Compare Frying Pans
All-Clad D3 Stainless Steel 12 Inch Fry Pan scores higher on safety - here's why.
The most important dimensions, side by side.
The cooking surface is medical-grade stainless steel — the safest material you can cook on. There is no coating to chip, peel, or release chemicals at any temperature. This pan will be just as safe in ten years as it is today.
The cooking surface is bare carbon steel — no synthetic coatings, no PFAS compounds, just iron that develops a natural nonstick layer through seasoning. This is one of the safest material choices available for everyday cooking.
Rated to 600°F, this pan handles everything from a low-and-slow braise to a full broiler sear. You will never hit a temperature ceiling with normal home cooking.
All-metal construction with no temperature-limiting components. Handles any oven temperature you'd use at home, including broiling.
The double-riveted stainless handle is practically indestructible, but it does get warm after extended stovetop cooking. Keep an oven mitt or towel nearby for longer sessions.
The bare steel handle conducts heat directly from the pan body, so it gets hot quickly during cooking. You will need a towel or oven mitt for every use — a meaningful daily inconvenience and burn risk.
The aluminum core runs through the entire pan — base and walls — so heat spreads evenly across the cooking surface. Food browns uniformly without hot spots, and the pan responds quickly when you adjust the burner.
Solid single-material construction provides excellent heat retention and even distribution once the pan reaches temperature. Great for searing and maintaining steady heat — the slight trade-off is slower response to temperature changes.
Works on every cooktop type — gas, electric, ceramic, and induction. If you upgrade your kitchen later, this pan comes with you.
Works on all cooktops including induction — no adapters needed.
At 3 pounds, this is one of the lightest fully-clad 12-inch pans available. Easy to lift and toss food with one hand, even when loaded.
See the detailed scoring breakdown for this criterion.
All-Clad recommends hand washing to keep the polished finish looking sharp. It is not a dealbreaker — a quick scrub with Bar Keeper's Friend handles most cleanup.
Hand-wash only. Requires rinsing while warm, drying immediately, and periodic maintenance to protect the cooking surface.
At $160, this is a premium pan — but it comes with a lifetime warranty and Made-in-USA construction. If you plan to keep one pan for decades, the per-year cost is actually very low.
See the detailed scoring breakdown for this criterion.
Everything you need to make the call - who each one is for, and who should skip it.
Go for it if you...
You want the safest possible cooking surface with zero coatings that will never degrade or release chemicals
You cook frequently on high heat and need a pan rated to 600°F for stovetop-to-oven and broiler techniques
You value a lifetime warranty and Made-in-USA construction that your kids might inherit
You use an induction cooktop and need a lightweight fully-clad pan under 4 pounds
You want America's Test Kitchen's top-recommended carbon steel pan at a reasonable price
You sear proteins frequently and want the best heat retention in carbon steel
You need a pan that goes from stovetop to broiler with no temperature restrictions
You are comfortable with carbon steel maintenance and want a pan that improves with age
The main thing to know
The stainless steel handle gets hot during extended stovetop cooking — you will need an oven mitt or handle cover for longer sessions, and the pan requires hand washing.
The bare steel handle conducts heat directly from the pan — you will always need a towel or oven mitt, and the handle gets hot faster than cast iron integral handles.
Skip this if you...
You strongly prefer nonstick convenience and are not willing to learn stainless steel cooking techniques like preheating and oil management
Budget is the primary concern — the Tramontina tri-ply delivers nearly identical construction at roughly one-third the price
You need a pan that can go straight into the dishwasher after every use
You want a cool-touch handle — the bare steel gets hot fast and stays hot
You are new to carbon steel and want a more forgiving first pan
You need dishwasher-safe cookware for quick cleanup
Neither of these quite what you're looking for?
I've reviewed all Frying Pans options at every price pointEvery Frying Pans in our database is scored using R3's deterministic scoring system - the same inputs always produce the same score. For this comparison, we evaluated All-Clad and Matfer Bourgeat across 3 independent criteria: Safety (78%), Efficacy (16%), Usability (6%). No sponsored rankings. No paid placements.
Straight answers - no sponsored content, no filler.
I'd start with All-Clad All-Clad D3 Stainless Steel 12 Inch Fry Pan - it scored 9.6/10 overall in our scoring system. Safety is our top-weighted scoring pillar, followed by efficacy, and usability. Check which pillar matters most to your family and compare those specific scores.
R3 uses a deterministic scoring system - the same inputs always produce the same score. We evaluate each Frying Pans across Safety, Efficacy, Usability using independently verified data. No sponsored rankings. No paid placements. Every score is fully reproducible.
Not necessarily. The overall score reflects our weighted rubric, but your priorities may differ. If you care most about safety, compare the safety scores directly. If budget drives your decision, the prices tell a clearer story. The "right" pick is the one that matches what matters most to your family.
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