After yesterday's post about the All-Clad 12" stainless steel fry pan, reader Jake Spurlock wrote in to let us know about a potentially better deal: the Tramontina stainless steel fry pan.

The All-Clad is nice, but this $50 Tramontina is just as good at a third of the price: http://www.seriouseats.com/2010/08/equipment-the-all-clad-vs-tramontina-skillet.html

I don't have any first-hand experience with the Tramontina but I was intrigued enough to click through and read the Serious Eats comparison test. The results were surprising; they determined the All-Clad to be a better performer all-around, but the Tramontina actually had a slight edge in terms of heat retention and was close enough in every other respect for most peoples' needs.

So if you simply can't dish out the $150 for the All-Clad, the Tramontina pan apparently comes in at a very close second and it only costs $55!

Since a stainless steel skillet can last you the rest of your life though, I would argue that buying the best one possible is still worth some consideration. In the end, you'll just have to go with your gut (pun fully intended).

Thanks for the tip, Jake!