.com

Smeg 24cm casserole pan

Bring some Italian style into your kitchen with this eye-catching Art Deco-ish retro casserole. Also available in red or black, we particularly liked the classy cream finish. But it’s not just about the good looks, this is a high quality and highly useful piece of kitchen kit. Constructed from aluminium, the casserole feels light, but the multi-layered thickened base ensured fast and even heat distribution. The non-stick coating worked a treat and we hardly needed to add any oil when browning meat.

Heat resistant up to 250°C, the casserole is perfect for its traditional use of slow cooked stews and braises that you can start on the hob and finish in the oven (the easy-to-grip double handles make transferring the pan safe and simple). But the rounded bowl design and roomy 4.6l capacity made it ideal for stir frying too, and we’d happily cook a risotto in it or use it to boil or blanch vegetables.

We loved the tempered glass lid so we could keep an eye on the food while it was cooking, as well as how easy the whole thing was to clean; the pan is dishwasher safe but was no chore to hand wash. We also tried the 26cm/ 7.7l version which was more pan than we needed, but it would suit a large family that needs to cook up big pots of pasta or vegetables on the regular. Although the pan is relatively expensive, it’s both covetable and practical, so well worth the investment.

Buy now £129.95, Smeguk.com

Kuhn Rikon allround cookware five-piece set

If you’re looking for a high-quality pan set to cover all your everyday cooking needs, then look no further. With 16cm/1.5l, 18cm/2.3l and 20cm/3l saucepans available with glass lids; a 24cm non-stick frying pan and 16cm/1.5l non-stick milk pan, you’re all set to boil some veg or rice, heat up a tin of beans, cook a chilli, and fry sausages amongst dozens of other jobs. The pans will last the distance, too.

Made from durable and rust resistant 18/10 stainless steel with thick encapsulated bases that ensure even heat distribution, the pans look and feel premium. Design aspects like each pan’s curved, stay-cool ergonomic handles that are easy to grip; accompanied by snug fitting vented glass lids that allowed for monitoring of the cooking process, and the rounded edge that aided the pouring of a sauce or draining liquid all added to the pleasure of cooking. Oven safe up to 240°C, dishwasher safe and stackable for ease of storage, this set is an asset to any family kitchen. 

Buy now £284.95, Kuhnrikon.co.uk

Saveur Selects voyage series tri-ply chef’s pan with insulated lid, 21cm

The more we cooked with this versatile pan, the more we loved its thoughtful design.  The curved bottom not only looked great, but meant there were no corners to navigate with a spoon or spatula when moving ingredients around the pan. Its flared rim made pouring soup into a bowl or draining water from boiled vegetables easy, and also aided evaporation, making the pan perfect for reducing sauces. Conversely, the double-walled lid was extremely efficient at trapping moisture so that the pan came to a boil quickly and both the flavours and aromas of slow simmered dishes were kept in the food; this was aided by a series of condensation drip rings in the underside of the lid that distributed the condensation evenly.

The high quality 18/10 stainless steel with aluminium core construction (oven safe up to 260˚C) ensured fast and even heat distribution and made everything from cooking risotto, to sauteing spinach and boiling up spuds a joy. We loved the rivet-less construction and couldn’t imagine the textured, stay cool handle coming loose any time soon. Although the pan is dishwasher safe, we followed the manufacturer’s recommendation and washed it carefully by hand, getting an as-new result each time with little effort.

We only had two slight criticisms. Firstly, the solid lid meant we were cooking ‘blind’ when it was in place and needed to pay close attention to ensure the pan didn’t boil over; a glass lid would have been our first choice.  Secondly, we noticed that the stay-cool handles did begin to warm up after a few minutes of cooking time, although we were still able to handle them with our bare hands. However, the pan’s use and care instructions include a caution saying that ‘your cookware, handles and lid will be HOT during and after use. Always use a dry towel when lifting or removing your cookware,’ so it may be sensible to err on the side of caution. Nevertheless, we can easily see this becoming a firm kitchen favourite.

Buy now £100.00, Buymeonce.com

Zwilling simplify five-piece stainless steel pot set, silver

If you’re a busy home cook that always has something simmering on the stove, look no further than this high-quality pot set that has you covered for every eventuality. The 24cm/ 6l stock pot is ideal for stock making of course, but also for cooking pasta or boiling up a big batch of potatoes to be roasted for Sunday lunch. At the other extreme, the 16cm/ 1.5l saucepan was perfect for hard boiled eggs. The three medium sized pots, billed as two ‘stock pots’ at 16cm/ 2l and 20cm/ 3.5l, and one ‘stew pot’ coming in at 20cm/3l (no, we’re not sure what the difference is, either) came in handy for everything from soup making to heating up noodles.

The high quality 18/10 stainless steel construction was surprisingly light and gave the pans a premium feel. The multi-layered sandwich base with an aluminium core did a great job of heating quickly and evenly and retaining the heat, meaning we used a lower heat setting. The mirror finish means it’s easy to see what’s going on inside the pan. The stay cool, soft touch silicone handles were nice to use, felt secure and aided grip. The off-set wing-like lid handles not only looked stylish and unique, but also meant the lid could be slotted into one of the handles during cooking, thereby avoiding having to place it on the countertop.

The silicone edged lids fitted snugly which helped things come up to boil quickly and the integrated sieve was effective, obviating the need for a colander - though the pan was a little on the slow side to drain. The pots are oven safe up to 180°C, and therefore ideal for braised dishes. They’re also dishwasher safe, but were quick and easy enough to clean by hand. The only downside was that not all the pans stack inside each other, and we ended up with two separate stacks which may be an issue if cupboard space is at a premium in your kitchen.

Although this Zwilling pot set is currently out of stock online, alternative stainless steel sets are available on the website and you are able to sign up for email restock notifications.

Buy now £349.00, Zwilling.com

Our Place always pan

The makers claim this stylish pan will replace ‘eight pieces of traditional cookware’. That’s a bit of a stretch as the Always Pan is basically a high-sided frying pan with lid and steamer basket insert. But it’s true that it’s versatile, handling various cooking methods demanded by a Spanish-style pork and butter bean stew with ease. The non-toxic, non-stick enamel coating is so effective that we only needed a teaspoon of oil to fry off some diced pork belly to a good sear, with the pan heating up quickly and evenly. Lowering the heat, onions, chillies and peppers sweated nicely with some paprika, without sticking. The 2.46l capacity meant we could just add in the tomatoes, stock and butter beans and let it simmer away with the well-fitting lid effectively sealing in all the aromas and juices.

It does have its limitations, however. While the aluminium construction makes the pan light (1.36kg) and easy to handle, it does mean that it’s best used over low to medium heat in order to protect the non-stick coating. Although the manufacturers say that ‘the occasional sear is totally fine’ this won’t necessarily be your go to pan for steaks and chops. It’s not oven proof either which means braised dishes will have to be cooked on the hob and you will have to hand wash your Always Pan too, as it’s not dishwasher safe, but it took very little elbow grease to get it clean.

However, we loved the matt finish, and the fact that it was available in a range of nine distinctive colours including our favourite, blue salt. The supplied wooden spatula can also be rested on the pan’s sturdy and comfortable stay-cool handle, eliminating the need for a separate spoon rest. It may be a little on the expensive side, but the Always Pan is as much a pleasure to cook with as it is to look at, and would be a welcome and useful addition to any keen cook’s collection.

Buy now £130.00, Fromourplace.co.uk

Zyliss cook ultimate non-stick three-piece set

If you’re looking to cut down the amount of oil and fat you cook with, this set of rugged, hard-wearing pans is the perfect solution. The unusual ball-blasted interior has a rough and uneven three-layer coating which the manufacturers claim allows fats to accumulate away from the food for a healthier result. Although running a cooking utensil over the cratered surface felt strange at first (the coating is so robust you can even use metal utensils), we soon got used to the sensation.

We only needed a tiny drop of oil to sweat some chopped onions, which cooked quickly and evenly in the heavy aluminium-based pan. The silicon coated ergonomic handles were extremely comfortable to use and the pans felt so solidly constructed that we could imagine them outlasting their 10-year guarantee. Add in a securely fitting glass lid and the fact that the pans are both oven and dishwasher safe and you have a lot of bang for a reasonable amount of buck.   

Buy now £135.00, Zyliss.co.uk

The verdict: Induction pans

With such a strong selection to choose from, picking an overall winner wasn’t easy, but the Stellar induction 28cm frying pan met all the criteria of a great piece of induction cookware we were looking for in terms of practicality, performance and durability, and all at a price that doesn’t break the bank. We also really enjoyed cooking with the excellent value Swan retro five-piece pan set, which offered bags of both style and value.

Any home cook needs a decent set of pans to get them going – these are the best tried-and-tested saucepans

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2022-09-13T15:24:41Z dg43tfdfdgfd