The 10 Best Ovensafe Skillets
Special Honors
Stargazer Cast Iron This company strikes an excellent balance between performance and affordability. For less than some of our picks, they offer performance nearly on the level of the ancient and venerated Griswold cast-iron line, with the flat cooking area that most imported products just can't touch. They come in 10.5- and 12-inch versions and are great for pizza, frittas, pan-fried fish, and lots more. stargazercastiron.com
Field Company Skillets Pretty much nothing beats cast iron as far as oven safety goes. If you're okay with spending over $100 on a single pan, check this one out, as it's of high enough quality to warrant that kind of investment. Plus, it has the type of machined surface that can actually mimic chemical non-stick coatings. It's available in 4 sizes, from #4 to #12, so if you're really into it, you can assemble the entire collection without too much difficulty. fieldcompany.com
Editor's Notes
July 22, 2019:
First off, nothing is safer in an oven than a solid cast-iron pan. It's hard to beat the Greater Goods because of its incredibly smooth finish and reasonable price, though the Victoria is a close second because its factory seasoning is so exceptional. The Koch Cooking is incredibly costly, but it's not an exaggeration to say it's a piece worth handing down to your kids. The drawback to cast-iron skillets is that they're far too heavy for the classic wrist-flip that a good saute pan enables. But for heat retention and baking purposes, they really can't be beat.
Now, some people may take issue with nonstick pans, but there's been a push over the last decade or longer to phase out the use of the carcinogen PFOA in the production on nonstick coatings, so there's really nothing for humans to worry about there. Nonetheless, it's best to avoid damage to the coatings, simply to increase their effective lifespan. One way to prevent damage is to use a quality pair of tongs; if you choose a set with durable nylon or silicone tips, the risk of damage to a nonstick surface is nil. Also, keeping the pan itself at or below 500 degrees Fahrenheit minimizes the risk of breakdown, which helps keep the coating intact. At any rate, the Tramontina in the top spot uses a PFOA-free coating that isn't harmful to human health. I've personally tossed more of this exact model of Tramontina into a blazing-hot oven more times than I care to remember, and it's one heck of a pan. Straight from the factory, it makes a fantastic egg pan, and is really one of the best in existence for making omelettes.
All-Clad, as you may have heard, makes some of the most well-known pans on the market, and they, too, are often used in busy restaurants. They do command a hefty price, but they're very effective. Keep in mind that when using a stainless-steel pan, special care must be taken to avoid sticking and scorching, and it will never perform quite as well as a nonstick pan. Also, stainless steel is prone to discoloration at high heat, and in some cases, there's nothing you can do about it, but it also doesn't affect a pan's performance in any way.
And because oven-readiness is important here, we've listed models such as the T-Fal, Emeril Lagasse, and Cooks Standard, which come with durable lids that are generally also safe to go in the oven -- but be aware they might not be rated to the same heat level as the pan itself, and nobody likes shattered glass, in their food, oven, or elsewhere.