This $16 frying pan from Kmart has just been ranked the best

Kmart has built a cult following in recent years and it looks like fans have another reason to rush through the doors, as a recent review by consumer group Choice has dubbed a $16 frying pan from Kmart as one of the best around.

The Choice experts put 28 frying pans from leading brands like Tefal, Scanpan, Jamie Oliver and more to the test and found the $16 Kmart Anko stainless-steel non-stick 24cm frying pan was a standout. Choice kitchen expert Chantelle Dart said there are many pros to the low-cost frying pan.

“It’s a lightweight, well-balanced pan that’s easy to clean,” Dart says. “In our tests, it scored well for evenness of heating and durability. Even though it’s only $16, it’s comparable with other brands that are significantly more expensive.”

If pancakes are a regular on your breakfast menu, she added that it has an “excellent distribution of heat” that makes it perfect for cooking evenly-looking golden-brown pancakes. The frying pan also rated well in Choice’s durability test, where they scrubbed one section of the pan surface 10,000 times with a scourer attached to a mechanical scrubbing arm.

It’s also oven-safe, as well as being suitable to use on any type of cooktop. The product says it’s dishwasher safe, but Choice recommends against putting any non-stick pan in the dishwasher as it will damage the coating over time.

While the stainless-steel budget buy received a high ranking, it didn’t come without some flaws. The Choice’s experts said that one of the downsides was the pan’s non-stick capabilities. They noted a little oil or butter was needed to fry an egg without sticking. And while its stainless-steel handle is fairly comfortable to hold, it doesn’t have a non-slip grip which can make it difficult to lift or flip food.

“While it did receive a high CHOICE Expert Rating, this pan has a thin base so it will continue to heat as you cook,” Chantelle says. “This means you need to adjust your heat settings as you cook to prevent burning or sticking.”

Despite this, on the whole the Choice experts said the pain is a good overall purchase — it’s even got a five-star rating on the Kmart website with people describing it as “excellent quality for the price”.

“This is great. So glad about my purchase,” one happy Kmart customer wrote. Another added: “Best frypan ever. No more spitting and splashing of fat or whatever. It is all held in by the vertical sides of the pan. Love it!”