OXO Good Grips Nonstick Pro 12-Inch Open Fry Pan Review: A New Handle Makes an Old Favorite Even Better

Introduction

The OXO Good Grips Nonstick Pro 12-Inch Open Fry Pan is an updated version of a long-standing favorite. When the handle on that pan got a redesign, it was time to look at the whole 12-inch nonstick skillet category again. Ten different pans went through a full round of cooking tests, with prices ranging from about $30 to roughly $200.

The OXO came out on top, and at $42.50 it does so without stretching the budget. Here is what the testing revealed about why this pan earned the spot.

How the Pans Were Tested

Every skillet in the test used a classic PTFE nonstick coating, widely considered the gold standard for this type of cookware. Before and after the full testing cycle, testers fried eggs in each pan with no fat at all, continuing until the eggs began to stick or until they reached 50 successful eggs, whichever came first.

Every single pan passed. With all of them suitably slick and performance largely on par, it was the features that separated the winners from the rest.

What Makes a Good 12-Inch Nonstick Skillet

Four factors mattered most in the evaluation. First, a broad cooking surface: most of these pans offer about nine to ten inches of usable flat area, which proved plenty for stir-frying beef with broccoli or pan-frying sole fillets, both of which were among the cooking tests.

Second, side wall height. Pans with walls around two inches deep were fine, but testers found that overly shallow sides let food tumble out during stir-frying.

Third, weight. The pans ranged from 2.4 pounds up to about 4 pounds, and testers gravitated toward the lighter end simply because those pans were easier to lift and maneuver.

The Redesigned Handle

The catalyst for revisiting this category was a new handle on the old favorite. Handle comfort turned out to be a real differentiator: testers preferred handles that were gently curved and easy to hold onto.

The updated OXO handle ticks those boxes, and its comfort is one of the reasons this pan remains the pick even after a fresh look at the competition.

How It Compares in a Crowded Field

Across the ten pans tested, the OXO Good Grips Nonstick Pro 12-Inch Open Fry Pan delivered the most complete package. It offers a nice broad cooking surface, sides that are tall enough to keep food where it belongs, and a very comfortable curved handle.

At 2.4 pounds it sits at the light end of the range, which testers appreciated for lifting and maneuvering. The price of $42.50 makes the value equation even more convincing, especially given that the category runs all the way up to about $200.

Buying Advice

If you want a 12-inch nonstick skillet that balances performance, comfort, and price, this is a straightforward recommendation. The PTFE coating delivers reliable food release, the shape suits everything from stir-fries to delicate fish fillets, and the redesigned handle makes it pleasant to use day after day.

Skip the premium end of the category unless you specifically need something it offers; the testing showed that features, not slickness, separate these pans.

Conclusion

The OXO Good Grips Nonstick Pro 12-Inch Open Fry Pan combines broad cooking surface, well-proportioned side walls, a light 2.4-pound build, and a comfortable redesigned handle, all for $42.50. Great performance at a bargain price is hard to argue with.