In a family with young children, convenience is key in our shop. Sitting together at the table is more important than having the very best pan. For that convenience, our selection of four frying 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 frying pans are PFAS-free.
If convenience is your priority for fried potatoes and an omelette for everyone, then the Sola Frying Pan Ceramic Deluxe ø 28 cm. It is made of aluminium with a ceramic layer and weighs 1.08 kg when empty. It is dishwasher safe, but not suitable for the oven.
Sola Frying Pan Ceramic Deluxe ø 28 cm
For frying without a coating, where you need to preheat the pan each time, our choice is the Beka Frying Pan Cicla Stainless Steel ø 28 cm. 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
To sear meat, we recommend the Blackwell Frying Pan Carbon Steel ø 28 cm, if you are willing to season it and wash it by hand. 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, choose the Beka Frying Pan Maestro 5-Ply ø 28 cm. This pan is made of stainless steel and aluminium in five layers, with a helper handle and without a non-stick coating. It weighs 1.6 kg when empty, and is dishwasher safe and oven safe up to approximately 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 thinner and much lighter. You can easily lift the Sola and 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 with our guide on how to season a carbon steel pan alongside.
Which base fits your largest induction zone?
Here are the base widths of these 28 cm pans:
A base that is significantly wider than your cooking zone will only receive heat in the part above that zone. The heat will primarily be in the middle, which can cause your food to burn.
Therefore, the pan whose base deviates the least from your largest zone works best. The size of that zone is indicated in your hob's specifications. On a hob where the largest zone is significantly smaller than any base here, the 24 cm frying pans are a better fit, as their bases are 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, as well as 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.
On the budget-friendly side of this size, there are also pans with a standard non-stick coating, such as the Berlinger Haus Frying Pan Taupe ø 28 cm made of forged aluminium. That coating is not PFAS-free, and according to the product page, this pan is not dishwasher safe and not oven safe. However, it has a cool handle and works on any hob, including induction.
