I am just a regular person who loves Sunday roast chicken. I am not a chef. I don’t have fancy knives or a big kitchen. I only want one good pan that can make juicy, golden chicken with crispy skin without sticking or burning. For many months, I read hundreds of reviews, watched videos, asked friends, and bought five popular 12-inch pans with my own money. I cooked whole chickens, chicken thighs, and chicken breasts again and again in each pan. I washed them, dropped them (by mistake), and used them almost every week. Now I want to share everything I learned so you can choose the right one without wasting time or money. This article is long because I put every small detail that helped me decide. Let’s start!
Quick Comparison Table (All Are 12-Inch Pans)
| Product Name | Top Features | Product Price |
|---|---|---|
| All-Clad D3 Stainless Steel 12-Inch Fry Pan | Tri-ply stainless steel, stays flat, oven safe to 600°F, lifetime warranty | Check Price on Amazon |
| EWFEN 12-Inch Stainless Steel Fry Pan | Cheap tri-ply, works on induction, helper handle, very light | Check Price on Amazon |
| T-fal Platinum Nonstick 12-Inch Sauté Pan | Deep sides, strong nonstick, cool handle, cheap price | Check Price on Amazon |
| HexClad Hybrid 12-Inch Frying Pan | Stainless + nonstick mix, metal utensil safe, very famous on social media | Check Price on Amazon |
| Redchef Ceramic Nonstick 12-Inch Frying Pan | Ceramic coating, no PTFE, pretty colors, light weight | Check Price on Amazon |
Now let’s talk about each pan one by one.
All-Clad D3 Stainless Steel 12-Inch Fry Pan
Pros
- Chicken skin gets super crispy and golden
- Nothing ever sticks if you preheat correctly
- Works on every stove (gas, electric, induction)
- Goes in oven up to very high heat
- Will last forever
Cons
- Very expensive
- Heavy (almost 3 pounds)
- Food can stick if you don’t know the trick
- Needs hand wash to stay shiny (but dishwasher is okay sometimes)
Who should buy this pan? If you’re like me and you want only one pan for the next 20 years, and you are ready to spend money once, this is your pan. It is perfect for people who love real stainless steel taste and don’t mind learning two small tricks. If you roast chicken every Sunday like my family, this pan pays for itself because you never need another one.
Specifications
- Size: 12 inches (30.5 cm) cooking surface
- Material: 3 layers (stainless – aluminum – stainless)
- Weight: 2.9 pounds
- Handle: Riveted stainless steel
- Oven safe: 600°F
- Induction: Yes
- Warranty: Lifetime
My real experience with this pan The first time I used it, I was scared. I heard stainless steel sticks a lot. I put oil, waited until it shimmered, then put the chicken skin down. Nothing stuck! The skin turned beautiful golden color in 8 minutes. I flipped the chicken and put the whole pan in the oven at 400°F to finish. When it came out, the chicken was perfect. Juices stayed inside the meat, skin was crispy like restaurant. Cleaning? I just added water while hot, waited 2 minutes, everything wiped off. In my opinion, this is the king of roasting chicken if you can spend the money.
Heat distribution story One Sunday I forgot to turn down the heat (my stove is strong). With cheap pans, one side burns. With All-Clad, every part of the chicken cooked the same. The thick aluminum layer spreads heat so well. If you’re like me and sometimes walk away to help kids with homework, this pan forgives small mistakes.
EWFEN 12-Inch Stainless Steel Fry Pan
Pros
- Very cheap but still tri-ply
- Light and easy to move
- Good size handle with helper handle
- Works on induction
- Looks almost like All-Clad
Cons
- Bottom is thinner than All-Clad
- Handle gets hot
- Can warp if you heat empty too long
- Not as shiny after many washes
Who should buy this pan? Buy this if you want stainless steel quality but your budget is small. It is great for young people who just moved out or for a second pan. If you’re like me and you don’t want to spend $150 but still want decent chicken, this pan surprises you.
Specifications
- Size: 12 inches
- Material: Tri-ply stainless
- Weight: about 2.2 pounds
- Handle: Stainless with helper handle
- Oven safe: 500°F
- Induction: Yes
My real experience I bought this because I wanted to see if cheap tri-ply can roast chicken well. First chicken came out very good – skin crispy, not much sticking. The pan is lighter, so I can shake it easily to move the chicken. The helper handle helps when I put a whole chicken with vegetables. After 20 cooks, the bottom is still flat and shiny. For the price, I am shocked how good it is. The only time I had sticking was when I put cold chicken on cold pan – my mistake. In my opinion, this is the best cheap pan for chicken.
T-fal Platinum Nonstick 12-Inch Deep Sauté Pan
Pros
- Super easy – nothing sticks ever
- Deep sides keep oil inside
- Very cheap
- Handle stays cool
- Light weight
Cons
- Nonstick will wear out in 2-3 years with high heat
- Cannot use metal tools
- Not good over 500°F in oven
- Coating can scratch if you are rough
Who should buy this pan? Perfect for beginners or busy parents who want zero stress. If you’re like me and sometimes burn things because kids are crying, this pan saves dinner. Great when you hate scrubbing.
Specifications
- Size: 12 inches, deep sides (almost like a small wok)
- Material: Aluminum with platinum nonstick
- Weight: 2.1 pounds
- Handle: Cool silicone
- Oven safe: 500°F
My story This pan made me smile the first time. I just put oil, put chicken, walked away. Ten minutes later – perfect golden skin, no sticking at all. I didn’t even watch the stove. Cleaning took 10 seconds with a soft sponge. I use it when I am lazy. The deep sides are perfect because when I roast chicken with potatoes, nothing falls out. Yes, I know nonstick is not forever, but for this price, I will buy again when it wears.
HexClad Hybrid 12-Inch Frying Pan
Pros
- You can use metal spoons
- Nonstick at first + stainless steel look
- Very famous, looks cool
- Good heat distribution
Cons
- Very expensive
- Nonstick feeling goes away after 6-12 months
- Chicken skin sticks more than real stainless after some time
- Heavy
Who should buy this pan? Buy if you love gadgets and want to show friends a “special” pan. Good if you already have money and want something different. Not the best for pure chicken performance.
Specifications
- Size: 12 inches
- Material: Stainless + nonstick hex pattern
- Weight: 3 pounds
- Oven safe: 500°F
- Induction: Yes
My honest story I saw this pan everywhere on Instagram, so I bought it. First month – amazing. Chicken slid like on ice. After four months of weekly chicken, the magic went away. Now it sticks almost like normal stainless, but costs three times more. The laser pattern looks cool, but for roasting chicken, All-Clad or even the cheap EWFEN gives better crispy skin now. In my opinion, nice pan, but too much money for what it does.
Redchef Ceramic Nonstick 12-Inch Frying Pan
Pros
- No PTFE/PFOA (some people worry about chemicals)
- Pretty color options
- Very light
- Cheap
- Easy clean
Cons
- Ceramic coating wears fast with high heat
- Not good for very crispy skin (oil doesn’t get hot enough)
- Handle feels cheap
Who should buy this pan? Good for people who want ceramic only and cook on low-medium heat. Okay for eggs and fish, but not the best for whole roast chicken.
Specifications
- Size: 12 inches
- Material: Aluminum with ceramic coating
- Weight: under 2 pounds
- Oven safe: 450°F (some say less)
My experience Chicken skin never got super crispy like in stainless steel pans. The ceramic is too “slippery” – oil doesn’t stay hot enough for that crackling sound I love. After ten cooks, some spots lost the nonstick feel. I still use it for vegetables, but for Sunday roast chicken, I go back to stainless.
Simple Buying Guide – How to Choose Your Perfect Chicken Pan
- Do you want one pan forever? → Choose stainless steel (All-Clad or EWFEN)
- Do you want zero sticking and easy life? → Choose nonstick (T-fal)
- Do you worry about chemicals? → Ceramic (Redchef) or stainless
- Do you have induction stove? → All except maybe old nonstick
- Do you put pan in oven often? → All-Clad wins (600°F)
- Budget under $50? → EWFEN or T-fal
Which Pan Is Really the Best 12-Inch Frying Pan for Roasting Chicken?
After cooking more than 50 chickens in these five pans, here is my personal ranking:
- All-Clad D3 – Best forever pan. Crispiest skin, perfect juices, lasts lifetime. Worth every dollar if you roast chicken often.
- EWFEN Stainless – 90% of All-Clad performance for 1/4 price. My “best value” winner.
- T-fal Platinum – Best for lazy days and beginners. Super easy.
- HexClad – Looks cool but not worth the money for chicken.
- Redchef Ceramic – Okay but not great for crispy roast chicken.
Final Words from a Normal Home Cook
If you’re like me – just a regular person who wants amazing Sunday roast chicken without drama – save money and get the EWFEN if you are on budget, or treat yourself to All-Clad if you can. Both give you that proud moment when you bring golden, juicy chicken to the table and everyone says “wow.” I promise you will smile.
Happy cooking, and enjoy your crispy chicken!
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.