ISO: Large Non-stick or Stainless Skillet - Recommend Yours!

[andrew&shannah]

I am searching for a new "large" non-stick or stainless skillet. Every recipe I read references this "large" skillet so I am curious as to what everyone else uses.
Please recommend the pan you use! (and include the actual size if possible) I would like to spend under $300 please.

TIA!

[tlew12778]

I guess that depends on how you define a skillet. I have seen woks called skillets even though my first thought when I think of "skillet" is more of a frying pan type shape pan. Actually, specifically, I picture my mom's 50 year old cast-iron skillet.

Anyway I just read this article on "skillets" to try to get a better idea of the correct definition:
http://www.epicurious.com/bonappetit/tools_of_the_trade/skillet
I am still confused.

That said, I currently have 2 pans that are Calphalon Commercial Hard Anodized. One is called an everyday pan (12") and one is called an omelette pan (10"). They are both the same shape more or less but the everyday pan has 2 handles instead of one long one. I use the 10" everyday bc I like the size. The 12" one seems monstrous for 2 people. It takes up more than its share of room on my range. Neither are "non-stick" but I refuse to use anything that is coated. This is the closest you will get to non-stick I think (unless you go with a well-seasoned cast-iron pan).

I just added an 8" 5-ply SS skillet to my registry but I cannot attest to the non-stickness factor yet as I've yet to receive it. The layers are SS-aluminum-SS throughout the pan, then an additional aluminum-SS on the bottom of the pan.

[andrew&shannah]

tlew12778 - Thanks for the info! I don't really care about the non-stick part of the pan as much as the size/functionality. All of my current pans are All Clad SS.
I have a 10" frying pan which is what I mentally connect with a skillet but I find it is a tight fit when cooking 4 chicken breasts. So, I was just wondering what size most other people use.

[tlew12778]

Oh well see I never cook 4 breasts bc FH is vegetarian and it's only the two of us for now... If your range can fit it, I would go with a 12". I think anything bigger than that might be really bulky to handle.

[Janey]

I have a 10" frying pan which is what I mentally connect with a skillet but I find it is a tight fit when cooking 4 chicken breasts. So, I was just wondering what size most other people use.
Actually I was just reading about this very question today in Cook's Country magazine. They said:

Many recipe writers (ourselves included) find it simpler to call for a "large skillet" than to specify a measurement; we don't want you to feel that you can't make ther ecipe if you don't have a skillet that is exactly the right size. In general, a large skillet is about 12 inches (they can be as large as 14 inches, but we find these pans too large for most home burners) medium around 10 inches, and small 8 inches or less. (skillets are measured across the top from rim to rim.) For saucepans, large is 3 to 4 quarts, and small 1 to 2 quarts. A large Dutch oven (the only kind worth owning) holds 6 to 8 quarts.

Hope that helps. :)

[bookworm]

I have the Calphalon 12" everyday pan (on clearance from amazon), and it fits 4 chicken breasts. I also have an Emerilware 3 qt saute pan, which works when I want nonstick, and a 12" cast iron skillet, for when I don't need a lid and I'm not cooking with acid.

[laura]

This is my SS Calphalon Saute pan - it's definitely the pan I use the most:

http://www.calphalon.com/calphalon/consumer/images/cookware/d_l5003g.jpg

I would guess mine is 5 quarts, but I'm not sure - it could be 3. I'm bad w/ measurements.

[amew]

If a recipe says "large skillet" I usually use my 10" All-Clad non-stick frying pan. If I either want something bigger or don't want the non-stick surface, I use my All-Clad 3 qt. saute pan. I wouldn't mind having a 12" All-Clad frying pan, but my 10" and/or my saute pan work fine for pretty much every recipe I make.

[andrew&shannah]

Thanks ladies! I think I'll probably go for a 3qt saute vs a 12" frying pan just so I can have the lid if needed.

[tlew12778]

The everyday pan has a lid.

Make sure that the saute pan is wide enough... I have 3 qt pans that are taller and therefore not as wide as the 12" pan. In fact, I don't think a 3 qt suate pan would be 12"... that'd be rather heavy due to the higher walls I think.

[Janey]

For some recipes, like frying chicken breasts, the everyday pan wouldn't work as well since it doesn't have as large of a flat area at the bottom. I have the nonstick version of that pan and love it, however.

I agree with Tiffany, though... if you wanted a 12" Saute pan, you'd probably be looking at a 5 qt. one, not a 3. I just measured my 3 qt. saute pan just for grins, and it was 10.5".

[andrew&shannah]

I agree with Tiffany, though... if you wanted a 12" Saute pan, you'd probably be looking at a 5 qt. one, not a 3. I just measured my 3 qt. saute pan just for grins, and it was 10.5".

Thanks for measuring that! I guess I'll have to do some more research on the saute pans. I have 3 different size frying pans (largest is 10") so I really wanted something with a lid. Maybe a 4qt saute would be a good in between because I fear the 5qt would be really large...

[Janey]

I don't think they make 4 qt. sautes. it's either 3 or 5. I don't think a 5 qt. would be too big... it would probably be the 12" you want. I was even looking at this 7 qt. sauteuse (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000162M8G/qid=1141751417/sr=8-1/ref=sr_1_1/002-4456922-4163203?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance&n=284507)... dreaming of browning pork chops, adding some rice, and sticking the whole thing in the oven to slow-bake... ahhhhh.

BTW - I have the Calphalon One Nonstick pans, and looove them. The 5 qt. saute is $235 though - ouch.

Ooh - a quick search brought up this really good deal at Williams-Sonoma... it is a 5-qt. Sauteuse for $90 (http://ww1.williams-sonoma.com/cat/pip.cfm?skus=7405467&pkey=xsrd0m1%7C15%7C0%7C%7C%7C%7C%7C%7Ccalphalon%2 0one%20nonstick&gids=sku7405467&cmsrc=sch). I might even have to get this one. :D

[amew]

All of my current pans are All Clad SS.
I have a 10" frying pan which is what I mentally connect with a skillet but I find it is a tight fit when cooking 4 chicken breasts. So, I was just wondering what size most other people use.

My pans are all All-Clad LTD. My 3 qt. saute feels significantly bigger to me than my 10" frying pan. Four chicken breasts are very tight in my 10" frying pan but pretty comfortable in my saute pan. It isn't that much wider across the top, but because the frying pan has curved sides, it is quite a bit smaller at the bottom where the chicken breasts rest. Because the saute pan is straight-sided, it provides just enough extra surface area.

[andrew&shannah]

Ooh - a quick search brought up this really good deal at Williams-Sonoma... it is a 5-qt. Sauteuse for $90. I might even have to get this one

Thanks! I ordered that one and will see how it fits on my stove when it arrives. I have heard great things about the Calphalon One series so we'll see! I just couldn't resist finding one that was reputable under $100! Let's hope it works!

[jenjunum]

I have the pan below and I love it. It's a Calphalon tri-ply stainless steel 5 qt covered saute pan. It's the perfect size for me for cooking for two but still big enough to cook for 4 if necessary.

http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/assets/product_images/380/1048812180624P.JPG

I also have the nonstick pan below. It's also Calphalon and I *think* it's 12". The sides on mine actually aren't as steep other than that's it's very similar. This pan was only about $40. I don't like spending a lot on nonstick because it will have to be replaced. It's impossible for me to cook things like eggs in anything but nonstick though so I really needed at least one nonstick pan. (By nonstick I mean teflon coated, I know others claim to be nonstick too, but teflon coated is the only type I consider to be truely nonstick. If that makes sense.)

http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/assets/product_images/380/2229312971931P.JPG

I've been very happy with both pans and I use both regularly. One of them is in use pretty much every night.

[Janey]

Thanks! I ordered that one and will see how it fits on my stove when it arrives. I have heard great things about the Calphalon One series so we'll see! I just couldn't resist finding one that was reputable under $100! Let's hope it works!
Great, Shannah! You'll have to let us know how you like it once you get it. :)

[raven077]

I'm working on expanding my All-Clad collection slowly.. But currently, I'm using the 13" T-fal Perfection Saute Pan (on clearance at Kohl's currently). Fits 4 boneless breasts perfectly. My mom has had hers for years and loves it, so I thought I'd follow the path of least resistance.

I might also point out that she also had the All-Clad non-stick pan prior to and the non-stick surface degraded horribly. (and she took impeccable care of it). All-Clad replaced it for her and it did the same thing again. Love All-Clad, but not so impressed with their non-stick wares.