Enamel pots are extremely durable and versatile kitchen tools, but they also need to be properly maintained and restored. Enameled cast iron can become worn or damaged during use, so restoring enameled cast iron becomes an important topic.

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.

As a result, various frying pans are available that blend the best of both worlds. Frying pans differ from French skillets. Higher sides give them a more open feeling. They do appear to be quite similar, however.

However, if you find yourself stir frying, making fajitas and baked dishes more often than not, you may just prefer the skillet for its fantastic heat retention properties. Think a sizzling fajita for a Mexican themed dinner soiree with your closest friends. A skillet can certainly deliver a fantastic impression that will wow your guests.

There are a variety of non-stick coatings a frying pan can have, such as a standard PTFE non-stick coating to manufacturer-specific coatings. Read on to learn more about the different types of non-stick coatings a pan can have, ranging from good to best.

A non-stick pan has an easy-release coating that prevents foods from sticking to the pan. They are ideal for delicate foods that cook over low to medium heat, such as eggs, pancakes, crepes, seafood like scallops and tender fish, cheesy dishes like quesadillas or grilled cheese, and nuts.

    For those who like a pop of color in their kitchen, there are plenty of options to choose from.  Blue enamel cookware adds a touch of sophistication, while orange enamel cast iron cookware brings a warm and inviting feel to the kitchen.

The following is a side-by-side comparison highlighting the differences and similarities between the two pans.

This type of pan is frequently used for pan-searing, roasting, and deep-frying. Therefore it must be thick enough to effectively spread heat while remaining light and easy to handle. Cast-iron skillets are the finest for making fonds or browning meals with a crispy, textured crust.