Photo: Calphalon
A stir fry pan is a new kind of wok, which is westernized to better fit into the cooking style of western kitchens.
A stir fry pan is typically a little smaller than a standard wok, and it will additionally feature a flat bottom to make it compatible with gas and electric ranges, such as you would find in a western kitchen.
Different manufacturers make their pans using different materials and different dimensions, creating a range of offers that can easily overwhelm any first-time buyer.
This stir fry pans review aims to make this choice easier by providing you with a list of the top offers in the market, plus an insightful buying guide that shows you what to watch out for.
In this post:
- 10 Best Stir Fry Pans – Review
- 1. Calphalon Stir Fry Pan – Stylish & Durable with an Aluminum Core
- 2. TeChef Stir Fry Pan – Lightweight Aluminum Pan with an Oil Measure
- 3. Cook N Home Stir Fry Pan – Low-Priced Offer for the Budget Shopper
- 4. Rachael Ray Stir Fry Pan – Modern Stir Fry Pan with Refreshing Handles
- 5. Circulon Non-Stick Stir Fry Pan – Contemporary Black Anodized-Aluminum Design
- 6. Bialetti Aeternum 7193 – Lovely Italian Cookware for Lovers of Style
- 7. Cooks Standard 02595 – 18/10 Stainless Steel Construction with Oven Safe Glass Lid
- 8. Cooks Standard Classic – Perfect Pan for Lovers of Classic Design
- 9. Cuisinart 626-32H – Hard Anodized Chef’s Pan with Quantanium Non-Stick Interior
- 10. Michelangelo 13.5-Inch Wok – The Largest Non-Stick Stir Fry Pan
- How to Buy the Best Stir Fry Pans
- Conclusion
10 Best Stir Fry Pans – Review
IMAGE | PRODUCT | FEATURES | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | 1. Calphalon Stir Fry Pan (Stylish & Durable with Aluminum Core) |
| |
 | 2. TeChef Stir Fry Pan (Lightweight Aluminum Pan with Oil Measure) |
| |
 | 3. Cook N Home Stir Fry Pan (Low-Priced for Budget Shopper) |
| |
 | 4. Rachael Ray Stir Fry Pan (Modern Pan with Refreshing Handles) |
| |
 | 5. Circulon Non-Stick Stir Fry Pan (Contemporary Black Anodized-Aluminum Design) |
| |
 | 6. Bialetti Aeternum 7193 (Lovely Italian Cookware for Lovers of Style) |
| |
 | 7. Cooks Standard 02595 (18/10 Stainless Steel Construction with Oven Safe Glass Lid) |
| |
 | 8. Cooks Standard Classic (Perfect Pan for Lovers of Classic Design) |
| |
 | 9. Cuisinart 626-32H (Hard Anodized Chef’s Pan with Quantanium Non-Stick Interior) |
| |
 | 10. Michelangelo 13.5-Inch Wok (Largest Non-Stick Pan) |
|
PRODUCT |
|---|
1. Calphalon Stir Fry Pan (Stylish & Durable with Aluminum Core)
|
2. TeChef Stir Fry Pan (Lightweight Aluminum Pan with Oil Measure)
|
3. Cook N Home Stir Fry Pan (Low-Priced for Budget Shopper)
|
4. Rachael Ray Stir Fry Pan (Modern Pan with Refreshing Handles)
|
5. Circulon Non-Stick Stir Fry Pan (Contemporary Black Anodized-Aluminum Design)
|
6. Bialetti Aeternum 7193 (Lovely Italian Cookware for Lovers of Style)
|
7. Cooks Standard 02595 (18/10 Stainless Steel Construction with Oven Safe Glass Lid)
|
8. Cooks Standard Classic (Perfect Pan for Lovers of Classic Design)
|
9. Cuisinart 626-32H (Hard Anodized Chef’s Pan with Quantanium Non-Stick Interior)
|
10. Michelangelo 13.5-Inch Wok (Largest Non-Stick Pan)
|
1. Calphalon Stir Fry Pan – Stylish & Durable with an Aluminum Core
Photo: Calphalon
- Size: 12 inches
- Material: Stainless steel and aluminum
- Weight: 7.8 pounds
Few materials are as food-safe as stainless steel. This stir fry pan from Calphalon features two stainless steel layers that sandwich an aluminum core to create a truly high-quality and dependable stir fry pan.
The aluminum helps to distribute the heat more evenly, while the exterior features an elegantly brushed stainless steel finish that both looks good on the stove and on the table.
For the interior, you also get a stainless steel layer that provides a healthy cooking surface, which is suitable for all kinds of cooking utensils.
This package also includes a tempered glass lid that’s both oven and dishwasher safe, allowing you to peek into your food without lifting the lid. Calphalon then backs the entire package with a lifetime warranty
Pros:
- Made from stainless steel for a long service life
- Includes a heavy-gauge aluminum core for even heating
- Dishwasher and oven safe pan
- Package includes a tempered glass lid
- It comes backed by a manufacturer’s lifetime warranty
Cons:
- It’s a relatively heavy stir fry pan
- This pan is costly but it’s definitely worth its price
2. TeChef Stir Fry Pan – Lightweight Aluminum Pan with an Oil Measure
Photo: TeChef
- Size: 12 inches
- Material: Aluminum
- Weight: 3 pounds
For nearly $50 less than the previous stainless steel pan’s price, you could get this top-rated stir fry pan that’s made of aluminum and is also 12 inches wide.
It comes with a 5-layer coating of PFOA-free Teflon, making it entirely safe for cooking. There’s also a pattern on the base of the pan to help you know exactly how little oil to use for healthier cooking.
Teflon coatings are still not as good as stainless steel, so you need to watch which utensil you use on this pan to avoid scratching it. Another disadvantage is that it’s not an oven safe pan.
On the brighter side, it’s an induction-ready pan, it’s Teflon coating lasts longer than most ceramic pans, and it’s backed by a solid lifetime warranty.
Pros:
- Lightweight and stylishly designed aluminum pan
- Features a high-quality and PFOA-free Teflon coating
- includes a measuring pattern for just the right amount of oil
- Offered at an attractive price
Cons:
- It can’t withstand all types of utensils
- This stir fry pan is not oven safe
3. Cook N Home Stir Fry Pan – Low-Priced Offer for the Budget Shopper
Photo: Cook N Home
- Size: 12 inches
- Material: Aluminum
- Weight: 3.3 pounds
Here’s one of the best stir fry pans for those on a budget. It’s well-made and offered at a good price. Being made from aluminum also makes it lightweight at just 3.3 pounds.
The aluminum construction is, however, heavy-gauge enough to evenly distribute heat and prevent hot spots, which might overcook or burn your food.
It features a non-stick coating for healthier cooking with little oil and this interior has a marble design that simply looks good, while the exterior is green.
You get a plastic, stay cool handles and this pan works on all cookers including electric, gas, ceramic cookers. Although it’s not oven safe, it’s dishwasher safe, but hand-washing is the recommended method.
Pros:
- Heavy-gauge aluminum stir fry pan
- Features a non-stick coating with marble pattern
- Works on all cooker types except induction cookers
- Offered at a low and attractive price
Cons:
- It’s not oven safe
- The package does not include a lid
- Over-heating can damage its non-stick coating
4. Rachael Ray Stir Fry Pan – Modern Stir Fry Pan with Refreshing Handles
Photo: Rachael Ray
- Size: 11 inches
- Material: Anodized aluminum
- Weight: 3.6 pounds
Racheal Ray is a lovely brand that offers you both style and functionality in the same item, as this hard-anodized non-stick fry pan proves. It’s very functional, but still very stylish and lovely.
You get a non-stick coating in the interior and a glass lid to top it off. Both the glass lid and the pan come with special handles, which make this stir fry pan really stand out from the rest.
Both handles are practically stainless steel handles, but they additionally come with a silicone coating for comfort and pure stay-cool functionality, while looking absolutely cool in their Agave Blue colors.
The pan is oven safe up to 400 degrees F and works on all stove-tops except induction. It measures only 11 inches, however, and is ideal for those on the search for the smallest stir fry pans. Rachael Ray backs it with a lifetime warranty.
Pros:
- Made using hard-anodized aluminum
- Lovely silicone-coated stainless steel handles
- Oven safe pan up to 500 degrees F
- Comes with a lifetime warranty from Rachael Ray
Cons:
- There are cheaper offers
- It’s only 11 inches wide
- Not an induction-ready pan
5. Circulon Non-Stick Stir Fry Pan – Contemporary Black Anodized-Aluminum Design
Photo: Circulon
- Size: 12 inches
- Material: Anodized aluminum
- Weight: 3 pounds
When you’re searching for the best electric stir fry pan, then you can never go wrong with a hard-anodized aluminum pan because aluminum is one of the top materials for manufacturing pans, due to its high level of heat transfer.
With a hard-anodized aluminum pan, you won’t get any of the problems of cooking with natural aluminum, such as leaching. You’ll, however, enjoy the fast and even heating properties of aluminum.
Its design is classic and yet contemporary. The fully black pan gets accented by a stainless steel handle covered in black silicone for safe, slip-free grips.
This pan is oven safe up to 400 degrees F and features a unique High-Low wave technology that makes ridges inside the pan to complement its non-stick coating.
Pros:
- Made from heavy-gauge hard-anodized aluminum
- Includes a stylish stainless steel and silicone handle
- Features 3 layers of non-stick coating
- Oven safe pan up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit
Cons:
- The package doesn’t include a lid
- Everyone might not like its fully black design
6. Bialetti Aeternum 7193 – Lovely Italian Cookware for Lovers of Style
Photo: Bialetti
- Size: 11 inches
- Material: Aluminized steel
- Weight: 2.1 pounds
If you like stylish stuff and an 11-inch pan isn’t too small for you, then you might like this stir fry pan from Bialetti. It’s part of Bialetti’s Aeternum series with a white ceramic coating and beautifully red exterior finish.
At the core is a 3.3-mm gauge aluminized steel, which guarantees fast and even heating of the pan, as well as long and reliable service life.
The handle is Phenolic, and it comes in bright red just like the pan itself. It’s a stay-cool and comfortable handle, but it doesn’t handle heat as well as silicone, so this pan is not oven safe.
Another downside is that sharp metal utensils can easily damage the ceramic coating, but on the brighter side, it’s a PTFE and PFOA-free non-stick coating, making this pan both very nice and very healthy.
Pros:
- Very beautifully made stir fry pan
- Uses a heavy-gauge aluminum core
- Features a ceramic non-stick coating
- Also available in other sizes
Cons:
- It can’t withstand sharp utensils
- This pan doesn’t come with a lid
- Not oven safe
7. Cooks Standard 02595 – 18/10 Stainless Steel Construction with Oven Safe Glass Lid
Photo: Cooks Standard
- Size: 12 inches
- Material: Stainless steel
- Weight: 7.95 pounds
Stainless steel pans offer you a design that’s closest to the best Chinese stir fry pans. With a stainless steel pan, you can cook with an ease of mind, knowing that you’re working with the best food-safe material.
If the previous stainless steel stir fry pan offer is a little too costly for you, then you may want to consider this Cooks Standard offer. It’s made from 18/10 stainless steel and comes with a tempered glass lid.
The pan and the glass lid are both dishwasher and oven safe. The lid can withstand temperatures up to 350 degrees F, while the pan itself can withstand up to 500 degrees F.
Other advantages of stainless steel include ease of use, withstanding sharp metal utensils, and being compatible with all types of stove-tops, including induction cookers.
Pros:
- Aluminum core and stainless steel layers construction
- Made from high-quality 18/10 stainless steel
- Works on all stove-tops including induction cookers
- Oven safe to 500 degress F and up to 350 degress F for the glass lid
Cons:
- It’s expensive compared to the others
- With 8 pounds, it’s also heavier than most other pans
8. Cooks Standard Classic – Perfect Pan for Lovers of Classic Design
Photo: Cooks Standard
- Size: 12 inches
- Material: Stainless steel
- Weight: 5.3 pounds
Unlike most pans in this review that come with one standard handle and maybe a second helper handle, this Cooks Standard classic stir fry pan comes with two helper handles to give it that classic look.
The entire construction is from 18/10 stainless steel, with an aluminum layer sandwiched between two stainless steel layers to make the pan highly responsive to heat.
You also get a tempered glass lid that’s oven-safe up to 350 degrees F, while the pan itself can withstand temperatures up to 500 degrees F.
It’s dishwasher safe and will work on all cooktops, including electric, gas, glass ceramic, halogen, and induction cookers.
Pros:
- Made of quality and durable 18/10 stainless steel
- Includes an inner aluminum layer for even heat distribution
- Dishwasher and oven safe up to 500 degrees F
- Induction cooker ready
Cons:
- It lacks the standard long handles
- Stainless steel makes it heavier than other pans
9. Cuisinart 626-32H – Hard Anodized Chef’s Pan with Quantanium Non-Stick Interior
Photo: Cuisinart
- Size: 12.5 inches
- Material: Anodized aluminum
- Weight: 8.2 pounds
This Cuisinart Chef’s Classic hard-anodized aluminum pan is one of the best stir fry pans in the market when you compare manufacturing materials because hard-anodized aluminum is even harder than stainless steel.
In addition, the package includes a glass lid and stainless steel handles. It also includes what Cuisinart calls a quantanium non-stick interior, and while quantanium sounds good to the ears, no one can really say how food-safe it is.
This pan is also the second widest in this review with its 12.5-inch diameter. It’s also 4.5 inches deep and weighs about 8 pounds. So, if it’s a large stir fry pan that you want, then this offer might do it for you.
Pros:
- Large 12.5-inch wide Chef’s classic stir fry pan
- Made from hard anodized aluminum
- Includes a glass lid in the package
- Backed by a manufacturer’s lifetime warranty
Cons:
- Being made from aluminum, it’s not induction ready
- It’s a heavy pan
10. Michelangelo 13.5-Inch Wok – The Largest Non-Stick Stir Fry Pan
Photo: Michelangelo
- Size: 13.5 inches
- Material: Aluminum
- Weight: 6.6 pounds
For those who want the ultimate stir fry pan, this Michelangelo offer is probably what you need. As the largest pan in this review, it measures 13.5 inches across and weighs nearly 7 pounds.
It’s made from aluminum, which is then coated with titanium enforced ceramic non-stick coating to make it very scratch resistant.
Michelangelo also adds an induction plate in the bottom to make it induction-cooker ready, which many aluminum pans are not.
The pan is oven safe, includes a tempered glass lid, stainless steel handles, and Michelangelo backs it with a lifetime warranty.
Pros:
- Large 13.5-inch pan for large groups or families
- Features a titanium-enforced ceramic non-stick coating
- Includes stainless steel handles and a glass lid
- Backed by Michelangelo’s lifetime warranty
Cons:
- It’s too large for 1 or 2 persons
- There are cheaper offers
How to Buy the Best Stir Fry Pans
Photo: Michelangelo
If you think that a stir fry pan is just a stir fry pan, then you need to think again because there are so many differences, sizes, and designs, that there’s almost a perfect stir fry pan for each of us.
Following are the important aspects that you’ll need to consider when making your choice.
1. Weight & Size
For your convenience, you’ll need to consider the size and the weight of each pan that you’re about to buy because these factors can greatly affect your cooking.
You’ll want to choose a pan that’s between 10 and 12 inches wide for everyday cooking, but if you need to cook for a large group of friends or family, then a 13-inch or above pan will do the job.
The pan’s weight depends on the material that it’s made from. For instance, cast iron is heavier than stainless steel, which in turn, is heavier than aluminum. Let’s take a closer look.
2. Construction Material
You’ll find stir fry pans made from many materials and which offer different characteristics as well. Aluminum, for instance, responds to and distributes heat very well, while stainless steel needs more time to heat up, but holds the temperature longer.
Some pans will include an aluminum core with a stainless steel coating because aluminum reacts with food and often changes its taste. A stainless steel pan, however, doesn’t need a non-stick coating.
3. Non-Stick Coating
Burning food tends to stick to most metals, so manufacturers came up with the non-stick coating, which prevents food from burning and sticking to the pan.
The disadvantage is that you can’t brown meat or vegetables in a non-stick pan. Some coatings also contain harmful materials, so while a non-stick coating will make your life easier, also make sure that it’s PFOA-free.
4. The Handle
You’ll find many kinds of handles, from plastic to wooden and even stainless steel ones. Of all these materials, wooden handles offer the best grip and stay cool while cooking, but they are often not oven or dishwasher safe.
Stainless steel handles are often riveted to the pan and stay relatively cool, as well as strong. They can withstand high heat and are often oven safe.
You may also find metal handles that get covered in modern heat-resistant and comfortable materials. They often look great but remember that each design has its advantages and disadvantages.
5. The Lid
Traditional woks came without lids, but you’ll find most stir fry pans offering a lid as part of the package. Of course, it’s a welcome development and if it’s a glass lid, then even better.
6. Heat Response & Distribution
Different materials have different characteristics, including their heat response and distribution evenness. Copper and aluminum are the best materials for fast heat distribution, but copper pans are often very costly.
If you want a stir fry pan, therefore, that quickly and evenly conducts heat, then your best bet is a pan with an aluminum core, sandwiched between two layers of less conductive materials like iron or stainless steel.
7. Style
Finally, you should consider your personal style and aesthetic preferences, as well. You’ll find stir fry pans in different colors and material combinations, so it’s left for you to choose what you like or what best fits into your kitchen.
Conclusion
We’ve reached the end of this stir fry pans review, and you’ve seen all the interesting and exciting offers out there, including expensive stainless steel pans and the more affordable offers with less stable non-stick coatings.
At this point, the final choice is yours to make, based on the size of the stir-frying that you need to do, as well as on your preferences and which pan will fit into your kitchen’s design.