Large Frying Pans are 12 inch in diameter and above. They are great if you need to feed a family of 3 plus. They leave more room to sear food and prevent food from steaming. However, there are many different options on the market. The type of skillet that you choose will greatly affect the cooking performance and the results of your dish. This article will list the difference between these materials and go over some of the best large frying pan on the market.

Best Large Frying Pan List

Below, you will find a list of some of the best large frying pan on the market. The one you choose should depend on your need and preferences.

Cuisinart Chef’s Classic (Best Large Frying Pan with Lid)

Cuisinart Chef’s Classic is one of the best large frying pan with lid. It uses a anodized coated nonstick that is more durable that your traditional teflon pan. The interior has a nice gentle curve so that nothing gets stuck in the corner. The one issue is the handle, its not as comfortable as other pan. It can also get really hot to the touch. So use a towel when cooking with it.

Tramontina Professional Fry Pans (Best Large Nonstick Frying Pan)

Tramontina makes one of the best large nonstick frying pan on the market. They come in both 12 and 14 inch size. The handle comes with a convenient silicone covering that will prevent it from getting hot. Best of all, its made in the USA. These type of cookware are made for professionals and used by chef all over america. If you want the best, I highly recommend purchasing Tramontina.

Best Large Cast Iron Frying Pan

If you want a pan for searing and deep frying. Then go no further than lodge. They are one of the oldest cookware manufacturer around. The cast iron pan are still made in the usa and one of the bargain in the market. Once you get the pan hot, it will hold the heat. Perfect if you want to sear 3 steaks or more. Just remember to heat it up properly before actually popping in the food. Otherwise you can risk steaming it. You have a option for a 12 inch model or a whopping 17 inch one. The dual loop handle makes it easier to transport around as well.

All Clad D3 Stainless Tri-Ply (Best Large Tri-Ply Skillet)

All Clad makes some of the best cookware in the industry. The tri ply takes the best of aluminum and stainless steel and sandwich them together. The durability and performance is unrivaled in the industry and its backed with a lifetime warranty as well. Their d3 line is still made in the usa and comes with a lid. You really cannot go wrong with All Clad.

Best Cooking Material for Large Frying Pan

There are quite a few different materials on the market. The different metal will affect how food sticks and how good the heat is distributed across the pan. The most commonly used one is Aluminum.

Aluminum Nonstick Frying Pan

The vast majority of nonstick pan on the market is made of Aluminum. They are great conductor of heat, affordable and light. The only downside is that they are reactive to acidic food. Luckily, most manufacturer puts a teflon or ceramic coating to circumvent this.

When buying a aluminum pan, look for one that is very thick. Thick pans can hold more heat and have better heat distribution. This means that the heat will travel from the center to the outer edge of the pan better. A issue that a lot of large frying pan has.

The nonstick coating is also a great thing to have. They ensure nothing will stick and make the pan easy to clean. However, the downside is that they have a limited lifespan. After 2 or 3 years, you can expect the coating to degrade. At that point, its generally better to replace it.

Cast Iron

Some people are put off by the nonstick coating. Luckily, cast iron is a good alternative to that. Its the originally nonstick pan. As you cook in it, the seasoning will get better and better. You can even fry a egg in it without any issue. The heavy duty construction also means that it will pretty much last forever.

However, cast iron is not without fault. Cast Iron is a poor conductor of heat. They are prone to heat spot and take forever to heat up. This is particularly an issue when you use a larger frying pan. The heat cannot travel to the outer edge of the pan as easily. You can overcome the issue by heating it up the pan slowly. Since its so heavy, it can retain the heat and keep it hot. The issue is that its not very responsive to heat change, so your pretty much stuck with a high heat option. Great for steak, bad for sauces.

Tri Ply

Tri Ply are great if you want a aluminum pan without the nonstick coating. They are one of the best balanced cookware on the market. The outer and inner layer is made of stainless steel so you get the performance of aluminum with the durability of stainless steel. The downside is that there is a learning curve to it. If you never cooked in a stainless pan, you can expect everything to stick. But if you can get past that, it will become a workhorse in your kitchen.

Best Large Frying Pan Thoughts

Large Frying Pan are a necessity for bigger family. You have more room to sear and prevent crowding. The pan that you choose should depends on your need. If you want to stir fry and cook things like fried noodle, a nonstick pan would be a great option. However, if you want to sear and cook steak, then cast iron is a great choice. But if you want a kitchen workhorse, then the triply cookware is the best option overall.

Want even more room for cooking? Check out our article on the Best Cast Iron Griddle.