Kadai is a must-have equipment in every Indian kitchen.
From tossing the healthy salad in olive oil to deep frying the samosa, we need this deep-fry pan aka “Kadai”.
When so much love goes to Kadai, no wonder the Indian market is filled with several brands, which makes it difficult to choose one of them.
In this article, we will discuss how to choose the best Indian Kadai among the many brands available in the market.
We will further have a glance at the list of the best deep-frying pans that you can buy online in India.
This list will help you compare and shortlist the Kadai that you believe best for your kitchen.
Best Deep-Fry Pans (Kadai) to Buy Online in India
| Best Kadai Brands | Rating | Buy |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Meyer Best Buy | 4.2/5 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2. Hawkins | 4.4/5 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3. Borosil | 4/5 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4. Kitchen Essentials | 4.1/5 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5. Prestige | 4/5 | Buy on Amazon |
| 6. Camro | 4.4/5 | Buy on Amazon |
| 7. Zishta | 3.9/5 | Buy on Amazon |
1. Meyer pre seasoned cast iron Kadai
The kadai comes with canvas grip for easy handling.
This cast iron kadai from Meyer is super durable and is a one piece design, which means that it does not have joints or screws.
It has a dept of 5 cm and pouring lips which makes pouring easy. The kadai heats quickly and retains the heat for a longer time.
It is not made with any toxic materials or chemicals and does not have enamel or black paint. Handling the kadai after cooking is easy as it comes with a heat resistant canvas grip.
The kadai is pre-seasoned with 100% vegetable oil. It is compatible with gas and induction cooktops.
It also comes with a shatter resistant tampered glass transparent lid which lets you have a look at the dish while its cooking. The best part is that, this kadai comes with a lifetime warranty.
2. Hawkins Futura Hard Anodised Deep-Fry Pan
This non toxic, non staining flat bottom deep fry pan cooks food faster and crisper.
Hawkins is one of the most trusted and popular cookware brands in India. This Hawkins Futura Hard Anodised Deep-Fry Pan is compatible with gas stovetop and cannot be spoilt by heat.
It has thickness of 4.06 mm and metal spoons can be used on them.
It is non toxic and non staining and maintains a new look for many years. This hard anodised aluminium pan comes with a stainless steel lid and helps in cooking food faster and crispier.
It has elegant, comfortable rosewood handles that are fixed on sturdy stainless steel brackets.
3. Borosil – Stainless Steel Deep Kadhai with Lid
This energy efficient tri-ply kadhai that is induction compatible and comes with impact bonded bottom.
Borosil Deep Kadhai is made with stainless steel material and comes with stainless steel mirror finishing. The kadhai has a capacity of 1.8 litres and can be used to cook and fry different dishes.
It has an impact bonded bottom that helps in promoting uniform heating. This product is professionally manufactured and is energy efficient.
This kadhai has a construction that is safe to cook on gas, hot plate and induction. It also promotes a secure and comfortable grip.
4. Kitchen Essentials Hard Anodised Small Kadai
Small kadai with 16.5cm diameter and 1-liter size that can serve for one or two persons.
It is one of the small kadai that meant for bachelors or for cooking for one or two persons. It is a lightweight frying pan but sturdy in nature and comes with the short, curved handles that are insulated to allow the chef to hold it during cooking.
The kadai heats quickly thus save the energy and easy to clean. It is a deep, hard-anodized aluminum kadai.
Though it is deep, you won’t be able to use it for deep-frying the food. It is not enough wide to serve the deep frying purpose.
Also, it is not an induction-compatible kadai so if you are looking for a kadai that can cook large meals, allow deep frying and work with an induction cooktop then this is not the right choice for you.
Specifications –
Best for: Deep fry in small quantity and serving purpose
Size: approx. 1 liters
Types: Hard aniodized aluminum kadai
Reasons to buy:
- Made of aluminum and stainless steel
- Easy to wash
- Work with gas stove.
- Durable handles
Reasons to avoid:
- Not a non-stick kadai
- Not an induction-compatible.
- Not for large families
- Very small in size.
5. Prestige Omega Select Plus Kadai with Lid
Non-stick kadai that can be used on a gas stove and small in size.
This non-stick kadai is useful for small quantity cooking. It has approximately 2 liters in size and can cook a meal for 2 people.
It is one of those kadai that comes with deep and round base and allows deep frying. Due to its smaller size and deep base, you can use it for frying using less amount of oil.
It is a great choice for those who are not looking for a large kadai and want to cook and fry the food 2 to 3 people. Though it works well with the gas stove, it won’t be useful if you have an induction cooktop.
It is not an induction-friendly kadai. Apart from being great for small families, it has some drawbacks. It may not balance properly in gas stove due to its round base.
6. Camro Induction Bottom Kadhai
Stainless steel kadai, large and suitable for gas stove & induction cooktops
This fits over all cooktops including induction and gas stoves. So, it will a perfect purchase for those who use both cook-top in their kitchen.
It is made from stainless steel for better durability and quite big in size and serves approximately six people. Handles of the pan are well insulated to protect the user from heat burns and easy usability
Like all other stainless still cooking pots, it fails to distribute the heat evenly which usually results in the food burn if you do not provide proper attention.
It is made to serve medium to a big family, so if you have a small family of fewer than 4 people then it won’t be a good choice for you.
Also, it is a heavy kadai and if you always use the small ones, you might feel it difficult to handle it properly. Its flat bottom makes it easy to cook veggies and other recipes but will require more oil for deep-frying the food.
7. Zishta Traditional Large Cast Iron Kadhai
Heavy, traditional kadai for the family of 4 to 5.
This is a typical Indian kadai made from Iron and big in size.
The traditional iron cast kadai has 10 inches diameter and with weight around 3kg, it is a quite heavy frying pan.
If you are more into holistic cooking using the traditional Indian pots then this is one of the great choices to have in your kitchen.
It has a size of 1.75 liters that makes it a perfect frying pan for the family of four to five members.
Also, due to the rounded bottom, it makes deep-frying a breeze. As it made from the iron cast, it is durable enough and easily distributes the heat across the pan. Due to heat being distributed evenly, it minimizes the chances of food burn.
How to Choose a Kadai (Deep-Fry Pan) in India – Buying Guide
The size, shape, colors, and material of deep-fry pan can vary as per the brands. Apart from these specifications, you should consider the length of the handle, whether the Kadai has a non-stick feature or not.
Remember, you need a deep-fry pan that has most of the features at the lowest budget without compromising the quality of the product.
Size
The size of the frying pan will depend on how much food you need to cook every day. So, if you have a small family, you will require a medium to small-sized Kadai while a bigger family needs a big Kadai.
Here is an approximate estimate to guide you on the size of Kadai –
- Family of 4 to 6 people – More than 2.5 ltr Kadai (diameter more than 25 cm)
- Family of 4 people – 2.5 ltr (diameter 25 to 26 cm)
- Family of 2 people – 1 to 1.5 ltr (diameter 16 to 22 cm)
Type of material used
Indian deep-frying pans are made using various metals and alloys. These metals and alloys have their own characteristics and react differently to acidic food.
Here are prominent types of material used for Indian deep-fry pans and respective advantages and disadvantages.
Aluminum Deep-fry pan (Corrosion Resistance)
Usually, aluminum does not react with oil so it can be a good option for deep-frying.
Though it is not recommended to use the oil which is once used for deep-frying, many people do use it. In such cases, aluminum Kadai can be a good option as it does not react with the oil.
An aluminum frying pan is a cheap option than other types of Kadai, so they are great to save some money.
Though aluminum Kadai is a good option to buy, it is a soft material and can easily dent and get scratches.
Also, you should not be using the aluminum deep-fry pan to cook acidic food, which may ruin the recipe and pan.
Cast iron pans
These are made from an alloy of iron and carbon. These types of Kadai show the second most heat conduction and retention properties after the copper Kadai.
Though they are not non-stick types of kadai, they exhibit features like non-stick when coated with the frying oil. We found that they usually moderately priced but provides great value for your money.
They are easy to wash, durable frying pans. So, you can expect them to last longer if you use them wisely.
Though cast iron pans seem good to use, they come with few drawbacks. Being made from the alloy of iron and carbon, you might found that they start rusting. Also, oxidation with oil can play a big role in this procedure.
Apart from rusting, they are heavy pots. So, if you are looking for a lightweight option cast iron pans are not a good option for you to choose.
Type of handle
Kadai for Indian cooking comes with two types of handles.
- Short & rounded (for sturdier grip)
- Long & straight (save from burning your hands)
The short handle of Kadai has a curve and present in pairs so that the user can hold it using both hands. The short handle provides a sturdy grip but may expose your hands to heat.
The long handles are good to save your hand from heat but they put more pressure on one hand. So, if you are going to use the kadai for a small family then you can use the one with a long handle otherwise go for a short and curved one.
