Maybe a pork chop that you start on the stove and finish in the oven? The cast-iron pan is an old-school kitchen standby that will literally last you a lifetime—and get better with age. We tested a variety of options over the past four years and the Victoria inch skillet consistently came out as the winner.
Read our full review of the best cast-iron skillets to see what else we liked and how to care for your cast iron. The Madura Plus has a forged aluminum core, which means it has efficient heat distribution, cooking foods evenly and heating up and cooling down relatively quickly. This—and its superior nonstick abilities—are likely due to a four-layer PFOA-free Duraslide nonstick coating.
The pan is made of hard anodized aluminum, which means it boasts even heat distribution and has a Thermolon Minerals ceramic nonstick coating.
If you intend to transfer your nonstick pan from the stovetop to the oven for dishes like baked eggs, this is a huge selling point. This heavy, wide-lidded enameled cast-iron pot can do pretty much anything: bake bread , simmer soups , or fry potato chips to name just a few. To find the best Dutch oven, we tested models from 11 brands. In the stovetop test, the Le Creuset gave a good sear on meat and evenly caramelized vegetables for stew.
Our stew came out of the oven test with the ideal amount of evaporation. Like the Le Creuset, it has a light-colored enamel bottom. Its sloped sides even offer an advantage over the Le Creuset; they prevent food from getting stuck and scorched in the corners of the pot and make it easier to stir however they do lead to slightly more evaporation in braising.
Read our full review of the best Dutch ovens. Finding the best stainless-steel frying pan is all about quality of construction. And for quality construction, we turn to All-Clad. The company is known for its bonded tri-ply stainless-steel cookware—and it totally lives up to the hype. To find the best stainless-steel skillet, we tested models from legacy cookware brands and new, direct-to-consumer start-ups. Both had strong searing and even-heating capabilities. Bonus: the Calphalon offers a glass lid rather than a stainless-steel lid, which is optimal for monitoring your food as it cooks.
And while large stockpots, woks, and oversized frying pans can be useful, those pieces might not fit in a cabinet. It can also handle high heat and can be used on induction cooktops. While stainless steel tends to be on the pricier side, pots can be made less expensive by making the sides of the pots thinner, while high-end pots tend to have thicker sides and are heavier overall.
Some high-end stainless steel is actually a clad material, with layers of other metals sandwiched inside the stainless steel to provide the cooking benefits of those metals with the ease of stainless steel.
Some stainless steel cookware has a disk attached to the bottom of the pot that provides some of the same benefits of clad cookware at a lower price point. While uncoated aluminum is not a desirable material for cookware, coated aluminum is ideal because nonstick materials bond easily to the metal, protecting the aluminum and making the coating more durable.
Besides having nonstick interior coatings, some aluminum cookware has an anodized exterior, which hardens the metal, creates a colored surface, and protects the exterior from stains and corrosion. Anodized cookware usually has either a nonstick-coated interior or a thin layer of stainless steel on the interior, so none of the aluminum is exposed.
While some nonstick aluminum cookware is dishwasher safe, you should check with the manufacturer to be sure. Cast iron retains heat well, making it ideal for searing, frying, baking, and braising, and it will keep food warm after cooking is done. Cast iron cookware can be either coated or uncoated, but both are induction-cooktop friendly.
Uncoated cast iron cookware needs some special care and cleaning, but it often arrives pre-seasoned, so it can be used right away. Further cooking and seasoning will make it even more nonstick over time. Uncoated cast iron cookware is nearly indestructible, and can usually be used on a stovetop, in the oven, on a grill, and perhaps even over a campfire, but it should be washed by hand and may need occasional reseasoning.
Some cast-iron cookware has a shiny colored enameled exterior with a rough matte interior that resembles uncoated cast iron but is impervious to acidic foods. Some coated cast iron cookware is dishwasher safe, but you should check with the manufacturer to be sure since dishwasher detergent could harm the coating. Copper is a highly heat-responsive metal, so it heats and cools quickly. Some copper cookware has only a thin layer of copper on the outside of the pan that is purely for looks, but high-quality copper cookware is made entirely from copper, often with a thin coating of tin or stainless steel on the interior so it can be used with any type of food.
True copper cookware is not compatible with induction cooktops, but stainless cookware with a decorative copper coating should be induction compatible. While steel pans are not as common as other materials for home cookware, carbon steel, and blue steel is sometimes used for woks and other specialty pans.
The cookware needs to be seasoned before use and oiled after cooking to keep it from rusting in storage. Enameled steel cookware is not as common today as it was in years past, but speckled enamelware can still be found occasionally, particularly in large pots used for water bath canning. The enameled coating protects the steel from rusting, but if the coating chips or cracks, rusting can occur.
Steel cookware should be induction compatible, but if the material is extremely thin, the induction might not recognize it properly. Ceramic cookware typically includes one of two types of cookware: those that are completely made of ceramic, and those that have an aluminum body bonded with a magnetic, silicon-based nonstick coating this coating is called "ceramic" because the coating is made of sand.
Because ceramic is non-conductive, meaning it reacts slowly to heat and retains it well, it's ideal for slow, steady cooking. Thus, fully ceramic cookware typically comprises roasting pans and casserole dishes that are intended only for oven use. Completely ceramic cookware are made of either porcelain, earthenware, or stoneware, and they're typically dishwasher-safe. Ceramic nonstick pots and pans, on the other hand, are designed to be used on the stovetop. Their aluminum core allows for quick, even heat distribution, while their nonstick exterior also resists scratches and is compatible with all kinds of stovetops including induction.
Ceramic nonstick pots and pans are generally safe in the dishwasher, but for them to last longer, hand washing is recommended, as well as only using wooden or silicone utensils when cooking with them.
While All-Clad is known for its high-end cookware, they have several product lines at different price points, so they can be affordable for serious home cooks looking for quality. Anolon has branched out, and you can now find bakeware products as well.
They also sell stainless steel cookware as well as companion items like bakeware, knives, and cooking gadgets. Known for its made-in-France enameled cast iron Dutch ovens in a variety of colors, the brand has expanded to other types of cookware and other products.
Besides Dutch ovens, they sell braisers, grill pans, and skillets in enameled cast iron, as well as stainless steel cookware, ceramic casseroles, and specialty cookware, some of which are made in countries other than France. Le Creuset Dutch ovens are often treasured family pieces that are passed down through generations since the coatings are well made and unlikely to chip or crack with normal use. Lodge is known for its uncoated cast iron cookware, including a wide range of frying pans, from single-egg pans to very large pans fit for feeding the neighborhood.
They also make uncoated Dutch ovens for stovetop or camping use, grill pans, pizza pans, and chicken fryers. Like other companies, Lodge has expanded their product lines and they now also sell enameled cast iron cookware. While the uncoated cast iron pans are manufactured in the US, their other products may be manufactured elsewhere. Mauviel cookware is one of the most well-known manufacturers of copper cookware.
Made in France, the cookware is beautiful and expensive. While a complete set might be out of the budget, a single piece of cookware might be affordable for special use, like a crepe pan or a jam pan. Cookware warranties vary widely, from short-term warranties on single nonstick frying pans to lifetime warranties on higher-end cookware.
While a lifetime warranty sounds like a great deal, most have caveats, like excluding commercial use or cookware abuse. Since cookware has no moving parts, defects and breakage are not common, with the worst fault being defects in nonstick coatings. Few single pieces of cookware come with accessories, aside from lids. Exceptions are stockpots that might include a steamer or pasta insert, or roasting pans that might include a rack.
Some sets do include valuable extras, like steamers, pasta inserts, double boilers, or frying inserts that fit specific cookware pieces in the set. Also, you can find plenty of accessories online, including universal lids, silicone handle covers for cast iron pans, roasting racks, and a multitude of options for steaming, frying, and draining.
Cookware only works on induction cooktops or portable induction burners if it contains ferromagnetic materials, meaning either it has iron or a layer with magnetic properties. Cast iron and magnetic stainless steel sets are induction compatible, but aluminum, all-copper, and glass sets are not—unless they have an added layer on the bottom with magnetic properties.
Be careful when it comes to stainless steel as it can be made with a variety of materials that may block the magnetic field. Most manufacturers will specify on the packaging or pans themselves if they are induction compatible. An anodized exterior, which is sometimes found on aluminum cookware, hardens the metal, creates a colored surface, and protects the pans from stains and corrosion. You should be able to use any type of utensils with anodized cookware and not have to worry about scratches.
Donna Currie is a cookbook author who reviews products and writes roundups for The Spruce Eats. Her passion for quality cookware started when she toured a cookware manufacturer and saw how pots and pans were made.
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Can dent easily. Copper is a reactive metal, but today's pans are usually lined with a nonreactive metal such as tin or stainless steel that makes them safe to cook in.
Not compatible with induction cooktops. The outside of a copper pan can take on a patina over time that requires removal with a copper cleaner. Hand-wash only. The cookware industry consists mostly of large corporations that manufacture several brands. Use these profiles to compare cookware by brand. We respect your privacy. All email addresses you provide will be used just for sending this story. Sign In. Become a Member. Remember Me. Forgot username or password? Not a member?
Need further assistance? Please call Member Services at Sign in or Become a Member. Cookware Buying Guide Last updated: November 03, Find the Best Cookware for Your Inner Chef We test, evaluate, and compare the latest cookware so that you can cook like the experts. Cookware Confidence Consumer Reports buys and tests stainless and nonstick cookware sets, Dutch ovens, and a variety of frying pans, including nonstick, stainless, cast iron, carbon steel, and copper. Kitchen Cookware Ratings.
Familiarize yourself with cookware terminology to make the best choice for your cooking style. Cookware Brands That Matter The cookware industry consists mostly of large corporations that manufacture several brands.
All-Clad is among the highest-priced brands. All-Clad produces mainly stainless steel and copper-core products. These products are distributed primarily in upscale department and specialty stores.
Anolon is manufactured by Meyer and features nonstick products. This brand is priced in the midrange and is sold online and at department stores, specialty stores, mass market retailers, and wholesale clubs. A midrange to high-end brand that is available in various materials—anodized aluminum, nonstick and uncoated, and stainless steel. Circulon brand is manufactured by Meyer and features nonstick products. Cuisinart is a mid- to high-priced brand that offers products in stainless steel, hard-anodized, and multiclad materials, nonstick and uncoated.
Shop Cuisinart cookware on Amazon. Another Meyer brand that is aimed at the mid- to lower-priced market. The brand offers products in uncoated and nonstick stainless steel and aluminum.
Products are available at department stores, specialty stores, Kmart, Meijer, Target, Walmart, and numerous online retailers. When you shop through retailer links on our site, we may earn affiliate commissions. Learn more. Sharing is Nice Yes, send me a copy of this email.
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