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From cast iron to nonstick, these top picks achieve the perfect sear marks on meat and veggies. Oven Proof Frying Pan
Just because you don't have the space for an outdoor grill doesn't mean you have to skip out on enjoying tasty seared steaks, grilled veggies and juicy burgers. Like the best indoor grills, a grill pan allows you to achieve the perfect sear in your kitchen — but doesn't require an electrical outlet. Grill pans are also easy to store, making them an ideal choice for apartment dwellers.
But why buy a grill pan when you could easily cook your food in your everyday pans? In addition to creating perfect sear marks, the ridges on grill pans help keep your food elevated above its natural juices and fats, which delivers a less greasy result than some other cooking methods.
To find the best grill pans for your money, we tested over 15 grill pans in the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Technology Lab, spending hours grilling close to 40 burgers. Our food product experts considered a variety of shapes, sizes and materials, evaluating each pan on important factors like design, size, performance, cleaning and how well they sat on different gas ranges.
Keep reading to the end of this guide to find out more about how we test, what to consider when buying a grill pan, how to use your grill pan and how to clean it. Looking for some more barbecue accessories? Check out our favorite grill brushes, barbecue tongs and other top-tested grilling gear.
Looking for a pan that's also cute enough to be a kitchen centerpiece? This Le Creuset pan is made of durable enameled cast iron, has a convenient handle with an opposing loop handle for easy handling, high ridges for deep sear marks, sloped sides for better grilling and a pour spout. Plus, it comes in a variety of rich, glossy colors like teal and bright orange.
Since it's cast iron, this pan can reach high temperatures and maintain heat evenly, but doesn't need to be seasoned or cleaned any special way. It can be used over any burner — induction, gas, electric or ceramic — and can be slipped in the oven. At seven pounds, it's on the heavier side in comparison to competitors, but we found it easy to manage thanks to its short handle which our experts appreciate helps balance it. With a lifetime warranty, we love Le Creuset pieces for their timeless longevity.
If you're new to grill pans and want to test one out without breaking the bank, this aluminum one by Gotham Steel will do the trick. In tests, we found maintenance for this pan was easier than caring for a cast iron, and it’s much lighter (less than two pounds) so you'll have a better time of maneuvering it around your kitchen. In addition, it’s oven-safe up to 500°F and dishwasher-safe, though you cannot use it on an induction stovetop. The square shape is efficient for one burner and can fit four burgers at once.
The brown interior is nice when it comes time to clean because you can easily spot any remaining burnt bits or stuck on food in comparison to grill pans with a matte black interior. Though this grill pan may not achieve the super charred, deep grill marks like that of a cast iron, it’s a great starter grill pan. Our experts also appreciate that this brand is known for its cookware that heats quickly and is "ultra nonstick."
This heavy duty option can cook up just about everything you could ever want with some impressive grill marks. Cast iron grill pans require a bit more diligent maintenance than other materials, but they get a great sear so we think the extra TLC pays off.
This grill pan is the most well-rounded in performance, yet still comes in at a super approachable price point. Its square shape (10.5 inches) allows for an efficient use of surface area to fit more food in the pan at once while staying out of the way of other pans on nearby burners. The pre-seasoned cast iron heats quickly and hold the temperature well. Our pros particularly liked that this pan can reach such high temps while testing.
At six and a half pounds, this pan is certainly heavier than some competitors, but it’s not so clunky that it’s difficult to manage. It's great for camping and can be used on the grates of your backyard BBQ. This pan has one long handle for maneuvering while the other smaller handle is great to use for cleaning and scrubbing — but always make sure to grasp the handles with heat protection, as they will get extremely hot.
Many cooks gravitate toward nonstick pans due to their ease of cleaning and ease of use, not to mention the potential ability to use less oil than other materials.
When it comes to grill pans, this nonstick option from All-Clad is a good choice. While testing, we found that food didn't move around too much on the pan like some other nonstick surfaces tend to, and also appreciated how sturdy it felt. It's also high quality, compact and won't overheat quickly. It's made of hard, anodized aluminum, which is durable and known to be scratch-resistant, with wide ridges for defined grill marks. Our tests found that this pain produced some more noticeable grill marks than other nonstick options.
This choice is lightweight compared to cast iron but can still stand up to high temperatures, and is a breeze to clean. Its square shape makes for an efficient use of space. Its stainless steel handle makes it easy to maneuver as it doesn't get as hot as cast iron ones, although we found its thin design with defined edged to be hard to hold and balance. Note that this pan is not compatible with induction stovetops, so plan to use this on gas or electric burners.
For those that don't have the arm strength to schlep around a massive cast iron, this hard anodized ceramic nonstick grill pan is a lighter, easier to maintain option. It's oven- and broiler-safe, metal utensil-safe, as well as dishwasher-friendly. The round surface area heats quickly and we found the side handles easy to grab which make the pan simple to maneuver (though they do heat up, so always use them with mitts).
While ceramic nonstick is easy to clean, it can overheat quickly, which makes it harder to cook a thick steak. A fitting glass lid is available, though it’s sold separately. While testing, our pros found that this pan left nice grill marks on our food, and we also liked the round shape. Plus, you can use it worry-free on an induction stovetop, and at two pounds you don't have to strain while moving it around.
When it comes to enameled cast iron, we love Staub pans for the durability, sleek look and seasoned, matte interior. The round shape and 10-inch diameter gives a lot of cooking area and the rounded handles are easy to grab, though they can become very hot.
Despite the large handles jutting out, this compact, small grill pan does not get in the way of pans on nearby burners. In tests, we found that the high ridges on the pan allowed for juices to drip away and produced noticeable grill marks, though there is no convenient pour spout to pour out residual liquids.
We love that this attractive pan comes in a variety of fun colors to jazz up your kitchen space, and the coating is resistant to rusting and cracking and requires no additional seasoning like some other cast iron pieces. Our pros appreciate how quickly this pan cooks your food, its ability to reach high temperatures and sturdiness. Like other cast iron pans, the cleanup is a bit more involved than nonstick or aluminum, but you can’t beat the durability and high heat capabilities.
Save kitchen space with this incredibly versatile yet compact two-in-one pan. We love that this reversible, cast iron grill pan can not only create signature sear marks, but also has a griddle surface on the other side for eggs, pancakes and anything else you’d want to pan-sear.
Its square shape is ideal for cooking space, as it allows you to completely fill this single-burner pan. Though the grill doesn’t have loop handles, the corner handles make it easy to maneuver the pan when it comes time to clean it (always handle with mitts). The pan is just shy of eight pounds which is certainly on the heavier side, but the dual side handles make it easy to manage and the compact size means it's ideal for storage.
The pre-seasoned surface ensures you won’t have any serious food-sticking issues, and as long as you care for this pan like you would any other cast iron pan, it’s sure to last you a long time. While this pan works great over your stovetop burners (induction is fine), it’s also safe to transfer into the oven or use over outdoor fires.
If you're looking for more cooking area, try the Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Reversible Grill/Griddle. It's just as slim, but double the size and fits over two burners. It just gets very hot and often sets off our smoke alarms, which is the reason our top-choice is the single burner version.
Cook enough to cater your very own dinner party with this spacious tray. If entertaining and cooking a lot of food at once is a top priority, you’ll want a sturdy grill pan with tons of surface area. This enameled cast iron is just as attractive (there are plenty of fun colors to choose from) as it is durable. Turn it into a kitchen centerpiece by purchasing one of the unique shades like olive green or ocean blue.
It can be used on induction, and the large rectangular shape allows you to cook several large steaks or burgers at once. It can be used over one burner with some overhang, or is perfect for the long oval burner many stoves come with now. Our experts found that it fits great on a middle burner and appreciate how much room this pan has. At seven pounds, this pan is quite light considering its size. The side handles may not be as easy to quickly grab as a long handle, but they’re convenient to use when handling and cleaning (they do get hot, so always wear mitts).
To find the best grill pans, we tested over 15 grill pans, grilling close to 40 burgers.
In our Lab, we assess the ease of use, cleaning, portability, stability and more for each pan. We consider things like how quickly the pan heats up, how hot it gets, how easy it is to move around, what type of grill marks it leaves on your food and how to clean it after use.
We test our grill pans on both 80% fat burgers and steak to see how well they cook each type of meat and what type of grill marks they leave. We also test on veggies like asparagus to gauge their ability to grill all your favorite dishes.
✔️ Material: The first thing you'll need to consider when shopping for a new grill pan is its construction. These are the most popular options:
Should you opt for a two-burner grill pan, you definitely want to look for a pan in a material that heats evenly, like cast iron, to prevent a cool spot between burners.
✔️ Care instructions: It’s worth noting if the material of your grill pan is dishwasher-safe, as this makes for a much easier cleanup. Cast iron will require a scrub and cannot be placed in the dishwasher, while some hard anodized and nonstick materials are fine to put in the dishwasher, though we recommend hand washing to increase the pan's lifespan.
✔️ Size and shape: The size and shape of your grill pan will not only determine how much food you’re able to cook at once, but also how heavy and how easy it is to maneuver. Some grill pans are large enough for two burners, which is great if you’re wanting to cook a lot of food at once, but these longer pans are prone to getting very hot and smoking, which can likely make your smoke alarm go off. The large size also makes them more difficult to clean. Round pans distribute heat more evenly, but you lose surface area. Square pans will afford you more cooking space, yet the edges typically don’t get as hot or heat as evenly as a round pan. If you’re tight on space and want a pan that has the most to offer, you can also consider a dual-sided grill pan with a griddle side for additional cooking options.
✔️ Handles: The material and fit of a grill pan’s handle will affect how easy it is to use the pan. Cast iron handles will get super hot, so always handle with heat protection. Metal and plastic handles typically stay cool to the touch, though the latter is likely not oven-safe. Some grill pans have two handles on both sides, which is nice if the pan is super heavy, though some only have one handle, making them slightly more difficult to clean and maneuver. That said, some grill pans offer no handles, so if swift handling is important to you, it might be best to steer clear of these options.
✔️ Pour spout: Pour spouts on the sides make it super easy to discard accumulating grease so that the food that you’re cooking can achieve a deep sear, plus it makes it easier to clean and toss the fat after you’re done cooking.
While a grill pan is certainly not a kitchen necessity, it's great for getting those gorgeous grill marks and turning any random weekday into a summer barbecue. If you're not quite ready to make the purchase, our pros note that you can get pretty similar results using a regular cast iron pan if you don't want to buy both and are willing to forgo those classic grill marks.
Even the common at-home cook can turn into a chef when they master the art of using a grill pan.
Another note on avoiding steaming: We've found it's best to not crowd the pan, which can end up promoting steaming rather than the ideal browning.
Once you've made the perfect meal, it's time for clean up. Although it might seem a little daunting, cleaning your grill pan doesn't have to be too difficult, and it's easy to get a thorough clean by following a few simple steps.
Grab a dish brush and a bottle brush — as a duo, they'll allow you to get in between the crevices of the grates. While a dish brush allows you to use more force, the bottle brush will help you get into the rounded edges as well.
You can also soak the pan in hot water and add a little bit of soap to release stubborn bits if you're struggling to get it fully clean.
If you're trying to get your pan back to tip-top shape, try using Bar Keepers Friend (one of our favorite stainless steel cleaners for cookware) and a non-scratch scrub pad or sponge to get stains off the outside of the pan.
The Good Housekeeping Institute provides expert reviews and advice on everything you could ever hope to stock your kitchen with, including grill pans.
Nicole Papantoniou is the director of the Good Housekeeping Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab ,where she oversees all content and testing related to cooking products. She started testing and helping to develop cooking tools, gadgets, gear and appliances in 2014. She is trained in classic culinary arts and is a professional recipe developer.
Sara Tane is a food writer and private chef who graduated from the Institute of Culinary Education; she's covered everything from pour-over coffee makers to camping cookware.
Sara Tane is a food writer and private chef based in Brooklyn, New York. She is a graduate of the Institute of Culinary Education and has written for Cooking Light, MyRecipes, Saveur, and The Feedfeed. She also has a serious thing for oysters.
Nicole (she/her) is the director of the Good Housekeeping Institute's Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab, where she has overseen content and testing related to kitchen and cooking appliances, tools and gear since 2019. She’s an experienced product tester and recipe creator, trained in classic culinary arts and culinary nutrition. She has worked in test kitchens for small kitchen appliance brands and national magazines, including Family Circle and Ladies’ Home Journal.
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