If you cook fish often you may have wondered, “What Are The Best Nonstick Pans For Cooking Fish?” You may even have a favorite pan that you use, frequently, but could be thinking, “Is There Something Better?” Below, we’ll look at what I consider the best non-stick pans for cooking fish to see if there is a perfect nonstick fish pan.
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The fish recipes I have on SeasonalCookbook.com are some of my favorites.
My Pan Seared Salmon With Dill Sauce is a healthy seasonal recipe that is so quick and easy, plus salmon may just be my favorite fish.
And the Oven Baked Rockfish With Lemon Butter that I made over the summer was also a fun recipe that, I think, came out really well.
What’s funny, though, is in neither recipe did I use a traditional ‘nonstick pan’ to cook my fish!
When I say pan here, I’m referring to a traditional frying pan like this that is used for cooking fish and other food on the stove top.
So, What Pans Did I Use In My Aforementioned Fish Recipes?
For my Pan Seared Salmon recipe, I used a skillet to sear the fish.
And for my Baked Rockfish recipe, I used a casserole dish and baked the fish in the oven.
So, as I started to think about my next fish recipe, I realized that I didn’t have a good nonstick pan to cook fish directly on my stove top!
As a result, I decided to research what the best nonstick pans for cooking fish are and figured I would share my results with you right here.
Best Overall Nonstick Pan For Cooking Fish
Hestan – ProBond Collection – 100% Triple Bonded Nonstick Stainless Steel Frying Pan
This non-stick pan has many of the elements that you should look for in a good nonstick pan.
It is made of stainless steel and has a triple-bonded stainless steel base that delivers “35% more heat conductivity” according to the features listed on Amazon.com.
Hestan frying pans use three layers of PFOA-Free non-stick coating that are reinforced with diamond particles that are anchored to the pan with plasma technology.
This technology is said to offer “…the most durable nonstick cookware in the world“, according to the company.
This frying pan is also Induction Cooktop compatible and dishwasher safe (however I recommend only hand-washing nonstick pans).
The only downside, in my opinion, is that this pan is quite expensive!
The Best Nonstick Pan For The Money
Made In Cookware – 12″ Non-Stick Frying Pan (Graphite) – 5 Ply Stainless Clad Nonstick
One thing I can say is that Made In Cookware is one of the preferred brands of professional chefs, but also affordable enough for the home cook.
I had already done some extensive research into Made In Cookware for my review article Made In Vs All Clad.
In that article, I did a side-by-side comparison between these top two cookware makers so I already knew Made In pretty well.
One thing I can say about this particular Nonstick Pan from Made In is that it uses a 5-Ply bonded Stainless Clad construction that is responsive and distributes heat evenly.
This frying pan also has a non-stick coated graphite surface that is ultra-slick and makes hand-cleaning this pan extremely fast and easy.
It is one of the very best nonstick pans for cooking fish that I have come across and is among my top two choices right now.
The price is also very reasonable for such a high quality pan – see today’s price on Amazon by clicking the button below.
Best Nonstick Frying Pan For Cooking Fish – Top Overall Design
HexClad Hexagonal 12 Inch Hybrid Nonstick Frying Pan
HexClad is another brand of high-end cookware that is used by some of the finest restaurants in the world, but priced reasonably enough so that serious home chefs can still afford it.
The unique feature of this frying pan is that it uses a laser-etched, stainless steel hexagonal design that creates small peaks over non-stick areas.
This hexagonal technology is said to enhance the searing capabilities of this pan, which makes it good for searing fish similar to a skillet’s capabilities.
And this HexClad frying pan is safe for all cooktops, including induction cooktops.
The only downside is the price – it’s a bit of an eye-opener! See for yourself…
Best Nonstick Pan For Cooking Fish – Best Pan Under $100
Ninja CW60030 NeverStick Comfort Grip 12″ Nonstick Fry Pan
One thing to note is that is is very difficult to get a really good nonstick pan for under $100.
There are several reasons for this, but the main problem has to do with how the non-stick coating is applied.
I discuss more about what makes a pan nonstick down below, but just know that cheaper pans use less of the compound that makes them non-stick.
Also, less expensive cookware generally uses a less thorough bonding process of applying this nonstick compound to the surface of the pan.
This Ninja CW60030 is about as good a nonstick pan for cooking fish as you will get for under $100 – just expect the coating to breakdown at some point.
Best Nonstick Pan For Cooking Fish – Best New Pick
Calphalon Nonstick Frying Pan with Lid and Stay-Cool Handles
The Calphalon Nonstick frying pan is a is a relatively new offering on Amazon and seems to have garnered some fans thus far based on the reviews.
This pan is made of heavy-gauge, hard-anodized aluminum construction and heats evenly so that fish and other food cooks evenly.
It’s dishwasher safe, but it is usually better to hand wash nonstick pans since the extremely hot water and abrasive detergents used in dishwashers can break down nonstick coating.
This Calphalon Nonstick Frying Pan comes with a Stay Cool handle and is very reasonably priced for a pan of its quality.
What Makes a Pan Non-Stick?
Nonstick frying pans are coated with a material called polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) – also known as Teflon.
Teflon is a synthetic compound that can be bonded to the surface of cookware quite easily.
Once bonded to the surface of a pan or skillet, Teflon provides a non-stick surface that is virtually frictionless.
How Long Do Nonstick Pans Last?
Nonstick pans coated with Teflon, or PTFE as it is commonly referred to, last about three years.
Pans that are ceramic-coated – as opposed to Teflon coated – last about one year less than non-stick pans coated with PTFE.
However, pans that are coated with multiple layers of PTFE coating last the longest – with many of these higher-end pans lasting more than five to seven years.
The longest-lasting pans that use multiple layers of PTFE like this one will also be the most expensive.
What Is The Difference Between A Skillet And A Non-Stick Pan?
Skillets, like the Lodge Skillet I used for my Pan Seared Salmon Recipe, are typically made of cast iron, which is a compound made of carbon and steel.
Skillets are typically one full piece of metal – as opposed to the non-stick pans we’ve been discussing that have separate handles secured with rivets.
Skillets heat slowly but, because of the heavy cast iron material, they retain heat very well.
Finally, skillets are less expensive than nonstick pans because they are easier to construct and do not contain nonstick coating that must be bonded to their surface.
The Best Nonstick Pans For Cooking Fish – Conclusion
So, as with almost everything else, when it comes to finding the best nonstick pans for cooking fish: You Get What You Pay For.
It costs more money to manufacture a high-end fry pan that uses the best PTFE coating and bonds it to the stainless steel base using the most advanced technology.
Which will certainly allow your nonstick pan to last as long as possible no matter what type of food you cook with it.
But it will cost you.
If you are okay with potentially having to replace your nonstick fish pan every two to three years, then please check out my recommendation for Best Nonstick Fish Pan Under $100.
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What Do You Think About My Recommendations For Best Nonstick Pans For Cooking Fish?
Do you have a favorite pan that you use as your go-to nonstick fish pan?
What did you think about the nonstick pans I highlighted above?
Whether you agree with me or not, I would LOVE to hear what you have to say!
Please share your thoughts in the Comments Section below and I’ll see you soon.
