Choosing the best-divided frying pan could mean the difference between unevenly cooked foods and a perfect charred steak every time. Our evaluation focused on material and food safety, heat resistance, maintenance/care, and the number of sections. If you are also looking for other quality cooking items, get to our best cookware page.
After more than 12 hours of research and testing, our top pick for the best-divided frying pan goes to the Master Pan Non-Stick Best Divided Frying Pan. It comes with an ultra-durable 100% cast aluminum construction with five compartments, allowing users to cook several foods at once. It is also PFOA-free, a common industrial chemical known to cause health defects. Keep reading to learn more about other best-divided frying pans available for purchase.
7 Best Divided Frying Pans
#1 Master Pan Non-Stick Best Divided Frying Pan
Award: TOP PICK
WHY WE LIKE IT: This divided frying pan comes with a 100% cast aluminum construction and five chambers, making it great for people who want to cook multiple foods at once.
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- 5 compartments to cook several foods at once
- Quite large in size, yet only needs one burner
- Oven safe up to 350°F
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- May be too heavy (4.14 pounds) for some people
- Not much room to flip pancakes or waffles
- Can be difficult to clean dividers and ridges
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This divided frying pan is built like a brick, constructed using 100% cast aluminum. We like it because it evenly distributes heat throughout the pan, leaving no cold spots. Its multi-section design allows users to cook up to five foods at once, consisting of a main, ridged midsection and two smooth circular and square compartments on opposite sides.
We like the fact this divided frying pan is dishwasher-safe and oven-safe up to 350°F, which works well for occasional reheating jobs. Kudos for being PFOA-free, an industrial chemical used in older household cleaners and non-stick pans that have been known to cause health defects. With this frying pan, you’ll just need the best non-stick frying ball to make sure what you’re cooking doesn’t stick.
#2 Tefal A1989014 Divided Frying Pan
Award: HONORABLE MENTION
WHY WE LIKE IT: This divided frying pan comes with two chambers – a smooth and a grilled side, making it great for people who want a grill/frying pan combo for delicate and non-delicate foods like steak and salmon.
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- Very comfortable stay-cool grip handle
- Non-stick coating for easy cleaning
- Oven safe up to 347° F
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- Compartments may be too small for recipes
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We love this 2-section frying pan’s design, which consists of a smooth and a ribbed surface to cook sausage/egg or sauce and steak combinations. A cast aluminum construction evenly distributes heat throughout the surface using one burner and it is oven safe up to 347°F.
One of our favorite features is how easy it is to clean this divided frying pan. It uses Easy Plus non-stick coating, which prevents food from sticking and allows for a quick 30-second hand wash. We were very impressed with the little maintenance and care it needs to get ready for the next batch of recipes. The ergonomic and comfortable stay-cool handle was also much appreciated. This would be a potentially great addition to your best stainless steel cookware.
#3 Fruiteam Divided Frying Pan
Award: BEST ON A BUDGET
WHY WE LIKE IT: This inexpensive 3-section frying pan consists of two smooth bottoms and one larger grilled skillet, which we love for cooking breakfasts consisting of eggs, sausage, and bacon.
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- Cool-to-the-touch Bakelite handle
- Even heat distribution throughout
- Oven safe to 450 F
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- Handle needs to be screwed into pan
- Non-stick finish may “peel” off with excess use
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This divided skillet pan is made out of ceramic, with a triple-layered construction that allows it to withstand temperatures up to 450°F. Its thickened bottom and a 5-stage non-stick coating help prevent burned food. Plus, it is lightweight (only 2.99 pounds) and anti-scratch-resistant, which we appreciate with heavy spatula action.
Maintaining this divided skillet is a breeze, as it is completely dishwasher safe. Non-stick coatings help prevent food residue, easily rinsed off using heavy soap and water. Kudos for being lead, PFOA, and cadmium-free, which are known chemicals known to cause health defects, including some cancers with prolonged exposure over time. This frying pan would be a great addition to your best cookware.
#4 Anolon Advanced Hard-Anodized Nonstick Divided Frying Pan
Award: EASIEST TO CLEAN
WHY WE LIKE IT: This divided frying plan comes with two equally-sized compartments – one griddle and one skillet, making it a fine choice for people who want an easy-to-clean option with the ability to sear and grill at the same time.
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- Very durable; twice as a hard as steel
- 2-in-1 functionality (griddle and skillet)
- PFOA-free & lightweight (2.5 pounds)
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- May be too small to cook for more than two people
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This divided skillet with lid is very durable, consisting of a hard-anodized constriction which is oven safe up to 400°F. With one griddle and one skillet surfaced compartment, we can cook foods such as eggs and steak at the same time. Kudos for its SureGrip handles which offer a nice ergonomic grip that makes it easy to hold and flip with.
This divided frying pan comes with tempered glass lids which are oven safe up to 400°F. It is also equally easy to clean with a non-stick surface that does not hold on to much food residue. All in all, we are very impressed with its overall build quality. If you’re looking for a different kind of pan, you’ll want to read our review of the best-cast iron skillet too.
#5 Kutime 3 Section Grill Divided Frying Pan
We’re sorry, this product is temporarily out of stock
Award: BEST HANDLE
WHY WE LIKE IT: This divided frying pan is made using ceramic with three compartments (half for grilling and a half for searing) and a Bakelite handle that stays cool to the touch, good for people who prioritize comfort and safety.
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- Very fast heat conduction
- 3 sections for grilling and searing
- Toxin-free
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- Not recommended to use in the dishwasher
- Pan is oven-safe, but the handle is not
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We like this 3-section frying pan’s durability. Food-grade aluminum construction can withstand temperatures up to 400°F and three, layered bottoms help distribute heat evenly, leaving no burnt spots. A Bakelite handle also always remains cool to the touch, so it’s especially useful for beginner cooks.
Maintenance is very easy, only needing soap and a sponge, though it is not dishwasher safe. A non-stick coating makes it easy to remove food residue. Safety is also a priority, as is cadmium, lead, PTFE, and PFOA -free. Our only knock is that the handle comes separately and requires tightening in with a screw and spacer. Additionally, the handle itself needs to be removed to place the pan inside an oven. If you don’t need a divided pan, take a look at our best non-stick pan instead.
#6 Triple Divided Skillet Divided Frying Pan
Award: BEST NONSTICK
WHY WE LIKE IT: This divided frying pan comes with three compartments and a three-layer, non-stick coating, a great choice for people who frequently cook delicate and notoriously “sticky” foods like salmon and eggs.
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- Made with recycled and recyclable materials
- Ergonomic, easy to grip handle
- Oven safe up to 400°F & dishwasher safe
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- No compartment for grilling
- Maybe too shallow for some users
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This divided frying pan is super durable, made out of scratch-resistant, and polished die-cast aluminum with an up to 400°F heat resistance. Each of the three compartments has a smooth surface, which is preferable for searing and not grilling. While testing, we noticed even heat distribution with our meals with no cold or hot spots, so we can vouch for its performance.
Kudos for this divided cooking pan’s ergonomic handle with a thumb grip and a non-stick surface, which makes it very easy to wipe clean. It is also dishwasher safe, which makes this pan very convenient for daily use. Do you want to have accurate control over the temperature required to cook fondue? Get the right pot. We have some great suggestions in our best fondue pots guide.
#7 Kitchen Flower Cookin Multi 3 Divided Frying Pan
Award: LIGHTEST WEIGHT
WHY WE LIKE IT: This nonstick frying pan comes with three compartments and lightweight construction (2.4 pounds), making it great for older people with limited hand dexterity.
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- Great for seniors with limited dexterity
- Smooth surface great for searing
- Heats up very fast & includes Bakelite handle
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- Does not include a cover
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This divider frying pan is an all-around workhorse. Three separate smooth compartments cook different foods at the same time. While testing, we observed even heat distribution with no burnt spots. At 18.31” by 11.02” by 2.28” inches, it is on the larger side, so it can easily grill enough for a family of four.
Kudos for a Bakelite handle, which stays cool to the touch and never overheats. A non-stick coating also makes it very easy to clean using a damp cloth or a quick run through the dishwasher.
How We Decided
In determining the best-divided frying pan to buy, we explored material and safety, heat resistance, maintenance/care, and the number of sections.
Recommended materials depend based on needs. Cast iron-divided skillets are supremely durable with great heat conduction, albeit at the expense of being heavy and less rust-resistant. Cast aluminum is a cheaper version of cast iron and incorporates more of a non-stick surface. Both are equally dishwasher safe. Stainless steel is the less effective of the bunch, with lesser heat conduction and non-even heat distribution.
Safety is critical. We prefer divided frying pans which are PFOA free. PFOA is a man-made chemical previously used with non-stick coatings and to help divided frying pans resist heat, later proven to cause health defects. The Fruiteam Divided Frying Pan is an excellent example, as it is lead, PFOA, and cadmium-free.
Look for divided frying pans with a minimum heat resistance of 350°F, which is an appropriate cooking temperature for most foods. Handles should also be heat resistant in the event of oven reheating jobs.
Maintenance and care should be limited to no more than a mild hand wash with hot soapy water or a run through the dishwasher. Excess dishwasher use may degrade non-stick coatings over time, so hand washing is highly recommended.
Lastly, we looked into the number of sections. At a minimum, we like two sections. The Master Pan Non-Stick Best Divided Frying Pan has five compartments, which makes it good for cooking all types of foods. As equally important to the number of compartments is the type of pan it is. Many pans, like the Kutime 3 Section Grill Divided Frying Pan, combine both smooth and grilled edges, making it great for searing and grilling.
Best Divided Frying Pan Buyer’s Guide
The Most Important Features to Consider
- Material & Safety
Our recommended divided frying pans generally fall within two material types – cast iron and cast aluminum. Cast iron retains more heat and is more durable. Cast aluminum is lighter and easier to clean. Both have comparable operating temperatures ( 350°F+). For everyday use, we advise cast aluminum, as it’s lighter and easier to clean. Safety is a key consideration. Look for divided frying pans that are lead, PFOA, and cadmium-free. All chemicals have been known to cause serious health defects, including some cancers with prolonged exposure. - Heat Resistance
Look for a divided frying pan with a minimum heat resistance of 350°F, which is an appropriate temperature to heat and cook almost all foods. Handles should also be heat resistant in the event of reheating inside of an oven. - Maintenance and Care
We prefer divided frying pans that are very easy to clean, only needing a quick rinse using soapy water (more with cast iron) or dishwasher safe (cast aluminum). - Number of Sections
The greater the number of sections, the more types of foods can be cooked at a given time. However, it may also limit movement and result in smaller portions. We like dual and tri-compartment divided frying pans, which offer just enough surface area for a generous cook. Look to composition as we have one compartment for searing (smooth surface) and one compartment for grilling.
