10-Inch Ceramic Nonstick Skillets

When we tested 12-inch ceramic nonstick skillets, we recommended two models. Both had slick surfaces that easily released everything from scrambled eggs to delicate fish. We especially liked the shape of one, from GreenPan. Its gently sloped walls made it easy to stir food and were a cinch to scrape clean with a spatula. The other pan, which was made by Kyocera and had straighter, L-shaped sides, cost about half the price of the GreenPan model, so we named it our Best Buy. Both manufacturers offer 10-inch versions of these pans, and we wondered if their performance would be on par with their larger siblings. We put them to the test, using each to prepare scrambled eggs, fried eggs, and Gōngbǎo Jīdīng (Sichuan Kung Pao Chicken) for Two. We also sent them home with a tester to use in her home kitchen for several weeks. 

Representatives from GreenPan and Kyocera confirmed that the ceramic nonstick coatings on their respective 10-inch skillets are the same as those on the 12-inch versions. Neither contains polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), the substance present in regular nonstick coatings such as Teflon that can release harmful fumes when heated above 500 degrees. Instead, the nonstick coatings of the ceramic pans contain a material that’s derived from beach sand, so there’s no risk of producing harmful fumes. 

Both of the 10-inch pans performed well. Fried eggs and scrambled eggs slipped right out, as did our stir-fry. We had great results when we cooked other meals during our at-home testing as well. But, as was the case in our testing of the 12-inch models, both pans ran hotter than the 10-inch regular nonstick skillet we usually use. Because ceramic coatings are excellent conductors of heat, the pans got hot fast and stayed hot, so food cooked a little faster. The sauce in our chicken stir-fry, for example, didn’t require the full 3 to 5 minutes to thicken and coat our chicken. Dishes still turned out well, though. We simply had to keep an eye on the food as it cooked. As work-arounds, we used lower heat levels than called for in recipes and moved the pans off the heat before the end of the stated cooking time. 

If you prefer to cook with PTFE-free cookware, we can recommend both of these 10-inch ceramic nonstick skillets. Just remember that you’ll get the best results if you follow visual cues and adjust as necessary while cooking. Both skillets have wide 8½-inch cooking surfaces that are impressively nonstick. The GreenPan model was again our favorite of the two. It’s well designed, with gently sloped walls that are easy to swipe with a spatula. Its stainless-steel handle is wide and very comfortable to hold... read more