Chef's Choice: Top Pan Brands for Culinary Excellence

Choosing the right pan for your kitchen can significantly impact your cooking experience and results. With a market teeming with options, selecting the best brands can be quite overwhelming. This article aims to guide you through some of the top brands revered not only for their high-quality materials but also for their innovative designs and durability. Curious to know which brands made the cut? Discover all the details below.

Illustration of pans

Best brands of pans in 2025

All-Clad

All-Clad is renowned as one of the top producers of high-quality cookware, particularly known for its fully bonded, handcrafted pots and pans made by skilled craftspeople using the finest materials. The brand saw significant market share growth, with sales of its roasting pans increasing by 1,431% during the 2022 holiday season. All-Clad is a major player in the US Induction Cookware Market, expected to reach USD 0.95 billion in 2024, and the brand recently launched a new enameled cast iron collection in July 2023. All-Clad's products are prized for their superior performance and durability, often sold at premium prices in high-end stores. The brand's commitment to quality and innovation has made it a favorite among professional chefs and home cooks alike.

Le Creuset

Le Creuset is a pioneering brand in the enameled cookware market, renowned for its highly-durable, chip-resistant enameled cast iron products. Since its founding in 1925, Le Creuset has been a leader in color development and innovation, offering over 100 colors and a wide range of products including cast iron, stainless steel, and stoneware. The brand's commitment to quality and craftsmanship is evident in its products, which are handcrafted in France and pass through the hands of at least 15 artisans to ensure excellence. Le Creuset dominates the enameled cookware market, with Europe holding a significant market share of 33.65% in 2022. The brand's products are trusted by culinary leaders and home cooks alike for their superior performance and durability. For more information, visit the Le Creuset page.

Calphalon

Calphalon is renowned as one of the top producers of high-quality cookware, including pans, known for their durable and efficient designs. The brand's Tri-Ply Stainless Steel Cookware set, for instance, features a three-layer design with stainless steel and aluminium for excellent heat distribution, and it is oven safe up to 500F and dishwasher safe. In the market, Calphalon held a significant market share, with around 10% in Q3 2022 in the kitchen product trends on Amazon. The brand's products are highly rated, with users giving them a 5 out of 5 rating on the company's website. Calphalon's commitment to quality is further underscored by its lifetime warranty on stainless steel cookware.

T-fal

T-fal, a brand under the Groupe SEB umbrella, is renowned for producing high-quality pans that dominate the cookware market. In 2020, the nonstick cookware market, where T-fal is a key player, was valued at USD 10.29 billion and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.2% from 2021 to 2028, reaching USD 15.39 billion by 2028. T-fal's products, particularly those with Teflon coatings, held a significant volume share of 47.0% in the nonstick cookware segment due to their durability and ease of use. The brand's commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction has made it a favorite among consumers, contributing to the overall growth of the cookware market. T-fal's presence in various regions, including Europe where the brand has a strong market share, further solidifies its position as a leading producer of pans. For more details on the market dynamics, refer to the nonstick cookware market analysis.

Lodge

Lodge is renowned for producing high-quality cast iron cookware, with their products often praised for their durability and performance. Despite being significantly cheaper than premium brands like Le Creuset, Lodge pans are surprisingly heavy and well-made, with a quality rating of 9 out of 10. They excel in baking, searing, and cooking evenness, as evidenced by Consumer Reports' lab tests. The interior enamel, although sometimes slightly bumpy, does not compromise the cooking experience. Lodge's affordability, with prices about 25% of their more expensive counterparts, makes them an excellent value for money.

Scanpan

Scanpan is renowned as one of the top producers of high-quality nonstick cookware, known for its innovative Stratanium and Stratanium+ coatings that offer exceptional release properties, durability, and healthier cooking options without the need for oil. These coatings are metal-utensil safe and dishwasher friendly, making them highly durable and easy to clean. Scanpan collaborates with award-winning chefs to continuously improve their products, ensuring they meet the highest standards of culinary professionals. The company's commitment to sustainability and eco-friendly practices has earned it a strong reputation in the market. Scanpan's products are widely recognized for their excellent frying properties and are preferred by uncompromising chefs and culinary enthusiasts.

Staub

Staub is renowned as one of the top producers of high-quality cast iron cookware, known for its durable and aesthetically appealing products. The brand's cookware, such as skillets and Dutch ovens, features self-basting spikes under the lid, a lustrous "majolique" finish, and oven-safe knobs up to 500 degrees, making them highly versatile for various cooking surfaces. Staub's products are favored in commercial settings globally and are appreciated for their hardwearing enamel interior that develops a non-stick patina over time. The cast iron cookware market, which includes brands like Staub, is expected to grow at a CAGR of 8.9% from 2024 to 2030, with the skillets/fryers segment leading the market with a 41.60% revenue share in 2023. Staub's market share has been increasing, particularly since its acquisition by the German-based company Zwilling J.A. Henckels. For more detailed insights into Staub cast iron cookware, visit this comprehensive review.

GreenPan

GreenPan is a leading brand in the cookware industry, renowned for its innovative, eco-friendly, and non-toxic ceramic non-stick cookware. Founded in 2007 by Jan Helskens and Wim De Veirman, GreenPan has developed seven generations of its proprietary Thermolon coating, which is PFAS-free, lead-free, and cadmium-free. Their cookware is produced using a sustainable Sol-Gel method that reduces CO2 emissions by 60% compared to traditional nonstick methods. GreenPan's factory runs on 30% solar energy and includes an onsite wastewater treatment facility, highlighting the brand's commitment to environmental sustainability. The company has won several awards, including the Good Housekeeping Sustainable Innovation Award in 2023.

Cuisinart

Cuisinart is a leading brand in the cookware market, particularly renowned for its high-quality pans. In the fourth quarter of 2022, Cuisinart led in market share for saucepans, with a 61% quarter-over-quarter growth, and also saw significant gains in skillets and frying pans, with a 116% market share increase. The brand's products are favored for their durability and multi-purpose use, contributing to the overall growth of the cookware market, which is expected to reach USD 905.3 million by 2030 in North America. Cuisinart's commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction has solidified its position among top market players. The brand's products are widely available through various distribution channels, including online platforms and specialty stores.

Mauviel

Mauviel, established in 1830, is renowned as one of the premier manufacturers of high-quality copper cookware, particularly notable for its durability, even heat distribution, and exquisite design. Based in Villedieu-les-Poeles, France, Mauviel has maintained its artisanal traditions while innovating with lines such as the M'tradition, M'heritage, and M'cook. The company, now led by Valerie Le Guern-Gilbert, the seventh generation of her family, continues to produce cookware with thicknesses ranging from 1.5mm to 2.5mm, catering to both home cooks and professionals. Mauviel's commitment to tradition and innovation has made it a staple in the culinary world, with collaborations with top chefs like Yannick Alleno. The company remains the sole re-tinner in France, preserving an endangered craft.