ISO: cheap nonstick fry pans

[chiver78]

disclaimer: this seems like the best place for this thread, if anyone has a major issue/suggestion to move, I have no problem moving this thread myself. say the word. I will not be offended, please don't waste another mod's time. 

I am prepping for the week, and have discovered that my trusty little egg fry pan may not be in a condition to do what I am asking much longer.    basically, this little fry pan is the perfect size to cook a single egg with add-ins, let it set, and it rolls nicely into a tortilla for a quick portable breakfast. I will admit it's been probably 10y at this point since I was prepping breakfast wraps for a week at a time, but this is not working today. I will make it work for the week, but it's not good. things are sticking, badly, even getting doused with spray oil between eggs. stuff's breaking at flip, I've got one round that's getting wrapped up for transport with the wax paper it's currently cooking on, so I can contain. wait, edit - 3rd is going to hang out on wax paper as well. and I'm done, three is fine for this first week of it. 

what I'm looking for - somewhat cheap, nonstick. dishwasher safe is a plus. I might have paid $10 at Walmart for this little 8" pan (I just measured) back then, but it's been solid for me. help!? 

[Blonde Granny]

I'd go back to Walmart and see what they have. I bought one of the smaller ones from there and it's some kind of "green" thing. Handle is green as is outside the pan, inside is a cream color. Works well for me, easy to wipe out and reuse.

Maybe Dollar General or Family Dollar might have some non-stick and cheap price too.

[dannylion]

WRT nonstick pans of any type, I have had the best luck with TFal products.  They are nice and slickery, and the nonstick surface seems to last much longer than on other, more expensive pans I have tried.  I think they might be available at Target as well as Bed, Bath, and Beyond, and probably Amazon.  I have never had a TFal pan fail, and they are not very expensive.  Also, they can be had in purple (and other colors, but who would want anything but purple?).  

[irishpad]

About 8 years ago a bought I two non-stick pan set (small - medium) from Sam's (so maybe same product at Walmart)  Previously I struggled with having pans that didn't last long enough so I bought two sets.   Still have the second set in storage since the first set is still working great.  Might last me until I die.  

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

I just replaced my egg pan with another Calphalon from BB&B.  My old one lasted about 10 years.

Cooks Illustrated did a review of them years ago and suggested that these are not going to last a lifetime, so get a good one and replace as needed.  Calphalon had the size i was looking for in a set, but I already had a good big pan.  I just needed the small one.

[Tennesseer]

I use this one put out by Paula Deen.  It's $17.  Bought it local.  Either Target or Walmart.  Not sue if dishwasher safe.  I hand wash it.

8-Inch Nonstick Skillet, Red Speckle

link

[weltschmerz]

Don't fall for the hype of "non-stick copper" pans. You know, the ones they hawk on TV, and burn cheese and sugar in.
They're non-stick for about a week.

[busymom]

Kohl's used to sell those little pans every year around the Christmas Season.  I wonder if they're available on their website year-round?  

[dannylion]

The "ceramic" nonstick pans are on a par with the copper ones.  They look nice and slick and work for about 11-1/2 days, then they begin to cling to the food like grim death.  

[cottontail]

I have a cheap non-stick ceramic pan from Marshall's that has held up well. I've probably had it for a year or two and pretty much only use it for eggs.

[chiver78]

yeah, I'm not keen on the hype of the copper stuff. I am looking for something that is going to hold up, that may not be all that shiny and pretty, but isn't going to break the bank for a basic pan. thanks for the recommendations, I will look all of this up. 

[jelloshots4all]

Apr 7, 2019 18:15:13 GMT -5 cottontail said:

I have a cheap non-stick ceramic pan from Marshall's that has held up well. I've probably had it for a year or two and pretty much only use it for eggs.

I buy most of my skillets and bakeware from Marshall's.

[weltschmerz]

Apr 7, 2019 18:36:54 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

yeah, I'm not keen on the hype of the copper stuff. I am looking for something that is going to hold up, that may not be all that shiny and pretty, but isn't going to break the bank for a basic pan. thanks for the recommendations, I will look all of this up. 

Cast iron.

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Well, I'm not much help because we are Calphalon, Le Creuset, and AllClad people now. <br>We use our egg pan every.single.day and those brands tend to last three to four years max. <br><br>That said, <br><br>We have a restaurant supply store called Cash & Carry. <br>They tend to have good stuff for high usage. <br><br><a href="https://www.smartfoodservice.com/">link</a>

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

Apr 7, 2019 20:14:52 GMT -5 Knee Deep in Water Chloe said:

Well, I'm not much help because we are Calphalon, Le Creuset, and AllClad people now. 
We use our egg pan every.single.day and those brands tend to last three to four years max. 

That said, 

We have a restaurant supply store called Cash & Carry. 
They tend to have good stuff for high usage. 

link

We have a restaurant supply store in Mt. Vernon.  I dare not to go in there as I have absolutely NO self control.  I think my last run there was about $250, going in for a few new sheet pans.  

We have a Cash and Carry too, but it is mostly food.  I have no control there either.  

[countrygirl2]

I bought a tiny little skillet, holds 1 egg, trying to think where I got it, not sure.  Was maybe $10.  Just got it not long ago, have to think about where it came from, its one of those copper things, I love it.  

[countrygirl2]

We had a restaurant supply in Houston, used to love it.  I finally found a good can opener there. I also liked Sur Le Table in Houston.  Had all kinds of neat quality stuff.

[weltschmerz]

Apr 7, 2019 22:23:01 GMT -5 countrygirl2 said:

I bought a tiny little skillet, holds 1 egg, trying to think where I got it, not sure.  Was maybe $10.  Just got it not long ago, have to think about where it came from, its one of those copper things, I love it.  

I don't like my copper pan at all. If you google the reviews online, they're very negative.

[countrygirl2]

I have several, may not last for years but so far so good and I like them.  My favorite skillet is an electric Rival one I bought at Ollies for $5.  The lid broke so spent $12 on a new one.  That thing cooks the best fried potatoes and quickly, I've ever eaten.

[chiver78]

Apr 7, 2019 19:52:02 GMT -5 weltschmerz said:

Apr 7, 2019 18:36:54 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

yeah, I'm not keen on the hype of the copper stuff. I am looking for something that is going to hold up, that may not be all that shiny and pretty, but isn't going to break the bank for a basic pan. thanks for the recommendations, I will look all of this up. 

Cast iron.

not for this application. I know where you're coming from, though. thanks. 

[chiver78]

Apr 7, 2019 20:14:52 GMT -5 Knee Deep in Water Chloe said:

Well, I'm not much help because we are Calphalon, Le Creuset, and AllClad people now. 
We use our egg pan every.single.day and those brands tend to last three to four years max. 

That said, 

We have a restaurant supply store called Cash & Carry. 
They tend to have good stuff for high usage. 

link

ooh.....we have a Cash & Carry in Hyannis. I forgot about that, maybe I'll head over this weekend. thanks! 

[Happy prose]

I thought the non stick stuff was bad for us. I've been using stainless steel. My husband did buy one of those ceramic coated pans, and he loves it for his eggs. He has't had it long though.

[chiver78]

I think they are okay as long as the nonstick surface isn't compromised, scratched up or whatever. 

I mostly use stainless, but no matter how much cooking spray I use on it, the egg sticks. at least the way I'm trying to cook it for breakfast wraps. it all just worked with the old pan. lol... I'm cranky. #getoffmylawn 

[mmhmm]

I use a ceramic skillet for eggs. I've had mine for quite awhile so don't remember what I paid for them. They won't take very high heat but that's not what one uses to cook eggs anyway. After use, a quick wipe with a soapy dishcloth and a rinse is all they need.

[Sharon]

I have an 8" non-stick Martha Stewart pan that I have used for years, love that pan. 

[alabamagal]

I have a non- stick egg pan that I have had for over 20 years, maybe more. It may even be hand me down from my mom, so that would make it older. I just looked and couldn’t see the brand.

I have flat top electric stove. I go through a lot of pans mainly because they need to stay completely flat to heat evenly. A lot of them kind of bow up in the middle and I have to get rid of them. I’m going to pay more next time to see if I can get one to stay flat. Of course if we are about to move I may wait and see what kind of stove we get.

If you truly want cheap, Walmart usually has a lot, but so do other stores

[tskeeter]

Ditto those who commented on shopping at restaurant supply houses.  They stock fry pans in a variety of small sizes.  And they are cost effective.  At our local place, I can buy a half sheet pan that BB&B sells for about $25 for about $5.  If you don’t have a restaurant supply in town, there are several online restaurant supply places.

[weltschmerz]

Apr 7, 2019 14:41:14 GMT -5 irishpad said:

About 8 years ago a bought I two non-stick pan set (small - medium) from Sam's (so maybe same product at Walmart)  Previously I struggled with having pans that didn't last long enough so I bought two sets.   Still have the second set in storage since the first set is still working great.  Might last me until I die.  

I bought 2 more of these because I use mine so much. They were on sale for a ridiculously low price, about 3 years ago. One is still in it's original wrapping, and I gave the other away for Christmas.

[dannylion]

Apr 8, 2019 17:39:05 GMT -5 weltschmerz said:

Apr 7, 2019 14:41:14 GMT -5 irishpad said:

About 8 years ago a bought I two non-stick pan set (small - medium) from Sam's (so maybe same product at Walmart)  Previously I struggled with having pans that didn't last long enough so I bought two sets.   Still have the second set in storage since the first set is still working great.  Might last me until I die.  

I bought 2 more of these because I use mine so much. They were on sale for a ridiculously low price, about 3 years ago. One is still in it's original wrapping, and I gave the other away for Christmas.

That appears to be a TFal product (judging by what looks like their red circle logo).  I love my TFal pans.  

[weltschmerz]

Yes, it's TFal. I love that huge covered pan. I use it so much.