Copper’s ability to heat up and cool down rapidly makes for a great addition to your cookware collection.

Cookware Size 

Best for: Almost any food that needs searing, including steak and burgers. Cast-iron pans are ovenproof, so you can use them to roast meats like beef or pork and to bake cornbread, deep-dish pizza, shepherd’s pie, and more. And they retain heat so well that they’re a good choice for deep-frying chicken, doughnuts, or other foods because they keep the oil at a constant temperature.

The details: Cast-iron frying pans are practically indestructible, and they’re handed down for generations in many families. That makes their typically low price even more attractive. And if well cared for, cast iron develops a patina that releases food almost as well as nonstick. But the pans are heavy, and you have to be patient when heating them up because they don’t come up to temperature fast. Once they do, however, they retain heat.

Our tests of coated and uncoated cast-iron pans show how versatile this cookware can be. We sear steaks, brown scallops, and bake cornbread to see how well a cast-iron pan works for home cooks. The best pans ace all these tests. We also judge how easy they are to clean. Because of the enamel coating, the coated pans are a bit easier to clean than the uncoated ones.

Here are two recommended cast-iron pans from our tests.

SKILLET VS. FRY PAN: THE BOTTOM LINE

Indoor Cast Iron Griddle

Here are two recommended nonstick skillets from CR’s tests.

There aren’t many distinctions between the two cookware, but they are designed for different purposes. Some regard the differences to be minor, while others view them to be significant. Well, you can keep both so you can efficiently prepare tasty dishes.

    The cast iron double griddle is a heavy-duty, two-sided cooking surface ideal for preparing a variety of dishes.  Two-sided cast iron griddle reversible design allows you to use it on both sides, giving you the flexibility to cook different types of food at the same time.  Whether you want to grill a steak or make pancakes at the same time, this two-sided cast iron griddle has you covered.

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.