While cast iron skillets take longer to heat up than other frying pan materials, they heat evenly and consistently with no hot spots. They are great at retaining heat and can be taken from the stovetop to the oven or grill and then to the table for service to keep the food warm. A well-seasoned cast-iron skillet is naturally non-stick and can withstand very high temperatures without warping or getting damaged. Cast iron requires frequent maintenance, but the benefit is that it can last a lifetime with routine seasoning and using proper cleaning techniques.

No, your should always clean your cast iron skillets by hand. A dishwasher will strip a cast iron skillet of its seasoning and cause it to rust.

 Cast iron cookware has been a staple in the kitchen for centuries, and its enduring popularity is a testament to its durability and versatility.  Whether you are an experienced cook or a novice cook, investing in cast iron cookware is a decision that can enhance your cooking experience.  When considering purchasing cast iron cookware, it's important to understand the different types available and their prices to make an informed decision.

Frying Pans Don’t Come With Lids

Frying pans are a bit more expensive than French skillets.

Stainless steel frying pans are also great for high-heat cooking and ideal for searing and browning food. They are also safe for use on all stovetops, including induction.

Cast iron might be heavy, and it must be cleaned correctly, but it turns food brown and crispy like magic. It's easiest to buy a pre-seasoned skillet, but if you accidentally leave yours soaking in water, you can season it yourself.

 In terms of maintenance, enamel pots are easier to maintain.  The smooth enamel surface cleans easily with mild abrasives and mild detergents, making enamel pots a low-maintenance option for busy home cooks.

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.

Skillet