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 T-fal's cooking surface uses PTFE — the same material as traditional Teflon. PTFE is classified as a PFAS compound and is already banned in cookware in eight U.S. states. It degrades above 500°F, and an empty pan on high heat can reach that temperature in just a few minutes.
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.
Oven-safe to 400°F covers casseroles, roasted vegetables, and most standard recipes. You won't be able to use the broiler or finish steaks at high heat — but that limitation is consistent with the PTFE coating, which shouldn't be pushed above 400°F anyway.
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 plastic handle is the reason the oven limit is 400°F — it can't take higher heat. Over years of use, plastic handles loosen and degrade faster than metal alternatives. It stays cool on the stovetop, but it's the weakest link for long-term durability.
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 aluminum heating disk covers the base but doesn't extend up the sides. Expert testing found this design causes uneven heating — food near the sidewalls can scorch while the center is still cooking. Fine for eggs and pancakes, less ideal for searing or sauce reduction.
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 all cooktops including induction — the stainless steel base disk makes it compatible with modern induction ranges.
Works on every cooktop — gas, electric, ceramic, and induction. Future-proof if you upgrade your kitchen.
One of the lightest pans in this size — you can flip food one-handed, pour from the rim without strain, and store it easily. Ideal for anyone who finds heavier pans like cast iron or carbon steel difficult to handle.
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.
Toss it in the dishwasher after cooking — no special care, no hand-wash routine, no seasoning to maintain. For busy weeknights, that's a real time-saver.
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 are comfortable with PTFE nonstick and consistently cook at medium or lower heat — never leaving an empty pan on a hot burner.
You need the lightest possible pan for one-handed cooking and want dishwasher-safe cleanup with zero maintenance.
You're on a tight budget and need a functional induction-compatible pan for under $35.
You view cookware as replaceable and prefer to swap pans every few years rather than maintain a seasoned or stainless pan for life.
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 PTFE nonstick coating is classified as a PFAS compound and is already banned in cookware in eight U.S. states — this is the single biggest factor in the low overall score.
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 PFAS-free cookware — PTFE is definitionally a PFAS compound, and no amount of titanium reinforcement changes the underlying chemistry.
You sear at high heat regularly — the 400°F oven limit and PTFE degradation threshold make this unsafe for high-heat techniques.
You want even heat distribution for browning and sauce work — the disk-bottom construction creates hot spots near the sidewalls.
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 T-fal 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.
