When you have the right cookware, whipping up a dish – or a feast – is a little easier. Our guide can help you get just what you need. We’ll walk through the different cookware materials, the features and benefits of each, and how different types of pots and pans are used.
Which Cookware Material is Right for You?
Cookware can be made from a variety of materials, each with its own characteristics. Our looks at five of the most common cookware types and breaks down the pros and cons of each. Let’s take a look…
Stainless Steel Cookware
Pros: This popular choice is durable and dishwasher-safe. Bare stainless steel is great for searing and browning and won’t react with acidic foods. Many of these pots and pans are magnetic, which means they’ll work with induction cooktops.
Cons: Stainless steel on its own isn’t the best heat conductor of the bunch. For that reason, cookware often has an aluminum or copper core. (These metals are better heat conductors.) Also, food can stick more easily on uncoated stainless steel, especially if you’re cooking without fats or added oils. Look for nonstick options if that’s a concern.
Aluminum Cookware
Pros: Aluminum cookware is usually inexpensive, and it conducts heat very well, so it’ll warm up quickly. It’s also lightweight, durable, and dishwasher-safe. Aluminum typically includes a nonstick or enameled interior so turning that burger over in one piece will be a snap.
Cons: This material can react with acidic ingredients, causing a metallic taste, and it can potentially discolor foods. Look for hard-anodized aluminum to avoid these issues. Also note that aluminum-only cookware won’t work with induction stovetops. Some pieces incorporate steel to add induction compatibility.
Copper Cookware
Pros: Chic-looking cookware has grown in popularity recently, including pans and bakeware. has excellent , and it heats up and cools down very quickly, allowing for precise cooking.
Cons: Copper-only cookware can react with acidic foods. To avoid that by preventing direct contact with food, copper pots and pans often have a stainless steel or anodized aluminum interior coating. Copper also requires more effort when it comes to care. Hand washing is recommended, it dents easily, and you’ll need to polish it. Note that copper by itself isn’t magnetic, so it won’t work with induction cooktops. Look for copper/stainless steel combos if you cook via induction.
Cast Iron Cookware
Pros: Cast is incredibly and one of the few cookware choices where it’s to use . With the right care, these can be handed down to the next generation. They’re also great for browning foods, and seasoned pans are inherently nonstick. Cast pans are also ideal for -to-oven transfers. Plus this material is induction compatible and holds , so you can keep food warmer longer.
Cons: Cast iron is heavy-duty and also, well, heavy. You’ll also want to avoid the dishwasher and hand wash these pans. For proper seasoning, a cast iron skillet requires a layer of oil to be applied regularly.
Enameled Cast Iron Cookware
Pros: This type of cookware has the even-heating, heavy-duty, heat-retention advantages of bare cast iron, but the care is a bit easier. Hand-washing is usually recommended, but you typically won’t need to season these pots and pans.
Cons: The enamel can chip, so it’s wise to use plastic, silicon, or wooden cooking . It’s best to these pans by hand in to protect the enamel .
Types of Pots & Pans
There are many different types of cookware to choose from, but which ones do you really need? We’ll walk through the characteristics and uses of the most common pots and pans to help you decide what you need.
If you’re starting from scratch, a cookware set is a smart way to get everything you need without breaking the bank. If you want just a few essentials or are adding to your collection, you can also buy pieces separately.
Ready to get cooking? Whether you need a basic skillet set with a non-stick coating or a specialty pan that makes it easy to go from stovetop to oven, we hope this cookware buying guide has helped narrow the choices in your search for the perfect pots, pans, and kitchen essentials.