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Typically made by adding a non-stick coating to aluminum pans, non-stick frying pans are ideal for cooking delicate foods with a tendency to stick, such as fish, fried eggs, and pancakes. The non-stick coating limits the amount of oils and fats needed to cook food and makes cleanup a breeze since your food won't stick to the pan. Non-stick pans are best used in low to medium heat settings to extend the coating's life. Using a non-stick pan in high-heat applications can damage the coating and cause it to smoke, peel, or flake.

    The durable construction of  Cast griddle plates also sets them apart from other types of cookware.  These  Cast griddle pans are made from heavy-duty cast iron for long life.     Cast griddle plates can withstand high temperatures and are ideal for use on the stovetop, oven, or even the grill.  The non-stick surface of cast skillets also makes them easy to clean and maintain, ensuring they continue to perform well for years to come.

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.

The speed and temperature of the cooking, along with the liquid used, should help with your decision. Those slow-cooking recipes for sauces and liquid broths will benefit from a saute pan's depth and large surface. For those recipes that need meat grilled or seared at high heat, you might want to consider a frying pan. The sloped side of the skillet also makes it a great candidate for stir fry. But if you want to achieve the perfect finish for stir fry, a wok would be the best choice.

Black Cast Iron Construction: Griddles and grill pans made of black cast iron are prized for their excellent heat retention and distribution, making them suitable for a variety of cooking methods. The black finish adds a sleek and modern aesthetic to the traditional cast iron material.