Consumer Reports puts nonstick pans through all kinds of tests. Testers check whether eggs will stick when you fry them. A durability test runs a piece of steel wool that makes 2,000 passes over the pan to see how well the nonstick surface holds up. And the pancake test measures how evenly a frying pan cooks.
A lot of celebrity chefs are pushing their cookware these days. And though they seem like they should be great choices, Consumer Reports didn’t find them to be the most impressive products. For example, mediocre cooking evenness and unimpressive durability kept the Rachael Ray 10-inch skillet off Consumer Reports’ recommended list.
Instead, consider the Simply Calphalon Nonstick 10-inch omelet pan. At $40, it’s a Consumer Reports Best Buy. It cooks evenly and scored excellent in the nonstick test. It’s also tough! Even after 2,000 passes with steel wool, there was no exposed metal. And cleanup is a snap!
The recommended Calphalon pan may be called an omelet pan, but it’s good for all kinds of cooking tasks. Another plus? The pan’s handle stayed cool in Consumer Reports’ tests, and the pan is oven-safe up to 400° F.
