9 best non-toxic frying pans for healthier cooking, tried and tested
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Now, more than ever, we’re interrogating our cookware as much as our ingredients. After all, there’s no point in forking out on fresh, organic ingredients free from nasties if the pots and pans you use to cook them with aren’t. Good news, then, that cookware has come on leaps and bounds with the best non-toxic pans.
Traditional non-stick and water-resistant coatings made with synthetic chemicals such as PFAS, PTFE, PFOA, lead or cadmium are gradually being replaced by alternatives like stainless steel, cast iron, and ceramic.
As a nation of cooks, it’s something we care about: searches for stainless-steel frying pans up by 31 per cent, cast-iron frying pans up by 17 per cent and ceramic frying pans up by 60 per cent, according to the latest John Lewis data.
Elsewhere, in recent research by Circulon – the UK maker of premium pots and pans – 43 per cent of 2,000 adults surveyed admitted they worry about non-stick coating from the pot or pan flaking into the food, owing to not trusting non-stick materials. It’s an issue!
Best non-toxic pans at a glance
Best overall – AGA 24cm stainless steel sauté casserole: £116, Agacookshop.co.uk
Best budget buy – Blackmoor sherwood frying pan: £15.99, Amazon.co.uk
Best for everyday cooking – Circulon halo laserdefense non-stick ceramic frying pan and lid: £94.99, Circulon.uk.com
Best for frying eggs – John Lewis classic uncoated stainless steel frying pan: £50, Johnlewis.com
Best for non-stick – Fissler ceratal comfort frying pan: £125, Harrods.com
Becky Firth, head of product at Meyer UK, manufacturers of Circulon premium cookware, explains: “Interest in this specific type of cookware has grown rapidly with a developing shopper awareness of PFAS – most commonly denoted as forever chemicals – in turn heightening both health and environmental concerns, as well as a wider consciousness of what products people bring into their homes.”
She adds: “When shopping for cookware, it’s important to focus on materiality and durability. Stainless steel is perhaps the most versatile option; cast-iron is great for longevity, though requires some maintenance, and ceramic-coated pans appeal particularly to people seeking a PFAS-free surface.”
Here, I’ve rounded up the latest and greatest non-toxic designs so you can focus on what matters the most – the menu and dazzling guests with your culinary prowess.
How I tested
I’m a foodie and a keen cook – although I’m the first to admit my husband is better and does the more complicated recipes – so I demand a lot from my cookware, especially a frying pan, which is arguably the hardest-working piece in your kit. I tested each non-toxic frying pan, taking into consideration two factors: how they look and how they perform.
For the former, I reviewed the design and aesthetics, taking into account the materials that make it non-toxic and its design. Then I looked at how it fried my ingredients – usually something simple – and how the dish tasted afterwards.
AGA 24cm stainless steel sauté casserole
★★★★★
Best: For AGA cooking (naturally)
What we love: Its stackable design didn’t just make it easy to accompany other pans in the oven, but also made storage in the cupboard afterwards easier.
Take note: Two handles on either side of the frying pan make it trickier to shake up ingredients on the heat.
Now that I’ve finally got to grips with my AGA – I inherited it with my new home about six months ago, and it’s a whole different style of cooking – I’m finally on the lookout for specific cookware. This frying pan is made from 18/10 stainless steel without a manufactured coating that can flake off during cooking and features a completely flat base with an aluminium core that conducts heat evenly and quickly.
Like all AGA cookware, the flat lid means the pan can be stacked with others in my three ovens, while the handles make it easy to move in and out even when piping hot. I put it to the test by frying a sofrito mix on the hob – diced carrot, onion and celery with a good glug of olive oil –before popping it in the oven to finish. It looks the part and made seriously light work out of the base for my mid-week bolognese.
- Material: 18/10 stainless steel
- Dishwasher-safe? Yes
- Oven-safe? Yes
- Induction compatible? Yes
Blackmoor sherwood frying pan
★★★☆☆
Best: Budget non-toxic pan
What we love: The frying pan is suitable for all hob types, which is always a plus for me, and I love the combination of the black forged aluminium and wood-effect handle.
Take note: They don’t recommend putting this in the dishwasher, which adds to clean-up time.
Elegant design and everyday practicality? You get both in this Blackwood sherwood frying pan, which boasts a high-quality, forged aluminium base that delivers fast, even heating whatever ingredients the recipe calls for. Its PFAS-free ceramic coating provides excellent non-stick performance while maintaining a healthier cooking surface free from harmful chemicals such as PTFE and PFOA.
Extra points for the wood-effect handle, which adds a nice rustic touch, and the fact that the whole thing is lightweight and easy to manoeuvre. I put it to the test with chicken breasts, which turned out evenly cooked and juicy all the way through.
- Material: Forged aluminium
- Dishwasher-safe? No
- Oven-safe? No
- Induction compatible? Yes
John Lewis classic uncoated stainless steel frying pan
★★★★☆
Best: For frying eggs
What we love: The stainless-steel base provides the magnetism needed for this frying pan to work on an induction hob, too.
Take note: It’s quite small, so not one for big jobs.
Corrosion-resistant because it’s made from 18/10 stainless steel, this non-toxic frying pan from John Lewis is a good addition to anyone’s kitchen arsenal. Not only that, but the material is excellent for conducting heat and searing evenly, meaning everyday cooking is made even simpler, from frying an egg to making an omelette.
I particularly liked the stay-cool handle so even someone as forgetful as me doesn’t get burnt mid-cook (I have many a scar). Better still, trusty JL has been doing this range for more than 30 years, meaning it complements other pieces in the collection beautifully. A small but powerful bit of kit that I now can’t live without.
- Materials: 18/10 stainless steel
- Dishwasher-safe? Yes
- Oven-safe? Yes
- Induction compatible? Yes
Fissler ceratal comfort frying pan
★★★★★
Best: For non-stick
What we love: The high rim and broad surface proved a winning combination when it came to smooth stirring and turning.
Take note: It’s not oven-safe, meaning I had to transfer my breakfast hash ingredients into another pan before popping it in the oven.
Whether crisping veggies or frying eggs, the Fissler ceratal comfort frying pan serves up consistent results across all hob types, while offering a natural ceramic alternative to traditional coatings. Its smooth, broad surface is completely PFAS- and PTFE-free, yet reliably non-stick so there’s no scraping of any burnt bits, with a high rim to avoid splashes and spillages on your hob.
My litmus test for any frying pan? A breakfast hash using the leftovers of a Sunday roast where it easily accommodated dozens of ingredients for even and thorough cooking.
- Material: Aluminium
- Dishwasher-safe? Yes
- Oven-safe? No
- Induction compatible? Yes
Circulon halo laserdefense non-stick ceramic frying pan and lid
★★★★★
Best: For everyday cooking
What we love: I really like the pearl-white finish that adds to its already sleek design.
Take note: Its size and lid add weight and bulk to storage.
Best known for unbreakable cookware, this new design from UK maker Circulon is made without PDFAs, BPA, lead or cadmium to make it a completely non-toxic choice for cooking with, while its signature textured barrier of microscopic dots cleverly stops utensils from touching and scratching the base of the pan.
The whole thing is crafted from heavy-gauge aluminium to deliver amazing heat distribution. The ergonomic handle, which sat comfortably in my hand, stayed cool on the hob, and the tempered glass lid made monitoring my potatoes a doddle. It got a massive thumbs-up from my foodie husband, too.
- Material: Aluminium
- Dishwasher-safe? Yes
- Oven-safe? Yes
- Induction compatible? Yes
Zyliss ultimate pro ceramic fry pan
★★★★☆
Best: For frying, then finishing in the oven
What we love: Despite being devoid of PFAS, the non-stick ceramic coating is seriously tough, making for the easy release of food.
Take note: It’s not the hugest pan there is, so for some tasks and gatherings, you’d require a number of them to get the job done.
Designed for health-conscious home cooks, this Zyliss pan features a PFAS-free ceramic non-stick coating to offer safer everyday cooking without compromising on performance. Its forged aluminium body provides fast and even heat distribution, while the reinforced ceramic surface is scratch-resistant and utensil-safe. Better still, it’s compatible with all hob types – including induction – and can withstand temperatures of up to 220°C in the oven.
I fried leeks in mine as part of a crumb for a nice piece of cod, and it cooked them evenly and thoroughly without breaking a sweat. This would also be equally good for frying all the components of a breakfast hash – potatoes, onions, tomatoes, eggs and more – before popping in the oven to crisp up and finish. It worked a treat with scrambled eggs, too.
- Material: Recycled aluminium and stainless steel
- Dishwasher-safe? Yes
- Oven-safe? Yes
- Induction compatible? Yes
ProCook elite signature frying pan
★★★☆☆
Best: For flambé (retro, I know!)
What we love: Extremely durable and heavy-duty.
Take note: Food tended to stick if the surface of the pan wasn’t oiled properly.
Whether sautéing or searing, the elite from ProCook took it all in its stride, comprising a thick aluminium core that spreads heat evenly across its surface with stainless-steel layers providing extra strength. Uncoated to provide a reassuringly toxic-free frying pan, it felt extremely durable and heavy-duty in the hand on the hob, so much so that I was even confident enough to flambé in it – talk about nostalgic.
- Material: Aluminium and 18/10 stainless steel
- Dishwasher-safe? No
- Oven-safe? No
- Induction compatible? Yes
Stellar profile matte frying pan
★★★★☆
Best: For searing steak (mine’s rare, if you’re asking)
What we love: It’s oven-safe up to 240°C and works on every kind of hob – plus, it’s one of the classiest frying pans in my growing collection.
Take note: Its cooking surface is stainless steel rather than non-stick, so delicate food like fish and eggs can end up sticking.
Sleek and stylish in 18/10 matt-finish stainless steel, this non-toxic frying pan from Stellar does indeed do a stellar job when it comes to frying most food, but its non-stick base was particularly good for searing and browning steak (the rib-eye I did on this was sublime with perfectly pink meat and wonderfully caramelised marbling). Completely PTFE- and PFOA-free, its high-conductivity base can be used on every kind of hob, while it’s dishwasher-safe for extra brownie points.
- Material: 18/10 stainless steel
- Dishwasher-safe? No
- Oven-safe? No
- Induction compatible? Yes
GreenPan evolution aluminium ceramic non-stick frying pan
★★★☆☆
Best: Non-scratch pan
What we love: The scratch guard surface for extra resilience.
Take note: It works best on low-to-medium heat, rather than searing-hot.
Made from recycled aluminium with a PFAS-free ceramic non-stick coating, GreenPan’s frying pan works across different hob types – gas and induction included – and heats evenly and very quickly. It’s oven-safe to 220°C and even has a reinforced scratch-guard ceramic surface – making it much tougher than most frying pans on the market today. I got the teal colourway, which complements the gold-toned stainless-steel handle perfectly.
- Material: Recycled aluminium
- Dishwasher-safe? No
- Oven-safe? No
- Induction compatible? Yes
What is the best non-toxic frying pan?
For me, it’s got to be AGA’s – those with the traditional British oven get what they pay for with a clever design that isn’t just stackable and easy to store, but heats evenly and quickly with handles that make it easy to move around. For other hobs, Circulon’s is a safe bet for everyday cooking – ergonomic, durable and effective.
Why trust me
As a freelance editor with bylines in Sunday Times Style, The Telegraph, The Mail, Forbes, Livingetc, House Beautiful and, of course, Evening Standard, Nicky is an expert on things lifestyle. He also works with some of the biggest brands on the high street to advise and create content, so he understands products, what goes into making them and how they perform.