Compare Frying Pans
Tramontina Signature Tri-Ply Clad Stainless Steel 12-Inch Fry Pan scores higher on safety - here's why.
The most important dimensions, side by side.
The ceramic coating is genuinely free of PTFE, PFAS, and Teflon — a real improvement over traditional nonstick. The trade-off is that ceramic coatings wear down with regular use over one to three years. When the nonstick performance fades, you are cooking on a degraded surface rather than the clean metal of a stainless or cast iron pan.
The cooking surface is the same medical-grade 18/10 stainless steel you find in pans costing three times as much. No coatings, no chemicals, no degradation — it is inherently safe at every temperature.
Rated to 550°F, this pan handles stovetop-to-oven transitions for finishing steaks, roasting vegetables, or making frittatas. That temperature ceiling covers everything a home oven can do.
Rated to 500°F, this pan handles everything from oven finishing a steak to roasting vegetables. That is the full range of what most home ovens can do.
The stainless steel handle is sturdy and well-designed, but it does warm up during longer stovetop sessions. Keep a potholder nearby for extended cooking.
The riveted stainless handle is sturdy and well-balanced, but it does warm up during long cooks on the stovetop. An oven mitt or silicone grip is a smart companion.
The heat distribution is solid in the center of the pan but less even around the edges and sidewalls. For eggs, pancakes, and everyday sauteing this is perfectly adequate. For serious searing where you need edge-to-edge even browning, a fully-clad pan will outperform it.
The aluminum core runs through the entire pan — not just the base — so heat spreads evenly across every inch of the cooking surface. America's Test Kitchen named it their Best Buy pick for good reason: it cooks like a pan that costs three times more.
Works on every cooktop type including induction — the stainless steel base plate makes it compatible regardless of the aluminum body.
Works on every cooktop — gas, electric, ceramic, and induction. Future-proof if you upgrade your kitchen.
At 2.7 pounds, this is one of the lightest pans in the category. Easy to lift, flip, and handle with one hand — great for everyday cooking tasks.
At just under 3 pounds, this is one of the lightest fully-clad 12-inch pans you can buy. Easy to lift, easy to toss food, easy to handle with one hand even when loaded.
Hand wash only — the dishwasher will damage the ceramic coating and accelerate its degradation. The good news is that the nonstick surface makes cleanup quick: a soft sponge and warm water is usually all you need.
Unlike most premium stainless pans, Tramontina officially rates this one dishwasher-safe. After a long dinner, just load it up and walk away.
Everything you need to make the call - who each one is for, and who should skip it.
Go for it if you...
You specifically want PFAS-free nonstick convenience for eggs, pancakes, and delicate proteins that would stick to bare metal
Design and aesthetics matter to your kitchen and you appreciate Caraway's color options and magnetic storage system
You need a very lightweight pan under 3 pounds for easy one-handed cooking
You are comfortable replacing the pan every few years when the ceramic coating wears down
You want the safest possible cooking surface with professional-grade even heating and do not want to pay All-Clad prices
Dishwasher-safe convenience matters to your household routine and you need a pan that can handle busy weeknight cleanup
You use an induction cooktop and want a lightweight fully-clad pan under 3 pounds
You trust America's Test Kitchen recommendations and want their long-standing Best Buy pick in stainless steel
The main thing to know
The ceramic nonstick coating degrades with regular use over one to three years — unlike stainless steel or cast iron which last a lifetime. When the nonstick fades, you are cooking on a worn surface.
The riveted stainless handle gets warm during extended stovetop cooking — same as every all-metal-handle pan in this category. Keep a towel or silicone grip handy for longer sessions.
Skip this if you...
You want a pan that will last a decade or longer — stainless steel or cast iron will outperform any coated surface over time
Even heat distribution for serious searing is important to you — fully-clad construction outperforms disk-bottom significantly
You expected a nonstick pan to be dishwasher-safe — this one requires hand washing to protect the coating
You strongly prefer nonstick convenience and do not want to learn stainless steel cooking techniques
You need a handle that stays completely cool during extended high-heat cooking — consider a silicone-wrapped handle design instead
Brand prestige and a lifetime warranty matter more to you than saving over $100 on equivalent construction
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 Caraway and Tramontina 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 Tramontina Tramontina Signature Tri-Ply Clad 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.
Not the right match? Explore these alternatives in the same category.
