The Under-$15 Nonstick Pan I Use Almost Every Day (And It Has More Than 20,000 Five-Star Amazon Reviews)
Over the past few months, I’ve been slowly upgrading my kitchen tools. This process has included investing in a super-sharp chef’s knife and a Staub Dutch oven, two pieces that make me excited to get to work in the kitchen. One personal goal is to invest in a ceramic nonstick cookware set, with my eye on editor-favorite Caraway and Oprah-approved GreenPan in particular. In the meantime, I decided that my scratched-up, everyday nonstick fry pan needed an immediate upgrade. I scoured the internet for a budget-friendly option and was shocked when I stumbled upon the under-$15 Carote 8-Inch Nonstick Frying Pan that boasts a whopping 22,200 five-star ratings on Amazon. The combination of such a low price point with a nontoxic granite coating intrigued me. I placed my order, and I’ve been impressed ever since.
The first thing that stood out to me about this pan was its unique look. It features a speckled, slightly-textured granite surface and a handle that looks like wood but is actually made of Bakelite and super comfortable to grip. I love that it has a wide surface, so it’s quickly become my go-to breakfast pan for evenly cooking scrambled eggs or comfortably fitting two fried eggs.
The Carote 8-Inch Nonstick Frying Pan is designed to heat quickly and distribute heat evenly without hot spots, thanks to its thick aluminum coating. It’s just slightly heavy, so it feels sturdy when I’m cooking on the stove but lightweight enough for any flipping needs. Like any great nonstick pan, it’s also easy to clean and requires just a quick wipe down with warm water and soap after using. And if the 8-inch pan is too small for your needs, it’s also available in three larger sizes and can come with a lid, too.
While using this pan for eggs is a no-brainer — the taller sides are great for avoiding splatters on my stove, too — it’s also been a shockingly useful tool for pancakes. I’m notoriously bad at making pancakes because I lose control of the pan’s heat and wind up with burnt discs toward the end. With this skillet, however, I actually made fluffy, golden pancakes, and because of the nonstick surface, I had no issues when it came time to flip. I know that nonstick isn’t usually the way to go with flapjacks, but regardless, this Carote pan did the trick for me!
I’m shocked that I paid just $13.99 for this nonstick, nontoxic pan, and I see now why it’s so highly rated. While I still have my eye on a few fancy ceramic cookware sets, the Carote 10-Piece Cookware Set has definitely earned a spot in my kitchen tool wishlist, too.
Buy: Carote 8-Inch Nonstick Frying Pan, $13.99