In addition to size differences, Dutch ovens are available in a variety of materials, such as cast iron, aluminum, and ceramic.  Generally speaking, cast iron pots are the main ones. Cast iron Dutch ovens are known for their excellent heat retention and durability, making them ideal for long, slow cooking.  

    In addition to durability and versatility, cast iron griddle also offer health benefits.  Cooking with cast iron adds trace amounts of iron to your food, which can be beneficial for people with iron deficiencies.  The even heat distribution of these   Cast griddle pans also means you can cook with less oil, resulting in healthier, tastier meals.

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.

Skillets and sauté pans appear very similar, but the main difference lies in their shape.

Stainless steel is a versatile material and holds heat well. Many stainless steel skillets are safe to place in the oven (make sure there aren't any plastic parts, though), which is handy when a recipe calls for searing fish or meat and then placing it in the oven to finish cooking. This saves time because you don't have to transfer the ingredients to another dish to bake or roast in the oven. This is, of course, also useful in terms of clean-up being that you don't have to dirty up another receptacle.

 There are two main types of Dutch ovens: traditional Dutch ovens and camping Dutch ovens.  A traditional Dutch oven has three legs and a flat bottom and is suitable for use over an open fire or coals.  The Camp Dutch oven, on the other hand, has a flat bottom and is designed to be used on the stovetop or in a conventional oven.

    When grilling with a cast iron griddle plate it's important to preheat the griddle onto the grill before adding food.  This keeps the pan hot enough to create nice grill marks and caramelization.  Make sure to brush the baking sheet with a light layer of oil to prevent sticking and aid in the baking process.  Once the cast iron griddle plate is hot, place the food on a baking sheet and let it cook to perfection.

    When it comes to using a cast iron Dutch oven, the possibilities are endless.  From soups and stews to roasts and breads, this kitchen workhorse can do it all.  Dutch oven ability to evenly distribute heat makes it ideal for slow cooking and stewing, resulting in tender, flavorful dishes.  Plus, the Dutch oven's tight-fitting lid helps lock in moisture and flavor, making it ideal for making delicious one-pot meals.

Why do some professional chefs hate nonstick pans?

On the other hand, a frying pan can be used for far more cooking chores than a skillet. Frypans with nonstick coatings allow you to use less oil, resulting in healthier cuisine.