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.

In conclusion, cast iron Dutch ovens are prized for their versatility, durability, and ability to create flavorful and hearty meals. Whether used for slow-cooked stews, artisanal bread baking, or outdoor campfire cooking, these timeless culinary tools are a valuable addition to any kitchen, providing a unique cooking experience and the ability to create a wide range of delicious dishes.

Non-stick pans have some form of an interior coating such as Teflon or PTFE which prevents food from sticking during cooking. They're best for foods like pancakes, eggs, fish, or crepes which require low or medium heat and little or no oil. This makes them ideal for weight management because you can use them to cook low-fat food.

The heft and price tag of enameled cast iron pans can be a potential deal breaker for some.

 Dutch Oven Function:

Best for: cooking fragile foods such as eggs, fish filets, breaded cutlets, pancakes, and crepes

Other reasons why professionals dislike using non-stick frying pan sets include the fact that they are not oven-friendly and can’t be used with metal utensils. The stainless steel pans from The Indus Valley are a great alternative to non-stick pans.