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Best frying pans under $120

These affordable non-stick frypans performed as well as big-name brands that cost more than $300.

egg_in_a_non_stick_frypan
Last updated: 22 May 2024

A good non-stick frying pan is an essential item in your kitchen kit. It means you can use less (or no) oil or fat when cooking, and your pancakes will still gracefully slide off your pan when they're done.

They're generally easier to clean than other types of frying pans and although you shouldn't use them for high-heat cooking tasks such as searing, a good non-stick pan should be your go-to for things such as a perfectly cooked fried egg.

But with prices for non-stick pans headed into the hundreds, how much do you need to spend to get a good one, and which cheaper pans scored well enough to be recommended by our experts? 

Cheap vs expensive frying pans

CHOICE experts put more than 30 pans through their paces in our kitchen lab, assessing factors such as how easy they are to use, their durability and how well they perform tasks such as cooking pancakes.

Some cheaper frypans do stack up against more expensive brands, outscoring pans that cost hundreds of dollars more

Not only do we cook up lots of pancakes and eggs, but we use a mechanical arm to repeatedly scour the surface of each non-stick pan 10,000 times to assess the resilience of the coating – a good sign if the pan is going to go the distance in your kitchen.

nonstick frying pans on a stovetop lead

Pan vs pan: some cheaper models outperform expensive brands.

When looking at the final score each pan receives, our experts say that some cheaper frypans do stack up against more expensive brands, outscoring pans that cost hundreds of dollars more.

However, some of the high-end brands may have more premium features that could be important to you.

"The aspects that separated the best and worst models mostly came down to their durability and things like how easy they are to clean, the ergonomics of the handles and how well-balanced the pan is," says CHOICE kitchen expert Chantelle Dart.

The frying pans we tested recently range in price from just $14 up to around $450.

While some frying pan RRPs run into the hundreds of dollars, it's worth shopping around – you can often find some expensive models heavily discounted.

Which cheaper frying pans scored well in CHOICE tests?

CHOICE members can access detailed reviews from our frying pan test to discover which pans give you the most bang for your buck. 

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If you're a CHOICE member, you'll be well aware that our testing often reveals cheaper products that perform as well as – and even better than – more expensive products. 

And since you're in the inner sanctum, we can reveal a secret about frying pans that only CHOICE members are in on: you definitely don't need to spend more to get a better pan – three of the top four pans we tested cost $130 or less. One of them is an absolute steal at just $19. 

You definitely don't need to spend more to get a better pan – three of the top four pans we tested cost $130 or less

Plus, if you're in the market for a cast iron frypan, we'll tell you which cheaper frying pan will deliver almost the same level of performance as a $370 Le Creuset.

With access to inside info like this, your CHOICE membership well and truly pays for itself!

kmart anko 24cm frypan

The definition of bang for your buck, this $19 Kmart frypan topped our test.

1. Kmart Anko 24cm Frypan

(Available at Kmart and Target)

  • Choice Expert Rating: 88%
  • Performance score: 100%
  • Cost: $19

At an eye-poppingly low price of $19, the 24cm Kmart Anko frypan impressed our testers. It tied for first place with a $180 Circulon pan, proving yet again that price is not always an indicator of performance.

"It's a lightweight, well-balanced pan that's easy to clean," says Chantelle. 

"In our tests, it scored well for evenness of heating and durability. Even though it's only $19, it's comparable with other brands that are significantly more expensive."

Even though it's only $19, it's comparable with other brands that are significantly more expensive

Chantelle Dart, CHOICE kitchen expert

If pancakes are a regular on your breakfast menu, this pan delivers the goods. It has excellent distribution of heat, making evenly cooked, golden-brown pancakes in our tests. 

On the downside, our testers did note that the non-stick capabilities are not perfect. A little oil was needed to fry an egg in it without sticking (an issue that may be avoided if you opt for a more expensive pan). 

Read the full Kmart Anko 24cm Frypan review.

green pan wood be frying pan cream white 24cm

Cute name with a good-looking price: the Green Pan Wood-Be.

2. Green Pan Wood-Be Frying Pan Cream White 24cm

  • CHOICE Expert Rating: 86% (Recommended)
  • Performance score: 90%
  • Price: $80

It has a clever name, a sharp price, and savvy performance: our experts say this Green Pan is a smart buy for canny shoppers. 

At just 700g, it's very lightweight and balanced, and both the interior and exterior are nice and easy to clean. 

Its non-stick properties are excellent, and our experts didn't need to use any oil when cooking with it. 

Its big selling point is that it's claimed to be the first non-stick coating made without PFAS, PFOA, lead or cadmium, and it's plastic-free. 

Our experts say this Green Pan is a smart buy for canny shoppers

On the downside, it doesn't have a large magnetic area on the base, which can make it less effective on induction stovetops, and the base of the pan may concave during cooking. 

This could mean your food runs to one side while cooking, especially with liquid or runny ingredients like eggs.

All in all, though, it's a great pan for a great price, and if you're after a non-stick pan without some of the questionable chemicals, this is a good buy. 

Read the full Green Pan Wood-Be Frying Pan review.

stanley rogers lightweight cast iron frypan 24cm 42309

It weighs less than other cast iron pans, but this Stanley Rogers number is no lightweight in the kitchen.

3. Stanley Rogers Lightweight Cast Iron Frypan 24cm

  • CHOICE Expert Rating: 83% (Recommended)
  • Performance score: 80%
  • Price: $119

This frypan certainly lives up to its name: 1.2kg is very light for a cast iron frypan. Other cast iron products we tested weigh as much as 2.7kg. 

It's also a lot cheaper than the other cast iron pans in our test. It scored just two percentage points lower than a Le Creuset pan that costs $370 – so you could spend $250 less for close to the same performance.

It scored just two percentage points lower than a Le Creuset pan that costs $370 – so you could spend $250 less for close to the same performance

While other cast iron frying pans have cast iron handles, this Stanley Rogers pan saves on weight by using a stainless steel handle, which makes it easier to handle. 

You can also use it in the oven – it'll handle temperatures up to 500°C – which is useful for finishing off dishes such as frittatas or for searing and then roasting meat. 

If you're considering a cast iron frypan, it's important to learn about how to care for it as the cleaning process is quite different to stainless steel or other pans. But if you look after it properly, it can last you a lifetime. 

If you're only spending $119 for a pan that could last for decades, that's definitely value for money!

Read the full Stanley Rogers Lightweight Cast Iron Frypan review

Stock images: Getty, unless otherwise stated.