GreenPan
If, like me, you’ve long admired actor Stanley Tucci’s suave cooking and cocktail-making skills, then you may have also coveted his beautifully designed kitchen and impressive collection of kitchenware. Most recently, I’ve been watching him whip up anything from toasties to carbonara using his good-looking range of TUCCI pans, which he designed in collaboration with Green Pan. So I was excited to hear the Stanley Tucci cookware range is now available to buy in Australia! I had the chance to try out the 33cm ceramic ‘Stanley Pan’ in Carrara White, which I put to the test with my go-to Italian meatball recipe—a staple in our house. Here’s what happened.
Stanley Tucci’s ceramic non-stick frypan review verdict
- Our rating: (9 out of 10)
- Why we rated it a (9/10): It’s beautiful. I love the way this pan looks, and it complements the rest of my pan collection. It’s well made. The TUCCI range has been handmade in Italy and you can really tell the difference. The weightiness, finish of the materials and the design of the handles make for a quality product. The large size is great for cooking up larger family meals like stroganoff, risotto, pasta dishes and curries, while it’s also a joy to cook simpler items like a toasted sandwich, fritters or eggs – and you can fit bigger batches in the pan so less waiting around for multiple batches you’d have with a smaller pan.
Pros
- The ceramic non-stick coating means you don’t need to use much oil and it’s PFAS-free, so it’s a healthier option than other non-stick options
- The pan is versatile. You can effortlessly fry an egg, saute meat and vegetables, or make risotto and pasta dishes.
- You can also use the pan on any stovetop, including induction, and it’s oven-safe too
- The two handles mean more control with both hands – this pan is large and it’s heavy!
Cons
- It’s heavy! When the pan is full you have to grip it with both hands to lift it. I didn’t mind this, but if you prefer something more nimble, the smaller size (try the 20cm) may suit you better
- While its size is also a pro for me, for some, storage could be an issue if you don’t have much space.
What’s so special about Stanley Tucci’s ceramic non-stick frypan?
My first impression of the pan was that this was a great-looking pan. I chose the Carrara White colour (it also comes in Venetian Teal), which is complemented with custom cast handles in a luxurious Champagne finish.
The lid is a standout feature for me. It is made with heavy tempered glass with a stainless steel rim and another stylish champagne-coloured handle on top. It closes seamlessly and is great for steaming dumplings, sweating off onions and vegetables, and slowly simmering sauces – love it!
But looks aside, the real joy is in the using. I love to cook, especially big pasta dishes for my family, and a large ceramic non-stick pan like this makes dinner time so much easier, and fun!
Stanley Tucci’s ceramic non-stick frypan materials and size
- 33cm diameter heavy-gauge aluminium body with ceramic nonstick coating and a stainless steel handle
- Tempered glass lid with stainless steel rim and handle
- Holds 6.15 litres
- PFAS-free ceramic non-stick coating, which is free from harmful chemicals
- Suitable for oven use up to 260°C (500°F)
- Made in Italy
How to use Stanley Tucci’s ceramic non-stick frypan
Before I started cooking with the pan, I wanted to make sure I followed the user instructions exactly, as I have used non-stick pans before and ruined them with high heat, the wrong oils or cleaning them a bit too vigorously. For this pan, it’s recommended to use silicone utensils (which luckily I had just bought) and always use butter or oil, but not spray oils. This is fine by me because I’m pretty heavy-handed on the butter and olive oil. I normally crank the gas up high, but with Stanley’s pan made sure to heat gradually, then slowly build, as it retains its heat. It comes up to temperature quickly and, even on a lower setting, has browned everything nicely.
According to the user guide, the Stanley Pan is also oven-safe. This is the one thing I haven’t been able to test out, as the pan is too large to fit into my built-in oven. Obviously, I need to upgrade to a range oven – I’m sure my husband will agree!
Results from our test
The true test of a pan for me is:
- how well it browns food without sticking
- how quickly it comes up to temperature (and retains it)
- the volume of sauce I can make with it
There’s nothing worse than trying to toss pasta through a sauce in a pan that’s too small – it goes everywhere and the sauce can’t coat the pasta properly. So to put the Stanley Pan to the test, I decided to make Italian meatballs for the entire Home Beautiful team. Keen to see if the pan performed any differently on induction compared to my gas cooktop at home, I headed down to the studio kitchen at HBHQ.
The pan easily held all of the meatballs in one go – normally I have to cook in two batches. The meatballs browned well and the middle cooked through evenly, and were easy to turn with tongs – no sticking at all.
The non-stick is like magic and food effortlessly slips out of the pan. I was also impressed by how it cooked chicken breasts quickly and evenly.
I then added the passata sauce to the pan, popped the lid on and let it all simmer for 20 minutes. It was a bit tricky to control the temperature on the induction hob, but the pan responded quickly – I’d say it performed even better with induction heat. Great for anyone using an induction hob at home!
Next was the taste test. I dished up spaghetti and meatballs for the team, which they very politely all said they enjoyed – well, it was a cheap lunch! I tried some for myself and the meatballs were succulent and full of flavour, thanks to the browning on the outside.
The final test was the clean-up. Despite tomato sauce splatters all over the lid, it really was a very quick cleanup. I was worried about it being a cream-coloured pan that it might stain, but a quick rinse and wipe with soapy water and a sponge, and it looked spotless. Very happy with that.
Overall, is Stanley Tucci’s ceramic non-stick frypan worth it?
Overall I think the product is worth the price tag of $369.95, which I think is great value for money for a pan of this calibre. I use it every day, sometimes a few times a day, as it is so versatile, so on a cost-per-use basis, this is a smart investment.
I’ll certainly be gradually adding to the Stanley Pan with other pans from the range. I’d like to buy the smaller frypan next for when I’m whipping up a quick lunch for myself or making omelettes.
I found the Stanley Pan easy to use, easy to clean, and I have been cooking meals from scratch a lot more, as it’s so versatile and such a joy to use. I also keep leaving it out on the cooktop as it looks so stylish. I’ve had a lot of “Ooh that’s a nice pan!” comments from people who have called in and seen it.
Where to buy Stanley Tucci’s ceramic non-stick frypan
