Jean-Patrique The Whatever Pan Cast Aluminum Griddle Pan

Overview

A cast aluminum body spreads burner heat across a round cooking surface, and a non-stick coating helps food release with little oil. The pan comes with a glass lid, so it handles searing, griddling and oven finishing.

Aluminum makes the pan far lighter to lift and tilt than a cast iron skillet, which the seller points out, and the lid turns a griddle into a general cooking pan. The coating calls for hand washing, so it needs more care than a pan that can go in the dishwasher.

Who it's for

A weeknight kitchen that needs searing, pancakes and oven finishing from one pan is the match. Large family meals call for a look at the stated capacity first, and dishwasher users should look at a different pan.

Pros and cons

Performance notes

Aluminum conducts heat quickly, so the pan answers fast when the burner is turned up or down. A lighter body has less mass to store heat than cast iron, so a sear can cool faster when cold food goes in. The coating reduces sticking but is the part that wears if the pan is scrubbed hard.

Specifications