The common-or-garden egg: endlessly versatile, kinda costly proper now. The common American truly eats about 280 eggs a 12 months. The upward pattern in consumption regardless of rising prices in all probability stems from the truth that the egg just isn’t solely probably the most workable proteins in your kitchen, however that there are such a lot of methods to cook dinner it. There are 100 “verified” methods, demonstrated by the folds in a conventional chef’s toque. Fried, baked, poached, steamed, scrambled—a bit method goes an extended option to make your good egg, however the appropriate instruments come in useful as properly.

So, simply how a lot of a distinction can an excellent pan make in relation to egg cookery? The easy reply is: It completely helps. We took a deep dive into our cookware critiques, coupled with our culinary data to focus on among the greatest egg pans. (We’ll chorus from any “egg-cellent” jokes.) 

The Winners, at a Look

Issues to Take into account

Do You Want Fats When Cooking Eggs in a Nonstick Skillet?

The quick reply is sure. Although a nonstick pan would require lower than stainless-steel, a bit fats helps add an additional buffer between the eggs and the pan, particularly since each gadgets are liquid. For a way like frying, fats can also be important for including taste and creating the Maillard response that ends in the crispy, lattice-like backside of a wonderfully fried egg.

Can You Use Forged Iron and Carbon Metal to Cook dinner Eggs? 

Sure, however we advocate seasoning each pans properly first. Forged iron is porous, so it is lower than excellent for delicate egg preparations like scrambles or omelets. The micro divots will latch onto the egg proteins and lure them within the cracks as you push your egg combination round, leading to sticking.

As talked about in our forged iron skillet overview, eggs will even normally stick with the pan if it isn’t seasoned properly. We have now a information to seasoning right here, however cooking fatty gadgets like bacon in a forged iron pan additionally helps construct up its nonstick skills over time. As soon as seasoned, forged iron is nice for fried eggs or stovetop-to-oven egg dishes, like frittatas.

A lot of the identical may be stated for carbon metal, although it’s much less porous than forged iron—leading to a smoother floor that’s not as stick-prone, however nonetheless advantages from seasoning.

Can You Cook dinner Eggs in a Stainless Metal Skillet?

It takes a little bit of a studying curve to grasp, however cooks favor stainless-steel skillets for a cause. The place dwelling cooks will run into bother with eggs and stainless-steel just isn’t heating the pan up sufficient. In case you place an egg on a stainless-steel pan that’s nonetheless chilly or lukewarm, the egg will possible stick. The answer: warmth, warmth, warmth. The easiest way to find out in case your stainless pan is at a nonstick warmth stage is so as to add just a few droplets of water. If the droplets dance and skitter throughout the pan, you’re able to go.

Which Measurement Egg Pan Ought to You Purchase?

It’s helpful to have pans in just a few completely different sizes. For a jack-of-all-trades, a 10- or 12-inch pan is right. In any other case, an 8-inch skillet is nice for cooking solo or frying just some eggs.

Our Favourite Egg Pans

What we appreciated: We don’t name for nonstick a lot, however the one factor it’s tremendous helpful for is cooking delicate proteins like eggs. We additionally suppose it’s what most individuals will consider as an egg pan. This skillet from Tramontina is extraordinarily well-priced (about $30 on the time of writing) and has a detachable silicone grip. In our assessments, eggs slipped and slid round its nonstick floor. And, once more, it’s CHEAP. You’ll be able to learn extra about why we don’t advocate splurging on nonstick right here, however the TL;DR is that it simply doesn’t final all that lengthy.

What we didn’t like: This pan isn’t induction-compatible. You probably have an induction cooktop, we advocate this skillet from T-fal.

Key Specs

• Most oven temperature: 400℉
• Induction-compatible: No
• Weight: 1 pound, 15 ounces
• Dishwasher-safe: Sure

What we appreciated: That is our budget-friendly carbon metal advice and, as soon as seasoned, it’s particularly nice for fried eggs and frittatas. Carbon metal pans have smoother surfaces than forged iron, so that they’ll be extra slick out of the gate, too. One factor to notice: Maintain off on making acidic dishes, like shakshuka, on this pan till it’s well-seasoned. The acid can strip the pan’s seasoning (the identical goes for forged iron).

What we didn’t like: This pan could be very light-weight and may spin round on glass cooktops.

Key Specs

• Most oven temperature: 660℉
• Induction-compatible: Sure
• Weight: 2 kilos, 10 ounces
• Dishwasher-safe: No

What we appreciated: Additionally nice for frittatas and fried eggs, our favourite forged iron skillet from Lodge has a worth you’ll be able to’t beat. To your ease, it comes pre-seasoned. Once we examined forged iron skillets we discovered fried eggs slid proper off. This bodes properly for its long-term skills as an egg pan: It should solely get extra nonstick with use. 

What we didn’t like: This pan is sort of heavy. 

Key Specs

• Most oven temperature: 650℉
• Induction-compatible: Sure
• Weight: 5 kilos, 7 ounces
• Dishwasher-safe: No

What we appreciated: Appropriate with induction and competitively priced, Made In’s stainless-steel skillet has been one among our favorites for years. It has a snug deal with and feels well-balanced when picked up. After a bit follow, your egg cookery will present you why stainless-steel’s probably the most versatile supplies there’s. 

What we didn’t like: Whereas we didn’t expertise this, different overview websites have discovered that this pan can warp (which might make it a no-go for induction).

Key Specs

• Most oven temperature: 800℉
• Induction-compatible: Sure
• Weight: 3 kilos
• Dishwasher-safe: Sure

FAQs

Why are my eggs sticking to the pan?

This could possibly be as a result of your nonstick pan is older and its coating has damaged down an excessive amount of. As soon as a nonstick pan exhibits main indicators of damage (and scratches), it’s time to exchange it. In case you’re utilizing forged iron or carbon metal, it could possibly be that the pan wants extra seasoning. And, lastly, when you’re cracking eggs into a stainless-steel skillet solely to search out them mounted to the floor, you in all probability did not warmth the pan up sufficient.

Is a nonstick pan greatest for eggs? 

Nonstick pans will, usually, make egg cooking simple and stick-free. Although aware shoppers could go for a ceramic-coated nonstick skillet—due to the chemical substances in conventional PTFE coatings—ceramic may be extra brittle than its different counterparts, inflicting it to lose its nonstick properties sooner.

Why We’re the Consultants

• Emily Ziemski is an editor and recipe developer who has over 14 years of cooking expertise. 
• In that point, she estimates she’s cooked lots of, if not 1000’s, of eggs.
• We have extensively reviewed all types of skillets, together with nonstick, carbon metal, forged iron, and stainless-steel.