So you like to cook, but do you have a universal frying pan lid?
A well-stocked kitchen needs many things: a good set of knives, a durable set of cookware and plenty of food storage containers, just to name a few. But there's one thing that even people who really love to cook (hello, it's me!) might overlook in their kitchen, and it's a lid that fits even their very biggest pans.
Let me explain: I own a stainless steel cookware set that includes two frying pans — an 8-inch and a 10-inch —with matching lids. Over the years I've added a deep 12-inch nonstick frying pan, a 12-inch Lodge cast iron skillet and an oversized wok to my cookware collection; Those pans did not come with matching lids. In lieu of lids, I got into the habit of using a metal baking tray or cookie sheet on top of those pans to prevent oil splatters and try to lock in steam. It wasn't the greatest but it worked fine in a pinch, I told myself, especially because I didn't want to have to find storage for half a dozen lids to various sized pots and pans in my cupboards, anyway.
That was, of course, before I discovered Made In Cookware's Universal Silicone Frying Pan Lid, which quickly became a game-changer in my kitchen.
Though my cookie sheet hack worked OK in an absolute pinch, upon switching to Made In's universal lid I found that foods cooked better and stayed warmer. After all, the silicone lid's unique design is especially tailored to prevent loss of moisture, heat and steam, so it was no surprise to learn that a proper lid would provide a better seal. Plus, it acts as a natural splatter guard in a way that my cookie sheet just couldn't.
What surprised me most about this silicone lid, however, is just how heavy it is! It's not lightweight and it's definitely not flimsy, which makes sense because it has a stainless steel frame to provide durability and keep it in place. Plus, if there's one thing I learned as a minimum wage employee at Bed Bath and Beyond when I was a college student, it's this: Heavier products are almost always better products. They tend to be made with higher quality materials and better components, which makes sense! Consider this permission to do bicep curls in the kitchen appliance section the next time you're deciding between toasters or frying pans.
I've now been using my Made In Universal Silicone Frying Pan Lid for more than four years, and it still looks brand new — seriously. Not a scorch mark, scratch or stain to be found on it. I store it in the same drawer as my pots and pans, reaching for it when I need it. Though I don't use it every time I cook, the times I do need it it's been essential. And as one reviewer put it, it's nice to not have to worry about multiple lids for multiple pans.
"Finally, a lid that will fit any pan or skillet," wrote one reviewer.
In fact, nearly 2,000 reviewers have given the lid a nearly perfect 4.8-star overall rating.
"I have many pans that I don' have lids to fit," another reviewer wrote. "This all in one will work with all of them. It is a heavy weight lid, which surprised me, but in a good way, that will seal any pan I have and not bounce around if things start to boil. It has three inside rings for specific pan sizes but I used it on a pan that didn't fit the rings and it worked fabulously."
Another reviewer put it best: "This is really the only lid you'll ever need, it fits everything!!"
If you're on the fence, we'd be remiss not to mention that this silicone universal lid is currently $20 off during Made In Cookware's End Of Summer Sale. But act fast: Sept. 3rd is the last day you can get it on sale.