There are a lot of cool things out there that make us wonder — do they really work? In our I Tried It series, we set out to use them in the real world and have determined that, in fact, they really do.
The Product on Trial
The Tester
Brandon Carte, cast-iron devotee who wanted something not quite as large but just as versatile
The Brief
The 12-inch OXO Good Grips Nonstick Pan has a slick nonstick coating, a comfortable handle, and premium build — but it costs next to nothing.
When I’m in the kitchen, my go-to cookware is my trusty cast-iron skillet. I use it to cook practically everything, including eggs, steaks, minced beef, chicken, fish, and curries. As much as I love and rely on my cast iron, what I don’t love about it is how bulky it is. It’s a pain to clean and because of its large size, I keep it underneath most of my other cookware, so it can be a bit annoying to retrieve.
After hearing so many rave reviews on the OXO Good Grips Nonstick Frypan — the pan received awards from both America’s Test Kitchen and Cook’s Illustrated — I decided to invest in one of my own. I’ve been using it regularly for 2 months and don’t know how I lived without it.
I have the 12-inch variant (OXO also has 8-inch and 10-inch nonstick skillets) that’s made from scratch-resistant, heavy-gauge anodized aluminum. At just under 2.5 pounds, it’s the perfect weight. It’s not too heavy nor too light, feels sturdy, and its stainless-steel handle has tight, premium-grade rivets.
I found the handle to be comfortable to grip, and I like that it stays cool to the touch. More importantly, the pan’s flat surface cooks food evenly and provides ample room for my ingredients, and its walls are high enough to contain foods when I'm aggressively stirring. The subtly rolled lips allow liquids or sauces to be poured with ease.
The pan is both oven- and dishwasher-safe. I’ve tossed mine in my 350-degree Fahrenheit oven a handful of times to brown and finish off dishes. So far, its nonstick surface has held up quite well. Everything slides right out of it, too. I’ve cooked fish, curry, stir-fries, eggs, veggies, taco meat, queso, and I’m telling you — nothing sticks to it!
What I like most about the OXO though is its affordable price. Nonstick skillets experience wear and tear even if you’re extremely careful. Since this one is so cheap, I don’t feel the need to baby it.
Although I try not to use metal utensils and I avoid throwing the pan in the dishwasher in hopes of prolonging its nonstick coating, it’s nice knowing that in a year when I’ll likely need to replace my OXO, it’s not as if I’m disposing an expensive piece of cooking equipment.
The Closing Argument
Whether you cook regularly or a few times each week, you’ll quickly learn to love the OXO Good Grips Nonstick Frypan. It’s an excellent and affordable piece of cookware that’ll surely become a stovetop staple.
