Pans, Skillets and Griddles for Breakfast

Breakfast is not breakfast without a proper start. That calls for a proper pan, skillet or griddle. How else to cook up ham and cheese omelets, golden hashbrowns and crispy bacon? But with thousands of skillets and pans out there, how do you know which is the “best?”

Well, we culled the frying pan herd and decided on three qualifying criteria:

1) Must be under $50

2) Must have more than 100 reviews

3) Must have a 4 star or better rating

Some of these pans are best for pancake flipping while others are designed for making omelets or frying meat. But all fry up delicious breakfast fare, from pancakes to sausage to fried potatoes.

Here are the 5 “best” skillet, griddle and pan candidates:

1) Calphalon Contemporary Nonstick 10 and 12 inch Omelet pans, Set of 2

2) Calphalon C1210P Commercial Nonstick 10-Inch International Griddle/Crepe Pan

3) Lodge Mfg. L14SK3 Skillet with Assist Handle

4) Cuisinart Chef’s Classic Nonstick Hard-Anodized 12-Inch Everyday Pan with Medium Dome Cover

5) Cuisinart Chef’s Classic Stainless 12-Inch Everyday Pan with Dome Cover

The Calpahlon 2-set omelet pans are backed by a lifetime warranty that the manufacturer honors. That’s a big plus. If the nonstick pan fails in some way, send it back for a new skillet. Can’t find a better offer than that. Its official designation is Calphalon Contemporary Nonstick 10 and 12 inch Omelet pans, Set of 2.

Here are the best features of these nonstick pans:

1) Lifetime warranty

2) Two pans for the price of one

3) Stay-cool handles

4) Oven safe up to 450 degrees

5) Ideal for quick frying eggs and pancakes

These Calphalon pans do two jobs and do them well.

1) flipping food

2) quick frying

The sloping sides of these nonstick skillets make it easy to flip pancakes, bacon, French toast and eggs. The food slides easily from the nonstick surface and onto your plate. If these breakfast items are favorites, these skillets will become the morning workhorses of your kitchen.

These pans are solid and the nonstick coating works. No cooking spray is needed.

The handles are comfortable to use and stay cool. The pans are nicely weighted which you’ll appreciate. The pan spreads the heat so your food is cooked evenly. They’re oven safe up to 450 degrees. You can buy optional matching lids that are sold separately.

Do not clean the pans while hot or you might scratch the nonstick surface. Handwash these skillets with soap and warm water. Use plastic or wood utensils only.

Here are a few more tips:

1) Don’t cook with the temperature too high.

2) Don’t stick them in the dishwasher.

3) Don’t add cold water to a hot pan.

4) Never use metal utensils or steel wool.

Users report that these skillets are a pain in the butt to remove from pot racks. Several users mentioned that the packing is substandard and the skillets arrive damaged. Inspect them immediately. Save the box in case you need to return them.

Users also say that the lifetime warranty works. If the nonstick coating chips, send the pan back for a new one.

You can get better nonstick pans than these but not at this price. If you want to try a Calphalon - with a lifetime warranty that's honored -  here’s your chance.

If you only need a commercial grade 10 inch griddle, this nonstick Calphalon will make you happy. Like the one above, this pan comes with a lifetime warranty. Its official designation is Calphalon C1210P Commercial Nonstick 10-Inch International Griddle/Crepe Pan.

Here are the best features of this nonstick pan:

1) Lifetime warranty

2) Oven safe up to 450 degrees

3) Quick fry

This Calphalon nonstick griddle has a three layer construction - hard anodized exterior, aluminum core and nonstick surface. The aluminum core assures rapid heat transfer, the exterior coating increases the griddle’s durability and the nonstick surface allows you to cook low-fat meals without using oil or butter.

This pan is perfect for pancakes, crepes, blintzes and egg foo yung. The low sides make it easy to get under delicate items and flip them.

Because of the aluminum core, heat is quickly and evenly distributed.

This allows you to brown a bunch of stir fry vegetables and then add a cup of pre-cooked rice for a fast, tasty and healthy low-fat lunch. Keeps those abs looking good.

It’s great, too, for grilling cheese sandwiches for the kids. Drop an egg. When it’s done it slides right out. Leaves no trace and the pan is so clean you might think it was never used.

Drop southern biscuits in and pop in the oven. In 12 minutes you serve biscuits and gravy for breakfast. It’s a can-do pan.

Be forewarned that the depth of this griddle is shallow - about one inch - so don’t stick a 6 pound roast in. It’s rated by Calphalon as a crepe pan.

Consider this a quick fry pan. Good for breakfast steaks and sausage.

This is a quality tool for the kitchen. Crepe pans can easily run over $100. This griddle is one-third the price. Plus it has a lifetime warranty.

If there's a breakfast chef hiding in you, this pan will find him.

This is grandma’s cast iron skillet. Big, solid, heavy and able to cook entire meals. It’s official designation is Lodge Mfg. L14SK3 Skillet with Assist Handle.

Here are the best features of this pan:

1) Two handles for heavy lifting

2) Two inches depth

3) Indestructible

4) Cooks perfect pan-fried chicken

This is the Lodge skillet you dump a load of food into. Whole cut-up pan fried chicken? No problem. Louisiana gumbo with shrimp? Yes, indeed. A huge pile of Southern fried potatoes? My pleasure, Ma'am.

Rediscover the joy of good tasting fried food from cast iron. The world of food tastes better. Sear food professionally. Fries an egg right - crispy, tender and distinguished.

Make ballpark quality brats for the kids. Bake round pan bread. Cook fish over a shoreline campfire. Set on the grill to saute onions, peppers and mushrooms for the grilled steaks.

This griddle has fantastic heat retention. Re-oil it and it will give you great no-stick frying. A serious pan for serious cooks.

But be forewarned, you dainty ladies, this is a man’s pan. In the military, this would be classed as light armor plating and it packs a good deal of weight. It takes some arm strength to carry and move this pan when filled with food. Fortunately, it’s designed with a second handle to assist in carrying.

People are looking anew at cast iron pans because of concern of the nonstick surface flaking off on some pans and getting into food.

This griddle comes pre-seasoned. You must take care of this pan if you expect it to last and perform well. Rub a light coat of oil on after cleaning and drying. Then store in a cool and dry place.

Either a cast iron or glass lid are available for this pan but must be purchased separately.

Finally, throw out your half melted and heat warped nylon spatulas and break out the heavy duty steel utensils. You won’t harm this skillet.

Gets better with age as you use it. The more you use it the more non-stick it gets. Great price. Go to frying heaven. American made, too.

You should have bought this long ago.

Make scrambled eggs and bacon, simmer soup or bake meatloaf with this Cuisinart non-stick skillet. Its official name is Cuisinart Chef’s Classic Nonstick Hard-Anodized 12-Inch Everyday Pan with Medium Dome Cover

Here are the best features of this non-stick skillet:

1) Tempered glass lid included

2) Oven safe to 500 degrees

3) Non-stick surface

4) Lifetime limited warranty

This non-stick skillet is reinforced with titanium. The hard anodized aluminum is stronger than stainless steel. It heats quickly and evenly.

There’s plenty of space in this skillet to gently simmer noon-time soup or a healthy stew for dinner.

The stovetop to oven option is great. Boil your noodles, drain, add your favorite seasonings, grate cheddar cheese on top, sprinkle bacon bits (Bam!) and slide in a 350 degree oven till the cheese melts. Chef Emeril has arrived. It’s oven safe to 500 degrees. The iron handles do get hot, so use pot holders when handling.

Great for meatloaf, too. Pop in the oven at 375 for 45 minutes and done. The meatloaf will be moist, not dry, fully cooked and easy to remove from the pan.

A low to medium stovetop heat is recommended. Use non-metal utensils. Wash by hand only. Comes with a tempered glass lid.

Nothing sticks and it cleans with ease, using warm soapy water and a sponge. Fits in the fridge for leftovers.

At this price, it’s a steal.

This stainless steel cookware by Cuisinart makes a mountain of golden hash brown potatoes, enormous Sunday omelets and it’s attractive enough to go straight from the cooktop to your table as a serving dish. The secret of this Pan's shameless culinary profligacy is its domed lid. The official name is Cuisinart Chef’s Classic Stainless 12-Inch Everyday Pan with Dome Cover.

Here are the best features of this non-stick skillet:

1) Oven safe to 550 degrees

2) Lifetime limited warranty

3) Stainless steel domed lid

4) Able to cook enormous amounts of food.

First off, this everyday pan is not cheap, thin stainless steel. You hit someone with this and he’ll be seeing stars. (And you won’t damage the pan.)

It has an encapsulated aluminum core and a stainless steel dome lid. What that means for your cooking is that the aluminum core will gently cook your food with even heat, while the domed lid will seal in the heat, vitamins and nutrients.

This pan saves energy while also cooking up a healthy meal. Saves energy? Prepares healthy food? All good restaurant chefs incorporate these elements into their meals to hold down costs but yet prepare a good meal. So this stainless steel cookware indeed earns its rightful name as the Chef’s Classic Stainless Pan. Save energy - cook with less heat. This Chef’s Classic Stainless pan is designed for low to medium heat.

If you fire up the afterburners on your stove for black and crispy ribs, buy the cast iron pan above. Use a baking soda/vinegar mixture to clean burned, black areas of stainless steel should you cook too hot.

Cooks six chicken breasts at a time. Makes piles of crispy Southern fried potatoes. Or a big casserole. The domed lid is bigger than it looks in the picture. You can fit a small roast in here along with potatoes, broccoli and carrots. The “dome” allows that space. That's the secret to this pan's ability to make mounds of food.

It’s also oven safe to 550 degrees. If you want a crispy end to your chicken casserole, slide it in the oven.

Then it goes straight from your stove to the table as a serving dish. Leftovers can slide into the fridge.