Paderno Series 2500 9.5-inch Stainless Steel Fry Pan

A 9.5-inch stainless fry pan is the size most cooks reach for when the job is two chicken breasts, a pair of fish fillets or a batch of scrambled eggs. Paderno’s Series 2500 version is built for professional kitchens in Italy, with an aluminum core between layers of stainless steel so the heat spreads across the base instead of collecting over the burner.

Stainless steel will not react with wine, tomatoes or citrus, so it handles pan sauces and deglazing that would strip the seasoning from a carbon steel pan. Food sticks if the pan goes in cold; preheat it, add the fat, and let proteins release on their own before turning them. The hollow handle is riveted to the body and stays cooler on the stovetop than a solid one.

For a lighter, less expensive pan that develops a nonstick surface with use, see the Paderno 9.5-inch Black Steel Frying Pan.