In a family with young children, convenience is key in our store. Sitting together at the table is more important than having the absolute best pan. For that convenience, our selection of four pans includes one with a non-stick coating; the other three cater to different needs.

Which 28 cm frying pan suits your cooking style, and can you still lift it when full?

All four recommended 28 cm pans are PFAS-free.

If convenience is your priority for fried potatoes and an omelet for everyone, then choose the Sola Frying Pan Ceramic Deluxe ø 28 cm. It is made of aluminum with a ceramic layer and weighs 1.08 kg when empty. It is dishwasher safe but not oven safe.

Sola Frying Pan Ceramic Deluxe ø 28 cm

For frying without a coating, where you preheat the pan each time, the Beka Frying Pan Cicla Stainless Steel ø 28 cm is our choice. It is made of stainless steel with a multi-layer base and weighs 1.21 kg when empty. It is dishwasher safe and oven safe up to 200 °C.

Beka Frying Pan Cicla Stainless Steel ø 28 cm

For searing meat, we recommend the Blackwell Frying Pan Carbon Steel ø 28 cm, if you are okay with seasoning and hand washing. The sheet steel is 2 mm thick and the pan weighs 1.32 kg when empty. It is not dishwasher safe but oven safe up to 220 °C.

Blackwell Frying Pan Carbon Steel ø 28 cm

If you often lift a full pan from the stove to the table, take the Beka Frying Pan Maestro 5-Ply ø 28 cm. This pan is made of stainless steel and aluminum in five layers, with a helper handle and no non-stick coating. It weighs 1.6 kg when empty and is dishwasher safe and oven safe up to about 200 °C.

Beka Frying Pan Maestro 5-Ply ø 28 cm

The sheet steel pans from De Buyer weigh between 2.18 and 2.35 kg when empty at 28 cm. The Blackwell is also made of sheet steel but is thinner and much lighter. You can easily lift the Sola and the Cicla with one hand when full. A full Maestro 5-Ply is held with both hands: by the handle and the helper handle opposite.

Seasoning is the first task with the Blackwell; do that alongside our guide on how to season a carbon steel pan.

Which base fits your largest induction zone?

Here is the width of the base of these 28 cm pans:

19.6 cm: the SCANPAN Frying Pan CTX ø 28 cm (1.85 kg) and the SCANPAN Frying Pan HaptIQ ø 28 cm (1.4 kg), both five layers of metal with a standard non-stick coating.
20.0 cm: the De Buyer Frying Pan Lyonnaise Carbone Plus ø 28 cm, sheet steel of 3 mm, 2.35 kg.
21.0 cm: the De Buyer Frying Pan Mineral B Element ø 28 cm, sheet steel of 3 mm, 2.24 kg.
22.0 cm: the SCANPAN Frying Pan Classic Induction ø 28 cm, cast aluminum with a standard non-stick coating, 1.19 kg.
23.0 cm: the Blackwell from our selection, sheet steel of 2 mm, 1.32 kg.

A base that is significantly wider than your cooking zone only receives heat in the part above that zone. The heat is mainly in the center, where your food is more likely to burn.

Therefore, the pan whose base deviates the least from your largest zone works best. The size of that zone is indicated in the specifications of your cooktop. On a cooktop where the largest zone is significantly smaller than any base here, the 24 cm frying pans fit better, as their base is narrower.

How do you get a lid for a 28 cm frying pan?

The SCANPAN Pan Lid Classic Glass ø 28 cm fits a 28 cm pan, even if it is from another brand.

SCANPAN Pan Lid Classic Glass ø 28 cm

A lid is a separate purchase for these frying pans. Sauté pans, with their higher rim, often come with a lid, and most are also 28 cm.

How much do you spend on a 28 cm pan?

Up to €100, there are pans in this size with a ceramic layer, but also stainless steel and sheet steel pans without a layer. Above €100, there are mainly five-layer metal pans, with and without a non-stick coating. If your budget is tight and convenience is your priority, our pan expert first mentions the Sola from our selection.