Best Frying Pans in Singapore: Non-Stick, Stainless Steel and Cast Iron Picks

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Eggs before work, a steak for dinner and prata on Sunday ask different things of your pan. Non-stick makes sense for food that clings, stainless steel suits searing and pan sauces, and cast iron holds heat for steady browning. The best frying pan for you starts with what you cook most, not how impressive it looks on a shelf.

You also need it to fit your hob, your budget and that crowded BTO cupboard. Below, you’ll find ToTT’s picks across the three types, with sizes, prices and the trade-offs worth knowing before you bring another pan home. There’s no prize for owning five when two will do.

Key Takeaways

Choose non-stick when eggs and pancakes fill your weekly menu, rather than paying for a surface you’ll rarely need.
Stainless steel suits searing and pan sauces, although you’ll need to learn its heat settings and resist moving food early.
Cast iron holds heat well, but test the weight before buying and remember that dinner adds to the load.
Start with 24cm for everyday cooking, choosing 20cm for small portions or 28cm when you regularly feed several people.
Match your care routine to the pan, since seasoning carbon steel takes more commitment than washing enamelled cast iron.

Three Pan Types and What Each One Does Well

Choose the surface by the cooking job, then compare sizes and prices. De Buyer’s carbon steel option sits alongside the three main types below.

Pan	Type	Size	Price	Best At
Zyliss Ultimate Pro	Non-stick	24cm, 28cm	From S$95.20	Eggs, pancakes, fish
Safico Pro Orange	Ceramic non-stick	24cm, 28cm	From S$24.45	Everyday frying on a smaller budget
Zebra Vitalux	Stainless steel, with 3-ply wok options	24cm pan, 26cm or 34cm wok	From S$57.33	Searing, fried rice
De Buyer Affinity	Five-ply stainless steel	20cm	S$159.60	Small portions, pan sauces
De Buyer Mineral B	Carbon steel	20cm to 36cm	From S$93.10	Browning meat
Lava Metal Handle	Enamelled cast iron	20cm, 0.8L	S$76.14	Individual portions
Lava Handle	Enamelled cast iron	24cm	From S$121.00	Prata, steak

Think about breakfast first. If eggs appear more often than steak, that’s a useful starting point.

Non-Stick Pans for Eggs, Pancakes and Easy Clean-Up

A non-stick pan is worth considering when you want delicate food to leave the pan in one piece.

Coatings wear, so weigh the price against how often you’ll use the pan. An everyday breakfast pan can earn its space without doing every other job.

Zyliss Ultimate Pro PFAS-Free Frying Pan

Breakfast gets most of the attention here, though the Zyliss Ultimate Pro PFAS-Free Frying Pan also suits fish, vegetables and stir-fries. The frying pans come in 24cm and 28cm sizes, with the range starting at S$95.20. Its surface carries the ‘PFAS-free’ label.

Pick 24cm if you mainly cook breakfast or dinner for yourself. The larger option is worth considering when you regularly need room for another portion. Check the exact model’s hob compatibility before ordering.

Safico Pro Ceramic Non-Stick Frypans in Orange

You don’t need a three-figure budget to replace the pan that’s been holding your scrambled eggs hostage. The Safico Pro 24cm Orange Frypan costs S$24.45, while the 28cm Orange Frypan is S$28.95.

Both use aluminium with a ceramic non-stick coating, and both are labelled induction-compatible. The S$4.50 difference makes the larger one tempting, but only buy the extra width if you’ll use it. Keep gentler cooking here and give your searing jobs to stainless steel.

Stainless Steel Pans for Searing and Pan Sauces

Stainless steel lets you brown food and turn the tasty bits left behind into a sauce.

A stainless steel pan takes some getting used to, especially if you’ve always cooked on non-stick. Let the meat brown before moving it. Constant nudging won’t hurry dinner along.

The best frying pan for your kitchen may be the one that handles the meals your breakfast pan doesn’t.

Zebra Vitalux Frying Pan and 3-Ply Woks

The Zebra Vitalux range starts at S$57.33 and gives you a choice of shapes. There’s a 24cm frying pan, plus 26cm and 34cm woks with 3-ply stainless steel construction.

Lean towards the frying pan when you want a flatter cooking surface for chicken or fish. Weekend fried rice points you towards the wok. Note that the 26cm wok has a stated inner diameter of 24cm, and the frying pan isn’t described as sharing the wok’s 3-ply construction.

De Buyer Affinity Stainless Steel Frying Pan

Pouring lips are a welcome detail when you’re getting the last spoonful of sauce onto your plate. The De Buyer Affinity Stainless Steel Frying Pan pairs them with five-ply construction and a riveted cast stainless steel handle.

The 20cm model costs S$159.60 and suits smaller portions. Choose it because you enjoy searing and making sauces, not because a higher price promises to fix your technique.

De Buyer Mineral B as a Carbon Steel Alternative

The De Buyer Mineral B Iron Frying Pan asks for a different sort of commitment. Its carbon steel needs seasoning after you remove the protective beeswax finish, and it requires handwashing.

Prices start at S$93.10, with sizes from 20cm to 36cm. Consider it if you’re happy maintaining a cooking surface that develops with use. If seasoning feels like another chore, the enamelled cast iron options below take a different approach.

Cast Iron Pans That Hold Heat for Steak and Prata

Cast iron keeps heat in the pan, which suits steady browning once you’ve warmed it gradually.

You don’t need to leave the hob on its highest setting to get useful heat from it. Give the pan time, then adjust as you cook. Its weight is the less glamorous part, especially when you’re washing up.

Lava Cast Iron Round Fry Pan with Metal Handle, 20cm

Dinner for one doesn’t always need a large skillet. The Lava Cast Iron Round Fry Pan with Metal Handle measures 20cm, holds 0.8L and costs S$76.14.

Its enamelled cast iron construction gives you a compact option for a steak that fits or a side of vegetables. The limited space is the trade-off. Picture your usual portions before choosing the smaller pan.

Lava Cast Iron Round Fry Pan with Lava Handle, 24cm

Prata and larger portions have more room in the Lava Cast Iron Round Fry Pan with Lava Handle. This 24cm model starts at S$121.00, and its enamelled cast iron needs no seasoning before use.

That removes one maintenance job, though you still have the weight to consider. Before choosing between the two Lava pans, look at the space available beyond the hob.

Choosing Between 20cm, 24cm and 28cm

Your portions should set the size, with your hob and cupboard making the final call.

A 20cm pan suits one or two eggs. Start with 24cm for everyday meals, then consider 28cm for family cooking or batches of food.

Measure the handle too. Check that the pan fits your sink and leaves room for a saucepan on the neighbouring burner. Extra width loses its appeal when you can’t cook rice beside it.

Check your hob model against the pan’s specifications, and use our guide to induction-ready pans and pots [Link to article 2] for that part of the decision. Then give the handle a proper test in person.

Where to See the Pans Before You Buy

Handling a pan helps you judge the grip and weight before committing cupboard space to it.

Lift your shortlist as you would at home, keeping in mind that food adds weight. Bring your hob details and measurements so you can ask about the exact size you’re considering.

Before visiting, ask the ToTT team which pan suits your hob and where you can see it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can You Stack Frying Pans in a Small Cupboard?

Place a clean, dry cloth or pan protector between the cooking surfaces. Avoid sliding a rough pan base across the coating underneath it.

Should You Rinse a Hot Pan Straight Away?

Let it cool before washing. Sudden temperature changes can damage cookware, so leave the pan aside while you eat.

Will a Lid From Another Pan Fit?

Check the rim shape as well as the stated diameter. Try your existing lid against the pan before buying another one.

Is a Cookware Set Worth Buying for a New BTO Kitchen?

Price the pieces you’d actually use separately before comparing them with a set. Count lids and accessories on their own so a bigger piece count doesn’t distract you from what you’re buying.