In the labs, we put the carbon steel pans through the same tests as our cast-iron pans: heating evenness, baking, and browning. You have to keep carbon steel pans seasoned, like cast iron, but if you do, they soon develop a smooth patina that makes a pan as slick as nonstick, giving you even more cooking possibilities.

Aside from being available in a range of different colors, the main advantage of enameled cast iron over unfinished cast iron is that it’s much less likely to rust, and is also relatively easy to clean and maintain. And while these pans are more of an investment than mass-market unfinished cast iron cookware, they offer invaluable convenience and elegance that’ll last for several lifetimes.

You cannot use metal utensils on non-stick pans as this will chip and scratch the chemical non-stick coating that can then flake into your food. If they become chipped or scratched, they will need to be discarded immediately and replaced. Instead of metal utensils, opt for wooden or silicone utensils when using a non-stick pan.

Large Cast iron Dutch Oven

Enameled cast iron pans offer all the benefits of unfinished cast iron, with the touch of added convenience usually associated with non stick.

FAQS

Slightly sloped sides;Suitable for shallow frying only;Can be manufactured from different materials (carbon steel, cast iron, etc.);Can come with non-stick surfaces;Not complemented with lids.

Frypans and skillets have almost the same appearance and function in cooking. You are excused if you think they’re the same kitchen item. They are spherical and have sloping edges when compared to a sautéing pan. Let’s start with a couple more major distinctions.

With their straight sides, sauté pans have similar bottom and top measurements, so a 12-inch pan will offer a cooking area of the same size. Sauté pans are often described according to capacity, and a good choice for home cooking is anywhere from 1 quart to 7 quarts.

6 – Carbon-Steel Frying Pans

Best for: Almost any food that needs frying, browning, or searing. Because it’s ovenproof, stainless is also a good choice for foods that you start on the stovetop and then move to the oven to finish, like thick pork chops.

The details: Nitahara says that 95 percent of the pans used in the CIA’s teaching kitchens are stainless steel because they can take a lot of punishment. “The only time we don’t use them is on egg day, when we use nonstick,” he says. He adds that the shiny surface of a stainless pan makes it easy to see whether your food is browning.

In CR’s tests of stainless steel pans, we measure heating evenness by cooking pancakes, and we gauge how evenly a pan sautés by cooking potatoes until they’re tender. We also conduct a cleaning test to see how easy it is to remove cooked-on food. You’d think that all stainless pans would be about the same to clean, but our tests show that some require a lot more scrubbing than others.

Here are two recommended stainless steel pans from CR’s tests.

    Cast iron Dutch ovens are extremely versatile.   Cast iron Dutch ovens ability to evenly distribute heat makes it ideal for a variety of cooking methods, including braising, braising, frying, and even baking.  The Dutch oven's heavy lid helps lock in moisture and flavor, resulting in tender, flavorful dishes.  Whether you're simmering a hearty stew or baking crusty bread, a cast iron Dutch oven has you covered.

    Another advantage of cast iron double griddles is their durability.  Cast  iron double griddle is known for its longevity, and with proper care, this skillet can last for generations. Cast iron double griddle also develops a natural non-stick surface over time, making it easier to cook and clean.