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Learn & WatchSubmitOur content is meticulously curated through independent research, testing, reviews, and AI-driven recommendations, all designed to present you with the finest product choices. When you make a purchase through our links, it could result in us earning a commission.Best Square Skillets for Flavorful Meals
Last updated: 1 Mar 2024Our Top Picks
- Best Overall: Farberware Square Skillet Shop Now ➔
- Runner Up: Epoca Square Skillet Shop Now ➔
- Honorable Mention: Goodful Square Skillet Shop Now ➔
- Also Consider: Gotham Steel Square Skillet Shop Now ➔
View all ContentsComparing the Best Square Skillet for 2024
Best Overall
The Farberware skillet is designed for high performance and exceptional cooking results with any kind of food and heat source. This skillet has a dimpled PFOA-free nonstick layer that generates small air pockets. These pockets work to distribute heat quickly and evenly throughout the square pan, while the non-stick layer provides an additional layer of security. The heavy-duty aluminum construction retains heat for a long time allowing a thorough cooking experience.
Moreover, the riveted handle makes sure handling the pan is super easy. It comes with a shatter-resistant glass lid to retain moisture and allow you a good view of the food being cooked. The aluminum non-stick griddle offers excellent food cooking and release and makes cleaning convenient. It’s perfect for grilling, searing, browning, baking, and much more.
Pros
- Safe for all kinds of heat sources including ovens
- Easy to maintain and handle
- Textured griddle ensures quick and even heat distribution
Cons
- Prone to rust
Runner Up
This multipurpose square griddle skillet is constructed with heavy gauge aluminum that makes sure the pan lasts you a lifetime with excellent results. The bottom of this square skillet pan features rings that enhance the heat distribution and retention for thorough cooking. A water-based non-stick coating ensures that the food doesn’t stick and releases easily. This coating is PFOA-free, ecologically advanced which makes it completely safe for use.
Moreover, washing and maintaining this griddle pan is quite convenient. You can put it in a dishwasher as well for a quick cleanup. Cleaning this skillet pan is quite convenient due to the non-stick coat that releases food effortlessly. You can also clean this skillet in the dishwasher. There’s a glass lid that shows the contents of the skillet and keeps the moisture inside.
Pros
- Effortless cleaning due to non-stick surface
- Safe for high oven temperature
- Durable and long-lasting
Cons
- Poor packaging
Honorable Mention
This square skillet comes in a beautiful charcoal grey color and includes a nylon pancake jumbo-turner in the package. It features a reliable non-stick coating that prevents food burning, sticking and lets the food slide easily off the pan. This coat is PFOA-free to ensure the health and safety of the user. Moreover, it is constructed from a heavy-duty, highly durable aluminum material that guarantees even and thorough cooking with quick, optimum heat distribution.
Further, it features a comfortable handle with indented grips to make maneuvering this skillet convenient. The riveted construction adds to the durability as well. The spiral pattern at the bottom side of the griddle skillet allows heat to travel fast and evenly through the pan and retain heat for a longer period. It’s safe for dishwasher use and can be used for all kinds of food items.
Pros
- Versatile usage and expansive cooking base
- Easy to clean and maintain
- Riveted handle for comfortable grip
Cons
- The skillet is not induction compatible
Also Consider
This 11” square skillet comes with a healthy copper nonstick ceramic triple coating that ensures that you can cook without butter and oil in the pan. This mineral coating not only prevents burning and hot spots, but it also enhances the durability of the skillet overall. It’s PFAS and PFOA-free which means you’d be safe from toxic fumes and harmful chemicals. The surface is durable enough to withstand metal spoons, spatulas, beaters, and even electric whisks.
Moreover, it is safe for use in dishwashers for easy and quick clean-ups. The square design is engineered to provide 25% more surface area for cooking. There is a stainless steel induction plate that has been fused at the bottom of the skillet to make sure the heat distributes evenly from one edge to the other. This shape makes it more versatile, you can steam, braise, broil, fry, or saute food effortlessly.
Pros
- Oven safe at high temperatures
- Even heat distribution and retention
- Wide cooking area
Cons
- No return or exchange policy
Buyer’s Guide for The Best Square Skillets
Here’s a comprehensive buying guide for square-shaped skillets.
Key Considerations When Shopping for a Square Skillet
You will need to keep the following factors in mind:
Material
There are quite a few options for construction materials when it comes to square skillets. Cast iron is the most favored and superior choice for a square grill or griddle pans. This is because of their impeccable ability to evenly and quickly distribute heat through the material, from center to the edges. This material also retains heat longer and produces better results. These pans are heavier than all other kinds.
Aluminum square skillets are another popular choice. This material does not retain stains or marks and is lighter than cast iron pans. They offer satisfactory heat distribution and are easier to handle. Another choice is copper as it is suitable for cooking an array of food. Copper square skillets also have anti-bacterial properties.
You can also find square skillets made from stainless steel. This material has excellent heat conductivity and is durable as well. However, these pans are thin and might not do great if not coated with a non-stick layer.
Heat conduction and retention
Another important consideration is the ability of the pan to retain and spread heat. The skillet should be able to cook all the food laid on it evenly and thoroughly. And that is possible only when the skillet is distributing heat to every corner of the skillet.
The skillet you’re considering buying should have good heat retention properties. This means that the pan should not drop in temperature quickly when you remove the heat source.
Size
Choosing the size is all about the frequency you’d be using it with and for how many you’d be cooking for on average. However, it’s best to go for a large-sized square skillet for a good amount of space.
Ease of use
The skillet should be easy to use, handle, and clean. This includes considering the weight, kind of handles, lid design, and maintenance requirements. You can get a non-stick pan if you do not wish to spend time refreshing the seasoning on a cast-iron skillet. Similarly, go for a skillet with a long handle and a comfortable grip. The skillet should not be too heavy or too light.
Non-stick coat
If you’re getting a non-stick square skillet, make sure that it’s good quality and durable. It should have multiple layers of the non-stick coat. Prefer getting PFOA and toxins-free coating so that all the food you cook in the skillet is healthy.
How to Pick a Quality Square Skillet?
Some essential qualities of a good skillet are:
Durable construction
Thin-gauge construction material will hold and spread heat unevenly. They’re prone to denting and warping as well. A good quality skillet is made from a heavy-gauge material are heavy, and is a good heat conductor.
Heatproof handling
Welded, riveted and screwed metal handles tend to get hold. A good skillet comes with protection from this heat with either plastic, silicone, or wooden handle ends. High-end skillets can also feature ovenproof, heatproof handles as well.
Heated sides
Pan sides should get as hot as the middle. Cooking items like oven roasts require heat from the sides and that’s only possible if the skillet is able to allow even heating.
Nonreactive coat
For acidic food like wine sauces, tomato, fruit fillings, etc. the skillet’s surface shouldn’t react. High-end skillets with enamel, anodized aluminum do great with such foods.
Tips to Maintain a Square Skillet
Some general care and maintenance tips for skillets are:
- Carefully read through the instructions from the manufacturer that are specific for the material of the skillet.
- Never put the skillet under water while it is hot. Always wait for it to get completely cold.
- For cast-iron square skillets, make sure you don’t leave the skillet to dry in the air after cleaning.
- Use mild detergent to clean a skillet. Soak it in warm water for 10-15 minutes if there are stubborn stains or food residue.
- Do not wash the skillet after every use.
- Regularly season a cast iron pan to enhance its non-stickiness and flavor buildup.
- Do not cook citrusy food frequently on the skillet as it might damage the surface.
- When you’re charring any food item, make sure you let it sit on one side until it’s well-marked to avoid it from sticking to the pan.
Benefits of Square Shaped Skillets
A few advantages of using a square pan for your food are:
- Square pans are wide and have extended corners unlike round or circular skillets. They can accommodate large meals at one time without under or overcooking anything.
- This cookware shape offers about 25% more cooking area as compared to round pans and skillets.
- Square pans and skillets are ideal for braising and brewing meat as the corners are short-heightened making it a lot easier to spoon out the juices.
- They are handier than other round-shaped pans.
Conclusion
An important yet often overlooked factor that influences the flavor and texture of a cooked meal is the shape of the cookware it’s prepared in. Square skillets come in a variety of textures, materials, handling, and safety features. This guide suggests the best square skillets in 2024 to help you get one.
People Also Asked
What food is best for a square skillet?
You can cook about any and everything in a square skillet from meat, vegetables to breakfast items, and use it on ceramic, induction, gas, or electric cooktops.
What should I use to season a cast-iron square skillet?
All cooking oils can be used to season a cast iron skillet but vegetable oil, canola oil or melted shortening are some recommendations.
Why are grill pans always square?
Grill pans and skillets are mostly made square to allow even heat distribution and more surface area for cooking. You can place food items in a single layer for even and proper grilling in a square skillet pan.
Article Contributors
Read More About Cuisine Review Team HereThe Cuisine Review Team’s in-depth guides and product reviews are designed to help you pick the best products for a beautiful and professional-grade kitchen and dining room. The Cuisine Review Team curates this content, and Cuisine’s editorial staff is not involved. Cuisine at Home is reader-supported: When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. The Cuisine at Home Review Team is composed of authors, editors, and kitchen aficionados. Artificial Intelligence (large language models) may have been used in the research and creation of the content.
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