Under $60

The Cuisinart MultiClad Pro Stainless 12″ Skillet with Helper Handle was our former runner-up pick in this guide. However, upon further evaluation we found that the pan warped badly over high heat. The bottom of the pan bowed out so much, it wobbled on a flat surface. We tested multiple skillets to be sure we didn’t get a lemon, but all of them suffered the same fate. Although the pans were still usable after warping, their damage voids the warranty. The Cuisinart manual says to never use the cookware over high heat, recommending instead, “a low to medium setting for most cooking.” Many cookware manufacturers have the same recommendation, but our picks haven’t warped like the Cuisinart, even after years of cooking over high heat.

The rivets weren’t secure on the Cooks Standard 12-Inch Multi-Ply Clad Stainless Steel Fry Pan with Dome Lid, which caused the handle to wiggle. The pan also discolored in our tests, so we dismissed it.

The IKEA Sensuell 13-inch Frying Pan weighs a whopping 5 pounds, which was too heavy to lift while sautéing. The pan takes a long time to heat up and the silicone grip on the underside of the handle has ridges that trap grit.

The five-ply Calphalon Signature Stainless Steel 12-in. Omelette Pan had a drastic 90-degree temperature difference between the hottest and coldest parts of the pan, and the patina it developed after two uses was impossible for us to scrub off.

The Calphalon Tri-Ply Stainless Steel 12-in. Omelette Pan was a mediocre performer next to our top pick, registering a 70-degree temperature difference in hot and cold spots.

$60 to $100

The Made In 12-inch Frying Pan did well in our tests. However, most of our testers found the handle on the skillet to be slightly low, preferring the higher angle of the handles on our picks. At the time of our testing, the Made In Frying Pan had cooking instructions etched on the bottom of it, which we felt was a bit cheesy, especially if you plan to hang it on a wall (and not particularly helpful while you’re using the pan). However, according to the representative we spoke to, Made In stopped producing cookware with these etchings beginning in 2018.

Great Jones makes a hybrid deep skillet and sauté pan called the Deep Cut. However, after we tested their saucepan, the Great Jones Saucy, for our guide to the best small saucepan, we found the loop-shaped handle uncomfortable to hold, so we dismissed it.

We didn’t test the Brigade Kitchen stainless steel and aluminum skillet due to its 5-ply construction, which we’ve learned from previous tests typically takes several minutes longer to heat.

We liked the Kitchenaid Tri-Ply Stainless Steel 12″ Skillet, but it didn’t heat as evenly as our picks. Some of our testers found the handle to be a little too low. However, we think it would make an affordable rivetless alternative to the Demeyere 5-Plus, which costs significantly more.

The OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Pro 12 Inch Open Frypan has a rounded handle that’s comfortable to hold, but it didn’t heat as evenly as our picks.

With its anodized-aluminum exterior, the Cuisinart MultiClad Unlimited 12″ Skillet With Helper Handle & Cover is a decent heat conductor. However, we find stainless steel to be far easier to clean.

Because the affordable Viking Contemporary 12″ Fry Pan discolored severely the first time we heated it, we had to disqualify it early on. The sharply angled handle made control and handling difficult, as well.

$100 to $200

The Williams-Sonoma Signature Thermo-Clad Stainless-Steel Fry Pan has a small cooking surface and a very long handle, which we found awkward—especially on a crowded range. At 3 pounds 14.8 ounces, the Signature Thermo-Clad pan was a bit hefty for some of our testers.

The Viking 3-Ply Stainless Steel 12″ Fry Pan has a comfortable weight, but it concentrated heat mostly in the center of the pan.

The Demeyere Industry 5 12.5-inch Stainless Steel Skillet took twice as long as our picks did to heat up. At just over 4 pounds, this pan was also too heavy for some of our testers.

The Breville Thermal Pro Clad Stainless Steel 12.5″ Skillet is a behemoth that weighs almost 5 pounds. It’s fully clad and has an added disk of steel welded to the bottom. We found in our heat-retention tests that it held onto heat a little too well, offering poor temperature control. Charlyne Mattox, cookbook author and food and crafts director at Country Living, specifically mentioned the Breville during her interview with us, saying it got too hot for her liking.

We opted not to test the copper-core Material Kitchen skillet since we’ve ruled out 5-ply pans after our previous tests showed how consistently slow they are to heat.

Since the Potluck cookware is sold only as part of set, we didn’t include it in this guide. Also, the set includes only a 10-inch skillet, which is smaller than the Tramontina and All-Clad pans we recommend.

We were able to rule out the Misen 12-inch skillet after testing the Misen 3QT Saucier in our guide to the best small saucepan. Its five-ply construction made the pan slower to heat up, and its tubular handle was hard to hold onto. We’ve also watched this skillet go in and out of stock.

$200 and up

The exorbitantly priced Hestan NanoBond 12.5″ Open Skillet (it cost a whopping $400 at the time of our testing) concentrated heat in the center of the pan. Our picks performed better at a fraction of the price.

The Hestan 12.5” Probond Forged Stainless Steel Skillet heated almost as evenly as the All-Clad skillet, and retained heat well, but it discolored and warped the first time we used it. We expect more from a $230 pan. We also found the slightly higher angle of the handle less comfortable to hold than the All-Clad’s handle. Additionally, the Hestan Probond skillet is over a pound heavier than the All-Clad skillet, which made it more cumbersome to lift.