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.

However, cast iron frying pans require special care and maintenance, including seasoning and proper storage. They are also not dishwasher safe and can be challenging to clean if not cared for properly.

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

While there are instances where you can interchange these two pans, for more specific tasks, there aren’t any.

Flavor Enhancement: The tight-fitting lid of a Dutch oven helps to trap moisture and flavors, resulting in dishes that are rich, tender, and deeply infused with the essence of the ingredients.

There are several types of materials that you can use for a skillet or frying pan. Here's a brief look at the different kinds of materials:

    While using the cast iron steak press, it's essential to monitor the bacon's progress to prevent overcooking. Adjust the heat as needed to maintain a consistent cooking temperature and flip the bacon halfway through the cooking process for even crispiness on both sides.

Use Sizzling Hot Plate Benefits