The 6 Finest Small Frying Pans (for a Fast Little Dish)

What higher approach to body a lone fried egg than with a hobbit-sized skillet? Why schlep out a monster pan once you’re cooking an oatmeal skillet cookie, or a fast shakshuka for one which requires a mere seven-ish inches of circumference for optimum poaching? Generally, much less is extra, and it’s one thing that the most effective small frying pans can achieve this very properly.

After I moved round typically in my twenties, I didn’t personal a lot. Consequently, home-cooking-wise, I used to be usually dwelling off the minimalist duo of a jumbo, oven-safe, cast-iron skillet (suppose, a 15-inch Lodge skillet) and what I referred to as the single-serving frying pan, which was most frequently a 5- to 8-inch broad frying pan with some sort of thriller nonstick coating. Whereas this may sound spartan, these two items of cookware allowed me to make virtually something my coronary heart desired — for one, anyway. Today, I discover myself cooking for extra mouths extra continuously, however the handiness of that tiny frying pan has remained important for fast, single-serving meals and side-quest dishes, from pan-searing a strip steak to whipping up a stir-fry with my leftovers.

Now, as somebody who has sizzled their approach by means of many pans over a few years, I attempt to examine a number of particular packing containers when searching for an ideal frying pan. Sturdiness is essential, so hardy supplies comparable to chrome steel and forged iron are high of thoughts. I’m not towards nonstick pans, however I’ve change into more and more creeped out by artificial “endlessly” chemical compounds — in any other case often known as PFAS — that coated the nonstick pans of yore. As an alternative, I’m choosing nonstick frying pans with extra transparency about what precisely goes into their shiny coatings. (I’m additionally extra conscious of probably dangerous microplastics in utensils, and now completely use medical-grade silicone cooking utensils and glass storage containers.).

Beneath, I’ve rounded up a number of choices of small, single-serving frying pans for each price range and materials choice, from almost-palm-sized nonstick frying pans to miniature pan-and-lid bundles.

For newbie cooks, this nonstick frying pan and lid set

Caraway Ceramic Mini Forged Iron Skillet and Glass Lid (8-inch)

Costs taken at time of publishing.

Caraway — the aesthetic cookware model that’s taken over your Instagram feed — will get high marks for its ceramic-coated cast-iron cookware, which is beautiful and sturdy. This 8-inch ceramic frying pan from the model is oven-safe as much as 550 levels Fahrenheit, and comes with a useful glass lid. Plus, the model is adamant about by no means together with PTFEs and PFOAs in its nonstick coatings, so you may prepare dinner with peace of thoughts.

… Or, go for Caraway’s nonstick pan with out the lid

If you happen to’re not seeking to spend fairly as a lot on a bundle, you too can choose to purchase the above frying pan at beneath $100 in any variety of its coloration choices, together with marigold, sage, and a dusty rose pink.

Stainless-steel is a workhorse

Eater x Heritage Metal Frying Pan (8.5-inch)

Costs taken at time of publishing.

To not brag, however I’ll: Eater’s personal collaborative cookware line with Heritage Metal was developed for (and by) of us who spend quite a lot of time over the range and need their pots and pans to carry out, which is why the 8.5-inch frying pan so deftly walks the road between a small and mid-sized pan with such versatility. This modern skillet is designed with a slight lip for simpler pouring, oven-safe to 800 levels Fahrenheit, totally non-toxic, and made out of hardy 5-ply metal. 

A palm-sized frying pan

GreenPan Mini Wholesome Ceramic Nonstick Frying Pan (5-inch)

Costs taken at time of publishing.

There’s nothing extra charming than a 5-inch frying pan that appears prefer it could possibly be utilized by a speaking hedgehog in a comfy British fable. GreenPan — often known as the “unique wholesome ceramic nonstick cookware” model, makes this ceramic nonstick frying pan with a enjoyable Bauhaus-y design, is dishwasher-safe, and is freed from PFAS.  

An aesthetically-pleasing Japanese frying pan

Vermicular Light-weight Japanese Forged-Iron Frying Pan (7.9-inch)

Costs taken at time of publishing.

I prefer to suppose that this good-looking, cast-iron Japanese frying pan comes from the identical Ghibli universe as Calcifer. The light-weight pan is made out of enameled forged iron and has 3.3 inches of depth to deal with your saucier creations, and you’ve got the choice of an elegant oak or walnut wooden deal with.

Caraway doesn’t simply do ceramic cookware

Caraway Stainless Metal Mini Fry Pan (8-inch)

Costs taken at time of publishing.

The model could have made a reputation for itself for its colourful ceramic cookware (marigold and olive colorways? very Nineteen Seventies, and really welcome in my home) however the model has additionally dabbled in 5-ply chrome steel cookware, together with this mini fry pan that can also be suitable with the model’s glass lid.  

Smithey’s rustic pan is a pot rack flex

Smithey No. 8 Forged-Iron Skillet (8-inch)

Costs taken at time of publishing.

After I learn The Lord of the Rings, I think about the hobbits cooking their (many) breakfasts in a pan akin to a Smithey cast-iron skillet, whose bronzed sides (they’ll flip classically cast-iron black with time and seasoning) are curved to encourage simpler flipping. We additionally like to see a pan with double-ended hanging choices. 

Joyful frying.