Best Pan for Making Scrambled Eggs

They say a chef’s hat has 100 folds to represent all the ways they can cook an egg. And yet, scrambled eggs still reign as one of the (probably even THE) most popular ways to make your eggs. Fast, easy, and tasty, scrambled eggs are a breakfast staple in cultures around the world.

The pan you choose will ultimately depend on how many eggs you want to cook and how many people are getting in on the scramble. Usually, you can’t go wrong with an 8.5-inch and/or 10-inch nonstick frying pan. Circulon’s A1 series offers a set containing both, featuring aerospace-grade ScratchDefense nonstick technology that ensures you never have to scrape stuck eggs off your pan. The aluminum base offers fast and even heating that chefs love, with an induction-friendly stainless steel base to increase durability and heat retention. 

Pro tip: We recommend using a silicone slotted spoon or spatula when cooking scrambled eggs. They work wonders at creating those beautiful ribbons of egg, and their soft surface will keep nonstick pans in pots and pans in tip-top shape by lessening the potential for damaging scratches. 

Best Pan for Frying Eggs

For fried eggs, a good nonstick pan is still an absolute must, but it’s not the only feature you’ll want to look for. Circulon’s Halo with LaserDefense™ Ceramic Nonstick frying pans provide best-in-class ceramic nonstick and durability and feature generously sloped sides. This is important for fried eggs because it allows for better angling when it comes time to slide a spatula/turner underneath your egg, reducing the risk of accidentally breaking the yolk.

Best Pan for Making Poached Eggs 

Because poaching eggs involves cooking them in water, you’ll need to reach for something deeper than a skillet, like a saucepan. Circulon’s 3-quart ScratchDefense C1 nonstick sauce pan is an ideal shape for poaching eggs, since it features a wide base that makes it easy to gently scoop your perfectly poached eggs out of the pan. It also features an ultra-durable nonstick interior, which, while not as important for poaching as it is for the other egg cooking techniques on this list, is still a must-have! 

Best Pan for Making Omelets

For those who like to pack some extra ingredients into their egg-based breakfast, omelets are the way to go. There’s no magic pan for making perfect omelets, but once again, a nonstick surface is your best friend. We’d recommend Circulon’s 10-inch ScratchDefense C1 frying pan for omelets, since it’s reliably nonstick and the extra-tough surface won’t have any issues, even if you like to use a metal spatula when preparing and serving your omelets.

Best Single Egg Pan 

If you’re typically running solo or only like to scramble or fry an egg or two at a time, then you can ditch a full-size pan and instead opt for a nonstick mini skillet. Circulon’s 6.25-inch nonstick open skillet is great for those who don’t plan on making a mountain of eggs, and has the added benefit of being extra-easy to clean.

Best Overall Egg Pans

Making eggs isn’t an equipment-intensive endeavor (for most of us, at least). You really just need a durable pan that heats up quickly, doesn’t stick, and isn’t going to get all scratched up. While any of the pans listed above will get the job done, the easiest way to cover your bases–whether cooking for yourself or a crowd–is to get a high-quality set. Circulon offers a 6-piece ScratchDefense nonstick cookware set that has you covered, whether you’re making scrambled eggs, fried eggs, or even the Japanese favorite, omurice rice omelet. 

Tips for Making the Perfect Eggs

Because there are so many ways to cook eggs, there’s an equally endless list of ways to take each technique from basic to this is the best thing I’ve ever eaten. We won’t try to catalog them all here, but we will share a few tried-and-true tips that should help you get your eggs right, no matter how you’re preparing them. 

• Watch the heat. You want your pan to be nice and hot before your egg ever touches the surface, but you never want to crank the heat while cooking your eggs. Instead, go low and slow to get a soft and tender texture. 

• Use fat. Even the slipperiest of nonstick pans will benefit from preheating a little bit of cooking oil or butter to help coat their surface before adding your eggs. Not only does this add flavor, but it ensures scrambled eggs, fried eggs, and omelets won’t stick as they cook. 

• Cook them for less time than you think. To avoid drying out your eggs, take them off the heat right before they’re done. The residual heat from the pan will finish cooking them while you prep your plate and any other toppings. 

• Use cold eggs. Unlike other proteins (chicken and steak in particular), eggs cook best when they’re straight from the fridge. 

Pick the Perfect Nonstick Pan for Making Perfect Eggs

There’s no shortage of material, shape, and size options when searching for new pans you plan to make tasty breakfasts in for years to come. If you learned one thing from this article, it’s that regardless of what base material you go with (we generally recommend something made from aluminum or with an aluminum core), you absolutely can’t skip the nonstick interior. 

If you want to save the hassle of hunting for pans, Circulon’s ScratchDefense series and LaserDefense™ Ceramic Nonstick series provide exactly what you need to make the perfect egg, every time.