Professional Kitchens: In professional kitchens, black cast iron griddles and grill pans are essential tools for achieving consistent and high-quality results. They are used for searing steaks, grilling vegetables, and creating signature dishes with distinctive grill marks.

The details: These pans solve the frustration of food sticking, and they require little oil for cooking. Plus they’re lightweight, easy to clean, and affordable. But they can’t take the high heat of a cast-iron or stainless steel frying pan. “You’re not going to get much of a sear in a nonstick pan,” says Cindy Fisher, who conducted Consumer Reports’ cookware tests.

And they don’t last as long as cast-iron, stainless, or copper frying pans. “Nonstick is going to wear out the fastest,” Nitahara says. “The nonstick coating is fragile, and once you scratch it, it’s hard to flip an egg.”

In our tests of nonstick pans, we cook four eggs in quick succession. An excellent rating means all four eggs easily slid out of the pan. A poor rating indicates that some egg residue was left behind. To test nonstick durability, we rub the pan with steel wool for 2,000 strokes or until the coating has worn through.

    Cast iron Dutch ovens have been a staple in the kitchen for centuries, and for good reason.  The material a Dutch oven is made of plays a vital role in its use and functionality.  When it comes to Dutch ovens, cast iron is the material of choice for many home cooks and professional chefs alike.

    If you're cooking for a larger group or preparing large batches of food, a large or extra-large cast iron skillet is the best choice.  These griddles offer plenty of room to cook multiple portions at once, making them perfect for dishes like stir-fries, burritos, and even deep-dish pizza.  Large Cast Iron skillets and Extra Large Cast Iron Skillet size and ability to retain heat make them a great choice for outdoor cooking, whether on a grill or over an open fire.

    All in all, cast iron skillets are a valuable addition to any kitchen, offering a variety of cooking possibilities for fish, meat, vegetables, and more.  Cast Iron skillet's ability to seamlessly transition from stovetop to grill to campfire makes it an essential and versatile tool for any cooking enthusiast.  Whether you're frying fish in a Cast Iron Skillets, grilling, or cooking over a campfire, a cast iron skillet is a reliable companion for all your cooking adventures.

No, you should hand-wash all non-stick cookware to ensure its longevity. Strong dishwashing detergents and the high heat from the dishwasher will damage the non-stick coating over time.

Stainless Steel

Hard-anodized frying pans are made of aluminum which has been treated to make it hard and durable. They're also non-stick, but unlike the first two types of non-stick pans, they can take high temperatures without getting damaged. They're heavy and they don't get scratched when used with metallic utensils.