Recommend me a frying pan that doesn't cost the earth.

[herulach]

So I need a new frying pan, historically I've just been grabbing the cheap tefal ones when they're on sale, but I could do with something with a lid. What can people recommend? I don't necessarily mind paying decent money if it'll last. Probably looking for something 24cm ish with a lid, deeper preferably, I only like to use one pan!

[GoNz0]

argos has a sale on tefal intensium http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Search...+INTENSIUM.htm

great pans for £12 = 32 inch

*I have one.

if u want a lid go to ikea and buy a splash guard thing

[OilSheikh]

+1 for Tefal.
I find it strange you need a lid for your frying pan .. how are you gonna fry it then ? Frying pans are meant to be stir and fry.

[kalniel]

You're looking for a saute pan not a frying pan then, and I'd recommend looking for hard annodised (aluminium) pans - IMHO they're longer lasting than the usual steel+coating.

Something like this:

http://www.johnlewis.com/tefal-prefe...4cm/p231631773

or this:

http://www.johnlewis.com/meyer-infin...6cm/p230422015

[g8ina]

Id always recommend Anolon, having used one of their hard anodised 30cm saute pans for the last 12 years now.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

I would also go with anodised aluminium or even a stainless steel pan.

Also,ceramic non-sticks tend to be more durable than teflon ones.

[TAKTAK]

I've got a very nice copper bottom frying pan from (I think it was from Marks and Sparks), it's survived university being abused by other housemates and is still going strong... I think it was nigh on £30 at the time though, so not exactly cheap!

[herulach]

Sauté pan is probably the right terminology. How difficult to clean is the anodised aluminium stuff? 50/60 quid sounds about right

[Spreadie]

I have an aluminium Fissler 30cm frying pan and I'm very pleased with it. No lid, but I'd get a splash guard separately.

I think John Lewis sell them.

[kalniel]

Sauté pan is probably the right terminology. How difficult to clean is the anodised aluminium stuff? 50/60 quid sounds about right

It's just like your normal good non-stick in ease of cleaning (ie, very easy).

[g8ina]

My Anolon was £78 back then ......

[hb904460]

My set of anodised Meyer pans look horrendous, because they are not properly dishwasher safe.

I ahve always used tefal as my frying pan of choice (my Meyer one the non-stick coating came off after over heating), They usually last around 5 years before the handle falls off but at sub £20 its not an issue.

[merdat]

If you get one of the new generation non-stick pans like Stonewell or some ceramic ones then you won't need to use a dishwasher as nothing sticks and you virtually need no oil, ideal for your health and just a wipe to clean.

[Kovoet]

They have a sale on at dunelm. Loads of choice there and cheap.

[Ttaskmaster]

My Mrs bought this Jasper Conran one, which is utterly amazing. NOTHING sticks to it and you only ever need a teaspoon of oil, if at all. Cleaning just requires a bit of hot soapy water, no elbow grease.
It's heavy-bottomed as well, but not especially heavy overall. You can still flip things with ease!

Debenhams stock them - The range is called 'J by Jasper Conran'.

[Saracen]

Personally, I prefer to buy good quality occasionally, rather than cheap and often.

Best I've had are Le Creuset, but cheap, they aren't. My favourite is a sort of wok/saute pan combination ...
http://www.johnlewis.com/le-creuset-...0cm/p230475827

Their deep frying pans are these .... http://www.johnlewis.com/le-creuset-...p16344#default

The 24" is £68. Not cheap, but they are, in my experience, very good. Lids are available, but you buy them separately.

I've also got a couple of Circulon pans, and they're very good too.

All the above are hard anodised, while like Kal and others, I find much superior to teflon for non-stick. Lasts a lot longer, and better heat resistance (for long life) too. You have to be quite careful not to overheat teflon, or it breaks down quite quickly.

I also have a medium Tefal (teflon, I think, certainly not hard anodised) pan, and it's not at all bad. But not in the league of Circulon, let alone Le Creuset. I use that Le Creuset 'wok' for everything from soups, to stir fry, to curry, to some casseroles, to small amounts of frying (because the flat base is quite small). And it's superb for letting a bolognese sauce simmer down for several hours. Oh, and the lids are compatible across the wok/frying pan, and I think saute pan, range, too. I have one for that wok. It is NOT a substitute for a medium sized frying pan, though, if you do a lot of frying. A saute pan might be, though.

I've had cheap-ish pans in the past, and find them false economy, to be honest. They start to deteriorate relatively quickly, and then I find myself wondering .... do I replace it now, and "waste" whatever life it has left, or put up with a pan with a gradually worsening non-stick?

Being a bit tight on things like this, I'd rather buy good quality pans .... ONCE. Seems a bit contrary, doesn't it.