We are moving away from gas en masse, including cooking. So we are switching to electric cooking, with cooking on induction being the most sustainable and safe option. But you need pans that are suitable for cooking on induction. We figured out which frying pans are best to buy.
By Siem
I myself said goodbye to my old, trusty gas cooktop. A brand new induction cooktop now sits, neatly built into the countertop, gleaming like a mirror in my kitchen. It took some getting used to. At first, many of my cast iron pans, including my old frying pan, turned out not to be suitable for cooking on induction.
With pain in my heart, I saw students using them at the King’s Day free market, after knocking off 1 or 2 euros for them. I still wanted to warn the pans of the abuse that awaited them, that’s how attached I was to them. But once I had suitable pans and got a little used to the induction cooktop, that nostalgic feeling disappeared very quickly.
Now I experience the convenience and safety on a daily basis. An induction cooktop cools down very quickly and you just wipe it clean. And the pans, I am already attached to them.
What is a good induction frying pan for you?
A good frying pan for induction should at least have a suitable bottom. Furthermore, it depends on your requirements, which induction frying pan is the best frying pan for you. Do you want one with ceramic non-stick coating?
One that can also go in the oven? An induction skillet with a lid? A small one or a large one? We list the best induction frying pans for you.
The best induction frying pan of all
Le Creuset Les Forgées
The best induction frying pan in our test, the Le Creuset Les Forgées frying pan is made of forged aluminium and has a stainless steel handle that is hollow and therefore does not overheat. The pan has been anodised on both the inside and outside, which increases its strength and extends its lifespan.
The non-stick coating is PFAS-free and remains safe even if it is accidentally scratched once. The Le Creuset Les Forgées frying pan is suitable for all heat sources and is available in various sizes. The thick bottom keeps its shape and does not warp, even on gas. The pan can go in the dishwasher, but Le Creuset itself advises against it. That’s no problem, because you clean this frying pan very easily under the tap.
Le Creuset products are made to last a lifetime. You can tell by the price, including that of this good induction frying pan.
- Available in various sizes.
- Strong and safe non-stick coating
- Bottom does not warp
- Handle does not get hot.
- Easy to clean
- High purchase price
The best buy induction frying pan
Debuyer Mineral B
The Mineral B frying pan for induction is excellent value for money. It is made of high-quality, pure steel. The pan has no non-stick coating, but a coating based on natural beeswax. This means that you have to create your own natural non-stick coating by searing the pan.
This burn-in has to be done carefully to prevent the pan from warping at high temperatures, which would make it unusable for induction cooking. That said: once it has been properly fired, this pan, which is available in various sizes, is perfect for frying and roasting. After use, simply clean it under the tap, not in the dishwasher or with washing-up liquid.
- No non-stick coating, which can be damaged or contain PFAS
- Available in various sizes
- Suitable for all heat sources, can also be used in the oven
- Easy to clean
- Excellent price/quality ratio
- The frying pan should be burnt in
The best cheap frying pan for induction
Tefal Expertise frying pan
The Tefal Expertise frying pan induction is made of aluminium, which has the Tefal Titanium Excellence non-stick coating on the inside and outside. This is so strong that you can work in it, albeit carefully, with a metal spatula. The non-stick coating contains no PFAS and you can fry and roast with it without butter or oil. Of course, this frying pan also has the famous Tefal Thermo spot, which indicates when the pan is up to temperature.
The Tefal Expertise frying pan has a strong stainless steel bottom, which does not warp. Therefore, you can use the pan on all heat sources, even in the oven up to 175 degrees. You can clean it in the dishwasher, but that is not recommended. Better just rinse it under the tap. If you do get something burnt, let the pan soak for an hour. The Tefal Expertise frying pan is available in sizes from 21 to 32 cm.
- Strong non-stick coating, PFAS-free
- Tefal Thermo-spot indicates when the pan is at temperature
- Pan is easy to handle
- Suitable for all heat sources, can go in the oven up to 175 degrees
- Easy to clean
- Available in various sizes
- Dishwasher cleaning is not recommended
The best induction frying pan with lid
Cheffinger frying pan induction
Most frying pans for induction come without a lid, whereas such a lid often comes in handy when boiling, baking and roasting. The Cheffinger induction frying pan is made of aluminium, which makes it pleasant to handle. It features a ceramic coating without PFAS. The also aluminium handle is ergonomically designed and does not get hot while frying.
You can get the Cheffinger frying pan in diameters of 24, 26 and 28 mm. The accompanying glass lid has a vent valve and can go in the dishwasher. According to the manufacturer’s statement, the pan itself can also go in there, but we recommend, like all induction frying pans, simply cleaning the frying pan under the tap, without detergent.
- Suitable for all heat sources
- Including glass lid
- Available in various sizes
- Easy to clean
- Ceramic non-stick coating
- It’s better not to put the pan in the dishwasher
The best frying pan for baking and roasting
BK Conical Deluxe frying pan
The BK Conical Deluxe frying pan is distinguished from other frying pans for on the induction hob by the special ridges in the bottom of the pan. These are ideal for searing or even grilling meat. The tri-ply body ensures even heat distribution in the pan, including in the side walls.
The hollow handle is closed, so the pan can be cleaned in the dishwasher if desired, although we recommend simply cleaning it under running water. The pan does not have a non-stick coating.
- Tri-ply body for even heat distribution without hotspots
- Profiled base for perfect roasting and grilling
- Handle does not get hot during induction cooking
- Can go in the dishwasher (although this is not recommended)
- No non-stick coating
The best large frying pan induction
Tefal Unlimited 32 cm
Do you often cook for a slightly larger party, or do you have big eaters in your family? Then the Tefal Unlimited 32 cm is the answer. You can effortlessly fry six or seven omelettes in one go. And thanks to the strong Titanium Unlimited non-stick coating, you can even do this without butter or oil. The non-stick coating is even strong enough to work with a metal spatula.
Of course, this Tefal frying pan for induction also features the Thermo spot, which indicates when the pan is hot enough to start frying. Inside the thick bottom is an extra-large Thermo-Fusion induction plate that ensures fast and even heat distribution.
What is also handy, the edges of this Tefal Unlimited frying pan are a bit higher than those of other frying pans, so you can also make sauces and stews in it. Pity about that, though, is that Tefal does not have a matching lid in the range for this pan.
- Large frying pan, diameter 32 cm
- Strong non-stick coating
- Large induction plate for even heat distribution
- High edges
- Thermospot, indicating when the pan is hot
- Easy to clean under the tap
- No Tefal lid available
The best small frying pan induction
Greenpan Cambridge 20 cm
At 20 cm in diameter, the Greenpan Cambridge 20 cm is ideal for one- or two-person households, but also an ideal frying pan ‘for on the side’. In this case, a small size does not mean that the performance of this induction frying pan is also small, quite the contrary. The ceramic non-stick coating is diamond-reinforced and therefore almost indestructible.
PFAS does not occur in it. The pan itself is made of aluminium, finished in an attractive bronze colour. You clean the pan easily under the tap, but it can also go in the dishwasher. Furthermore, it is suitable for all heat sources and can also go in the oven. The ideal pan for quickly frying a piece of meat or an egg
- Compact model of 20 cm diameter
- Suitable for all heat sources, including oven
- Strong, PFAS-free non-stick coating
- Easy to clean, also dishwasher safe
- Too small if you also want to cook for guests
The best set of two induction frying pans
Dagelijks Kost
If you have a large frying pan for induction, you occasionally miss a small one. On the contrary, if you have a small one, you sometimes miss a large frying pan. The solution is: buy a set of two frying pans. The one from Dagelijkse Kost comes highly recommended as far as we are concerned. Dagelijks Kost is a Belgian TV programme in which chef Jeroen Meus shows in a light-hearted, burgundian way how to prepare the most delicious dishes.
The pans are made by Cookware, the Belgian company behind the Greenpan collection. Like the Greenpan frying pans, those from Vlaamse Kost have the indestructible Thermolon ceramic non-stick coating. It makes the pans easy to use on all heat sources and easy to clean. What’s more, they make for healthy cooking, as you don’t need to use butter and oil much, if at all.
- Always the right size frying pan for induction at hand
- Strong Thermolon ceramic non-stick coating without PFAS
- Easy to clean
- Suitable for all heat sources, in the oven up to 200 degrees
- It is not recommended to put the pans in the dishwasher
The best dishwasher-safe induction frying pan
Demeyere Alu Pro frying pan
For the sloths among us, or rather those who spend their time efficiently: there are frying pans for induction that can go in the dishwasher. In this regard, the Demeyere Alu Pro frying pan comes highly recommended.
It is made of 7 layers, which continue to the edge of the pan. As a result, the sides also get hot, thus increasing the frying surface. Handy is the handle opposite the handle of the frying pan. This makes it easier to pick up the pan, even when it is “heavily loaded”. Not for nothing is this one of the pans you will often come across in professional catering kitchens. Unfortunately, you do pay a hefty price for all that quality.
- Dishwasher-safe
- Available in various sizes.
- Suitable for all heat sources
- Handy extra handle
- High purchase price
- No non-stick coating
The best design induction frying pan
GreenChef Vintage
For those who love nostalgia: this GreenChef Vintage frying pan looks straight out of grandmother’s kitchen, but in fact it is a modern pan of excellent quality, meeting all the requirements of our time. It has a PFAS-free ceramic non-stick coating, which is extremely strong. The thick bottom ensures good heat distribution in the pan.
And the wooden handle is not made of wood, but of a modern heat-resistant plastic with wood-grain optics. Greenchef Vintage pans are available in various sizes, from 20 cm to 28 cm. We found no downsides, but reviews on the internet make us doubt the longevity of the non-stick coating of these pans.
- Beautiful vintage design
- Available in various sizes
- Suitable for all heat sources, can also be used in the oven
- ceramic non-stick coating
- Plastic handle does not get hot on the cooker
- Energy-saving base ensures quick and even heat distribution
- Relatively cheap
- Doubts about the lifespan of the non-stick coating
The Top 10 induction skillets in a table
We know it’s hard to keep track when you’re busy looking for the best frying pan induction for you. Therefore, here is the entire top 10 conveniently arranged in a table:
Buying a frying pan induction: what should you pay attention to?
Very important when choosing a frying pan for induction is the bottom. You need to pay attention to three things:
- First, the bottom must be magnetizable, otherwise it will not work. Hold a magnet near the bottom of the pan. If it is attracted, then it is good.
- In addition, the bottom must also be thick enough so that it does not warp. A warped bottom does not make good contact with the surface of the cooktop, so your skillet will not be recognized. Choose a bottom at least 2.25 cm thick.
- Finally, the bottom must be flat, for the same reason mentioned above.
Suitable materials for the bottom of a skillet induction are sheet steel, cast iron, Tri-ply and cast aluminum.
Other things that could play a role in your choice:
- Is the size of the pan suitable for what you plan to do with it?
- Does the pan have a non-stick coating? And is it PFAS-free?
- Does the handle of the pan get hot while cooking?
- Is the pan not too heavy or too light? A heavy pan is difficult to handle and a light pan shifts easily on the stovetop.
- Can the pan go in the oven and/or dishwasher? And possibly also on other heat sources?
- Is the purchase price within your budget?
So many aspects, which we try to clarify with this top 10.
Conclusion: the best frying pan induction
Le Creuset is the premier league when it comes to pans. Not surprisingly, they are often used by professional chefs and by ambitious hobby cooks. The same goes for the frying pans of this French brand. If you can afford it and are looking for a pan that will last a lifetime, we recommend as the best induction frying pan the Le Creuset Les Forgées. If your budget is limited, we think the frying pans from Debuyer and Tefal are a good choice.
Besides quality, size also plays a role in determining your choice. A good and affordable 1- or 2-person frying pan is Greenpan Cambridge. If you often cook for 5 or 6 people, check out the Tefal Unlimited skillet. Or buy a large and a small skillet together as a set, such as the one from the Belgian TV show Dagelijkse Kost.
Frequently asked questions
A tri-ply bottom consists of three layers: a layer of aluminium sandwiched between two layers of stainless steel. The super-conductive aluminium ensures even heat distribution throughout the pan. So not only the bottom, but also the sides are heated.
They used to be. Nowadays, actually all new ceramic frying pans are PFAS-free. PFAS is a collective name for all kinds of artificial substances that repel water, dust, dirt or grease. Best known are Teflon (PTFE) and PFOA, which was widely used for non-stick coatings. Since 2020, this has been banned in the EU. By the way, you can safely use old pans that are not PFAS-free, as long as you follow the manufacturer’s instructions. The most important thing is not to let them get too hot.
Cooking on induction works with magnetism. The hob contains coils that generate a magnetic field the moment a current passes through them. The magnetic field causes an eddy current to flow through the pan. The resistance of the bottom causes the pan to heat up. This happens very quickly, which takes some getting used to when you switch to induction.
A frying pan can warp if you heat it too quickly. So start with a low setting and keep increasing it. With a little butter or oil in the pan, you will see when the pan is well heated up and you can start frying.
Warping can also occur with a cheap induction frying pan, for example a sheet steel pan, with a bottom that is too thin or with a bottom that does not have magnetisable material on the entire surface.