I cook almost every day. Breakfast eggs, lunch stir-fry, dinner chicken or fish – my frying pan never rests. For many years I used cheap non-stick pans, but the coating always peeled after a few months. I got tired of throwing pans away and buying new ones. That’s why I decided to switch to stainless steel. Stainless steel lasts forever if you choose the right one. I spent weeks reading, watching videos, and most important – I ordered and tested five popular stainless steel frying pans myself at home. I am not a professional cook. I am just a regular person who cooks a lot and hates wasting money. In this long review I will tell you everything I learned, what I liked, what I didn’t like, and which pan finally became my daily favorite.
I tested these five pans:
- HexClad 12 Inch Hybrid Nonstick Frying Pan
- All-Clad D3 Stainless Steel 12 Inch Fry Pan
- DELARLO Tri-Ply Stainless Steel 12 Inch Frying Pan (new model)
- DELARLO Whole Body Tri-Ply 12 Inch Honeycomb Frying Pan
- Winware Professional 12 Inch Stainless Steel Non-Stick Fry Pan
Quick Comparison Table
| Product name | Top features | Product Price |
|---|---|---|
| HexClad 12 Inch Hybrid Nonstick | Hexagon laser pattern + nonstick + stainless, works on induction, oven safe to 900°F | Check Price on Amazon |
| All-Clad D3 Stainless Steel 12 Inch | American-made tri-ply, lifetime warranty, pure stainless (no coating), very even heat | Check Price on Amazon |
| DELARLO Tri-Ply Stainless Steel 12 Inch | Affordable full tri-ply, riveted handle, induction ready, dishwasher safe | Check Price on Amazon |
| DELARLO Honeycomb Whole Body Tri-Ply 12 Inch | Honeycomb pattern inside to reduce sticking, full tri-ply body + lid included | Check Price on Amazon |
| Winware Professional 12 Inch Non-Stick Stainless | Cheap, has thin non-stick coating on stainless base, commercial style handle | Check Price on Amazon |
Now let’s talk about each pan one by one with full details.
1. HexClad 12 Inch Hybrid Nonstick Frying Pan
Pros
- Almost nothing sticks even without oil
- Heats very evenly
- Handle stays cool
- Can use metal utensils
- Works on every stove including induction
- Goes in oven up to very high temperature
Cons
- Expensive (really expensive)
- Non-stick part can wear after 1-2 years of heavy use
- A little heavier than normal stainless
Who should buy this pan? If you’re like me and you hate scrubbing, and you cook every single day, and you have the budget – this is the easiest stainless steel pan to live with. It feels like non-stick but it is safe and strong like stainless. Perfect for busy people who want the best of both worlds.
Specifications Size: 12 inch (30.5 cm) Material: Tri-ply stainless + aluminum core + laser-etched hexagon nonstick pattern Weight: about 4 pounds with lid Oven safe: 900°F Dishwasher safe: Yes Induction compatible: Yes Handle: Stay-cool stainless with silicone option Warranty: Lifetime
My experience with the most important features
The magic hexagon pattern When I first opened the box, I thought “this looks strange”. The bottom inside has thousands of tiny hexagons. Some are stainless steel peaks, some are small nonstick valleys. In my opinion, this is the smartest idea I have ever seen on a pan. I made fried eggs with zero oil – they slid like on ice. I cooked sticky teriyaki chicken – nothing burned to the bottom. Even cheese omelette came out clean. If you’re like me and you always burned eggs in normal stainless, this pan will make you smile every morning.
Heat distribution Because it has a thick aluminum layer from edge to edge, the heat spreads perfectly. I put it on my gas stove and dropped cold chicken pieces all over – every piece browned the same color at the same time. No hot spots. This is very important when you cook a lot.
Easy cleaning After cooking bacon, I just used hot water and a soft sponge – everything wiped off in 10 seconds. I even put it in the dishwasher many times and it still looks new.
The only small problem: after almost one year of daily use, I notice the nonstick valleys are a tiny bit less slippery than day one, but it is still 90% as good as new. For the price, I wish it stayed perfect forever, but I knew it is hybrid, not pure stainless.
2. All-Clad D3 Stainless Steel 12 Inch Fry Pan
Pros
- Made in USA with lifetime warranty
- Perfectly even heating
- Extremely durable – will last many lifetimes
- Beautiful mirror finish
- Feels professional
Cons
- Food sticks if you don’t know the trick
- Expensive (almost same as HexClad)
- Handle gets hot on gas stove
- Needs hand wash to keep shine
Who should buy this pan? If you’re like me and you want something that your children will use one day, and you are ready to learn the simple stainless steel trick (preheat + little oil), this is the king of pure stainless pans. It is not the easiest, but it is the best long-term investment.
Specifications Size: 12 inch Construction: 3-ply bonded (stainless – aluminum – stainless) Weight: 3 pounds Oven safe: 600°F Induction ready: Yes Handle: Riveted stainless steel Warranty: Lifetime
My story with this classic pan
Learning the “stainless steel trick” The first week I hated it. Eggs stuck, onions stuck, everything stuck. Then I watched one short video: heat the pan on medium for 2-3 minutes, drop a little water – if the drop balls up and dances, the pan is ready. Add oil, wait 5 seconds, add food. Magic! Nothing sticks anymore. Now I love it.
Cooking performance This pan gives the best brown crust on steak I ever got at home. The fond (brown bits) that stick a tiny bit make the best sauce when you add wine or stock. If you’re like me and you love flavor, pure stainless wins over any coating.
Durability I dropped it on tile floor – not even a small dent. I use metal spatula every day – still mirror shiny. This pan makes me feel I bought something forever.
The handle gets hot, so I always keep a towel ready. Also hand washing is needed if you want it to stay beautiful.
3. DELARLO Tri-Ply Stainless Steel 12 Inch Frying Pan
Pros
- Very cheap for full tri-ply construction
- Heats evenly (almost as good as All-Clad)
- Comfortable handle
- Dishwasher safe
- Light enough for daily use
Cons
- Food sticks like normal stainless (need the preheat trick)
- Thin rim drips sometimes when pouring
- Brand is new – no long-term proof yet
Who should buy this pan? If you’re like me and you want real tri-ply stainless steel performance without spending $150-$250, this is the smartest budget choice right now.
Specifications Size: 12 inch Construction: Full tri-ply (stainless-aluminum-stainless) all the way up the sides Weight: 2.8 pounds Oven safe: 600°F Induction compatible: Yes Handle: Riveted stainless with silicone cover option
My daily experience
I bought this pan because I wanted to see if a cheap tri-ply can be good. I was shocked – it heats almost exactly like the All-Clad. I made pancakes, every pancake had the same golden color. I cook stir-fry vegetables – no cold spots.
After I learned the preheat trick, eggs don’t stick badly. A little oil and proper heat = easy cooking and easy cleaning with Bar Keepers Friend powder once a week.
The handle stays cooler than All-Clad because it has a slightly different shape. This small thing makes a big difference when you cook 30 minutes straight.
For the price, this pan is crazy good value.
4. DELARLO Honeycomb Whole Body Tri-Ply 12 Inch Frying Pan
Pros
- Honeycomb pattern reduces sticking a lot
- Full tri-ply body (not just base)
- Comes with glass lid
- Good price
- Looks modern
Cons
- Pattern can still stick a little with very sticky food
- Not as non-stick as HexClad
- Handle gets warm
Who should buy this pan? If you’re like me and you want something between pure stainless and HexClad, and you like the idea of a pattern that helps food release, but you don’t want to pay HexClad money – this is a great middle choice.
Specifications Size: 12 inch Construction: Whole-body tri-ply + etched honeycomb pattern inside Weight: 3.2 pounds with lid Oven safe: 600°F Induction ready: Yes Includes tempered glass lid
My thoughts after one month of heavy use
The honeycomb looks beautiful – tiny raised stainless dots. It really works. Fried eggs slide much better than normal stainless, but not 100% like HexClad. I still use a tiny bit of oil or butter and everything is fine.
Because the tri-ply goes all the way up the sides, it holds heat very well when I cook big batches of food. I made a huge batch of fried rice for six people – the pan stayed hot the whole time.
Cleaning is easier than smooth stainless because food doesn’t get a big flat surface to grab. A quick scrub and it’s clean.
I like the free lid – very useful for simmering sauce or cooking with less oil.
5. Winware Professional 12 Inch Stainless Steel Non-Stick Fry Pan
Pros
- Very cheap
- Light
- Has real non-stick coating at first
Cons
- Coating started scratching after three weeks
- Bottom is not tri-ply – only aluminum disk base
- Uneven heating
- Handle gets very hot
Who should buy this pan? Only if you have almost no money and you need something right now. I do not recommend it for cooking a lot.
Specifications Size: 12 inch Construction: Stainless steel with thin non-stick coating + aluminum disk base Weight: 2.2 pounds Oven safe: only 350°F (because of coating)
My short and sad story
I bought this because it was the cheapest. First week – perfect, nothing stuck. Week four – coating started coming off when I used a metal fork by mistake. The bottom has hot spots; edges stay cooler. When I cook six eggs, the middle eggs cook faster than the ones on the side.
If you’re like me and you cook every day, this pan will disappoint you very fast.
Simple Buying Guide – How to Choose the Right One for You
- Do you hate food sticking more than anything? → Choose HexClad (easiest life) or DELARLO Honeycomb (cheaper but still easy).
- Do you want something that will last forever and you are okay to learn the preheat trick? → Choose All-Clad D3 (best quality) or DELARLO Tri-Ply (almost same quality for much less money).
- Is your budget very tight? → DELARLO Tri-Ply or Honeycomb version. Skip Winware.
- Do you use induction stove? All five pans work on induction, no problem.
- Do you put pans in dishwasher? HexClad and both DELARLO are fully dishwasher safe. All-Clad prefers hand wash to keep mirror shine.
Which Product Is Best for Cooking a Lot?
After cooking more than 300 meals in these pans, here is my personal ranking:
- HexClad – Best overall for busy home cooks who cook a lot and want zero stress. Worth the high price if you can afford it.
- All-Clad D3 – Best pure stainless steel forever pan. Perfect if you love real cooking flavor.
- DELARLO Tri-Ply – Best value. 90% of All-Clad performance for 1/3 the price. My daily pan right now.
- DELARLO Honeycomb – Great middle option if you want some help with sticking but still pure stainless feel.
- Winware – Only for emergency.
Final Touch
If you cook a lot like me, please stop buying cheap coated pans every year. A good stainless steel frying pan will save you money and nerves in the long run. My kitchen now has two pans that I really love: the DELARLO Tri-Ply for normal days (because it is cheap and great), and I still keep the HexClad for weekend breakfast when I want everything perfect without effort.
Choose the one that fits your budget and your patience for learning. Any of the top four will make you happy for many years. You will thank yourself every morning when breakfast cooks easily and cleaning takes 30 seconds.
By day, I’m a Doctor of Clinical Psychology student (Psy.D.) at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine – basically learning how the brain works while drinking way too much coffee.
By night (and weekends, and lunch breaks…), I’m a total kitchen geek. I’m that person who gets excited over a new spatula, owns three different vegetable choppers “for science,” and has strong feelings about which nonstick pan actually stays nonstick.