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 cooking surface is pure iron with a natural seasoning — no synthetic coatings, no chemicals, nothing to chip or peel. Cast iron has been used safely for centuries and only gets better with use.
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.
This skillet goes from stovetop to oven to campfire without hesitation. At 500°F it handles everything from cornbread to broiled steaks — and cast iron itself can handle much higher temperatures.
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 handle is solid cast iron — it will get hot during cooking, every time. Lodge includes a silicone handle holder, and you will want to use it. Keep it on the handle as a habit.
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.
Once this skillet gets hot, it stays hot — which means a perfect sear on steaks and beautifully browned cornbread. It takes a few minutes longer to heat up than tri-ply stainless, but the payoff in heat retention is worth the wait.
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 heat source — gas, electric, induction, campfire, grill. If you take it camping or upgrade your kitchen, this pan goes everywhere.
Works on every cooktop — gas, electric, ceramic, and induction. Future-proof if you upgrade your kitchen.
At nearly 8 pounds empty, this is a two-handed pan. Tossing vegetables or lifting it one-handed when full is not realistic for most people. If you have wrist or grip issues, consider a lighter option.
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 with hot water and a brush, then dry immediately. A dishwasher would strip the seasoning and invite rust. It sounds like more work, but once you have the routine down it takes under a minute.
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 want a PFAS-free cooking surface at the lowest possible price point and the weight does not bother you
You love searing steaks, baking cornbread, or making dishes that benefit from exceptional heat retention
You cook outdoors on campfires or grills and need a pan that handles any heat source
You want a pan that can genuinely be passed down to your children with proper care
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
At 7.7 pounds, this is a heavy pan that requires two-handed operation when loaded — and the integral cast iron handle gets dangerously hot during every use, requiring an oven mitt or the included silicone holder.
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 have wrist or grip limitations that make lifting an 8-pound pan impractical or unsafe
You need a pan that responds quickly to temperature changes for delicate sauces or eggs
You want zero-maintenance cleanup and the ability to toss the pan in the dishwasher after every use
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 Lodge 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.
