The Best Square Pans for Your Kitchen (Top Picks)

Choosing the perfect cookware can revolutionize your cooking experience, and one such important tool is the pan. But not just any pan, the square pan. 

Unique in shape, these pans not only add a contemporary touch to your kitchen but also offer an extra 25% cooking space, enhancing your culinary experience. 

However, selecting the perfect square pan can be challenging with so many options available. That’s why I’m here to guide you. 

In this comprehensive review, I’ll explore the top ten square pans on the market. 

From maintaining the right balance of crispiness in your meals to adding a richer flavor, a well-chosen square pan can truly make a difference. 

So, let’s embark on this journey to discover the best pan that suits your kitchen and cooking style.

Best Square Pan List

Lodge Square Pan

This 12-inch Cast Iron Square Pan – is seasoned, ready to use, and generously sized. This pan stands out with its modern handles and low sidewalls, enhancing its versatility. 

One of its notable features is its superior heat retention ability, ensuring consistent high-heat cooking and even heat distribution without any hotspots.

This pan offers a naturally nonstick surface that improves with every use. Keeping it in good condition is easy – just wash it by hand, dry it, and apply oil to maintain its finish.

Moreover, this cast iron cookware is not only oven-safe but also compatible with various heat sources, such as glass-top stoves, induction cookers, grills, or even open fire.

All-Clad Anodized Nonstick Square Pan

The Square pan offers a generously open surface area with low sides, which makes flipping and turning food items such as pancakes, eggs, and French toast a breeze. 

The HA1 Nonstick square pan, made with heavy-gauge aluminum and a stainless-steel base, ensures consistent and delightful cooking results. 

The handles are double-riveted stainless steel, ensuring a firm and secure grip, and the capacity markings offer convenient size identification.

The HA1 Nonstick griddle pan is versatile and easy to care for. It’s oven-safe up to 500°F and compatible with all stovetops except induction. 

Its superior nonstick surface promotes healthier cooking with less fat while providing a durable and easy release. To maintain its nonstick quality, simply hand wash the cookware using soap and a sponge.

T-Fal Square Pan

This 6 Qt. Nonstick pan, uniquely designed with a deep, square shape and a glass lid, offers versatile solutions for your everyday cooking needs. 

The pan features built-in Thermo-Spot technology, which signals when the cookware has achieved the optimal temperature to start cooking. 

Its stainless steel induction base ensures even heat distribution, preventing food from burning. In addition, the pan boasts an ultra-durable, scratch-resistant nonstick coating infused with sapphire for an increased lifespan. 

Its three-layer construction makes it safe to use with metal utensils without worry. When it comes to cleaning, this pan makes your life easier as it is dishwasher-safe.

Designed to endure oven temperatures up to 350°F, this pan also comes with stainless steel handles, providing a firm and secure grip while handling.

Goodful Aluminum Nonstick Square Pan

This set includes an 11″ Square Nonstick Griddle Pan and a Nylon Pancake Jumbo Turner designed to elevate your cooking experience. The griddle pan is crafted with a durable nonstick coating, ensuring an effortless food release. 

With a focus on promoting healthy cooking, the nonstick coating is carefully crafted without employing PFOA. This allows you to confidently create your favorite dishes, knowing that your health is our priority.

The set also includes a jumbo nylon pancake turner designed to complement the nonstick pan perfectly. This turner is gentle on nonstick surfaces, making it an ideal choice for this griddle pan. 

Its larger size makes flipping food items, such as pancakes and omelets, easy, without the worry of scratching your cookware.

Calphalon Square Pan

This pan is constructed with heavy-gauge aluminum, ensuring uniform heating and exceptional durability. Additionally, its hard-anodized design makes it safe for dishwasher use. 

The interior is designed with three layers of nonstick coating – the first two layers for added durability and the third for effortless food release.

This pan boasts long, brushed stainless steel handles, engineered to remain cool even while the pan is on the stovetop, ensuring safe and comfortable handling.

The pan and its covers are oven-safe, making it an excellent choice for gourmet dishes that require finishing in the oven. Its large, flat cooking surface allows multiple servings, while the slim edge keeps liquids contained yet permits easy access with a spatula.

The nonstick surface promotes healthier cooking with less fat and guarantees effortless cleanup. In addition, the pan comes with a full lifetime warranty from Calphalon for added assurance.

Greenpan Ceramic Square Pan

GreenPan’s collection comes with a Thermolon healthy ceramic nonstick coating, which is devoid of harmful chemicals such as PFAS, PFOA, lead, and cadmium. 

This ensures the pan will not emit toxic fumes, even if inadvertently overheated. Moreover, the diamond-reinforced coating is not only safe for metal utensils but also incredibly durable. 

This pan, built with a robust Hard Anodized Body, is designed to resist scratches and withstand daily usage. Notably, its oven and broiler are safe up to 600°F and are dishwasher-friendly, making cleanup a breeze.

Farberware Square Skillet

This indoor pan, crafted from aluminum, guarantees fast and even heating. In addition, its unique exterior color adds an aesthetic touch to your kitchen. 

With its SmartGlide Nonstick System, this pan delivers outstanding food release, superb browning, and effortless cleanup, all facilitated by its uniquely textured surface.

It is oven safe up to 350 degrees F and dishwasher-safe for your convenience. The handle is sturdy and comfortable to use. 

This square pan is ideal for making bacon, grilling burgers, or pairing it with other items in the Farberware collections.

Gotham Steel Square Skillet

Gotham Steel square frying pan is designed for daily cooking needs, providing 20% more surface area for stir-frying, searing meats, or cooking eggs. In addition, its award-winning ultra-nonstick ceramic coating ensures easy food release without needing oils or butter. 

This pan showcases swift and uniform heat distribution technology, with its spiralized bottom ensuring a consistent cooking experience devoid of any hotspots.

It features a cool-touch stainless steel handle for safety and ease of use while being oven and stovetop safe up to 500 degrees. 

This pan is free of harmful chemicals like PFOA and PFOS, ensuring an eco-friendly and healthy cooking experience. 

Furthermore, the cleanup process is effortless thanks to the unique Ti-Cerama finish of the pan, which not only facilitates easy wiping but also makes it suitable for the dishwasher.

Ecolution Artistry NonStick Square frying pan

This high-performing, multipurpose griddle pan is designed to last with an extra-durable construction for even heat distribution. In addition, its riveted silicone handle ensures a safe and comfortable grip. 

The nonstick interior allows easy food release and simplifies cleaning, with dishwasher compatibility adding further convenience. It is perfect for cooking various meals, from breakfast to dinner. 

It evenly distributes heat thanks to its bottom rings and heavy gauge aluminum construction. In addition, the eco-friendly water-based nonstick coating is PFOA-free, making it safer for you and the environment. 

It features advanced nonstick technology for extreme protection and durability, making it dishwasher-safe for easy cleanup.

Tamagoyaki Japanese Square Frying Pan

This high-performance pan is crafted from commercial-grade 3004 heavy-gauge aluminum for even heat distribution and prevention of hot spots. 

It boasts a unique design with a sloped front and straight sidewalls for easy omelet flipping. 

It features a 3-layer reinforced Teflon nonstick coating that’s free of PFOA, Cadmium, and Lead, utilizing a new, patented scratch resistance technology. 

This versatile pan is perfect not only for tamagoyaki but also for frying eggs, making sandwiches, and cooking pancakes, steak, and veggies. 

The heavy-duty forged base is induction-ready and resistant to warping or wobbling, making it compatible with electric, gas, and ceramic stoves. 

This pan is conveniently dishwasher-safe and oven safe up to 350ºF, ensuring effortless upkeep. It stands as a testament to exceptional quality and performance.

Buyer’s Guide for The Best Square Pan

Material

Understanding the unique traits of different materials can help you choose the ideal square pan. 

Cast iron pans, known for excellent heat distribution and retention, are heavier than others. However, aluminum pans are stain-resistant, lightweight, and conduct heat well. 

Copper pans offer versatility in cooking and possess antibacterial properties. In addition, stainless steel pans, though thin, ensure durability and great heat conductivity. 

Iron pans, perfect for roasting, retain heat for long periods. Carbon pans, despite their high heat conduction, can be tough to clean. 

Steel pans are durable, rust-resistant, and work well with induction stoves. Each material offers unique benefits to enhance your cooking experience.

Construction

Pans made from thin-gauge materials tend to distribute heat unevenly and are susceptible to dents and warping. 

Conversely, a high-quality skillet, crafted from heavy-gauge material, not only ensures durability but also excels in conducting heat evenly, significantly enhancing the cooking experience.

Size 

Selecting the appropriate size of your square pan primarily depends on how often you plan to use it and the number of people you usually cook for. 

Nevertheless, opting for a larger square pan is often a good idea, as it provides ample cooking space.

Type of Surface

Square pans generally come with two kinds of surfaces: ceramic and metal.

Metal-surfaced square pans are excellent heat conductors. They heat up quickly and retain heat for longer durations, speeding up the cooking process.

Contrastingly, ceramic-surfaced pans prevent food from sticking and burning, ensuring a clean and hassle-free cooking experience.

Handle

The pan handle should be constructed from plastic or silicone and designed to provide a firm grip. It’s advisable to avoid handles made from steel or iron.

Moreover, these handles should be securely riveted and tightly fastened to the frying pan for optimal stability.

Ease of use

The ideal pan should be user-friendly, easy to manage, and simple to clean. Opt for a nonstick pan if you prefer to avoid the time-consuming process of re-seasoning a cast iron pan. 

A pan with a lengthy handle offering a comfortable grip could also be beneficial. The pan’s weight is crucial too; it should not be excessively heavy or too light.

What is Square Pan Used For?

In the U.S., square frying pans are viewed as a unique variant of skillets, offering extra storage space compared to their round counterparts. 

They often feature taller sidewalls, ideal for braising food or frying multiple pieces of toast.

Conversely, a square frying pan in Japan has a specific purpose: creating Tamagoyaki. This rectangular egg dish requires a square pan to achieve its distinctive shape. 

As the egg rolls, it’s pressed and shaped until it forms a perfect square. Japanese chefs typically prefer copper or cast iron Tamagoyaki pans to prepare this traditional dish.

Benefits of Square Pan

Square pans hold a distinct advantage over their round counterparts due to their extended corners, allowing more food to be cooked simultaneously. In addition, this design efficiently speeds up the cooking process, providing about 25% more cooking space than round pans.

Square pans are particularly advantageous for keeping your meat and vegetables moist, as they help retain juices effectively. They also make tasks such as braising meat easier, with their corners simplifying the process of spooning out juices.

When it comes to flipping omelets or crepes, square pans offer greater ease compared to round ones. These practical benefits make square pans an increasingly popular choice over traditional round pans.

In terms of aesthetics, square pans also offer a more sophisticated look than their round counterparts. 

Therefore, whether it’s for accommodating larger meals, enhancing the cooking process, or simply for their stylish appeal, square pans bring a range of advantages to your cooking experience.

Care for Square Pan

Here are some concise tips for caring and maintaining your pan:

• Follow the manufacturer’s specific instructions for the pan material.
• Let the pan cool completely before washing it.
• Avoid air-drying cast-iron pans after cleaning.
• Use a gentle detergent, and warm water soak for tough stains or residues.
• Don’t wash the pan after every use.
• Regularly season a cast iron pan to maintain non-stickiness and flavor.
• Limit cooking acidic foods in the pan to prevent surface damage.
• Allow food to char evenly on one side to prevent sticking.

Final Verdict

Square pans are versatile and efficient tools in any kitchen. They provide a larger cooking surface due to their extended corners, making them ideal for preparing larger meals. 

Additionally, their unique design makes certain tasks, such as spooning out juices or flipping omelets, much simpler. Equipped with features such as a nonstick coating and even heat distribution, they ensure a pleasant cooking experience. 

Whether you’re preparing a simple stir-fry or a classic Japanese Tamagoyaki, a square pan can be an excellent addition to your kitchenware collection.