Volume

The expense—and lack of induction compatibility—can be a deal breaker for some cooks when it comes to copper pans.

The major difference between stainless steel and non-stick cookware is the material used for the bottom of the pan. This non-stick material, as discussed earlier, is easy to clean but requires more frequent and gentle cleaning.

On the other hand, stainless steel pans can handle rough cooking and cleaning while requiring very little maintenance thanks to their sturdy nature.

A sauté pan is a shallow pan with straight sidewalls. This is the main difference between a sauté pan and a skillet or frying pan, which has slanted sides. The straight sides make the sauté pan better suited for certain tasks that require cooking ingredients in a liquid, such as shallow frying or braising, because these liquids could leak over a skillet’s slated sides.A sauté pan can also be used to sauté, stir-fry, or sear in the same way that a skillet can. However, despite its name, a sauté pan is not necessarily the best pan to use to sauté ingredients, and some chefs actually prefer using a skillet for sautéing because of its slanted sides.

Non-Reactive Surface: Enamel cookware provides a non-reactive cooking surface, making it suitable for acidic ingredients and long cooking times. This ensures that the flavors of the ingredients are preserved without any metallic taste.

When making your choice, consider the material of the pan, its heat distribution properties, and how easy it is to clean and maintain. Take into account any drawbacks, such as the need for special care and maintenance or the limited lifespan of the non-stick coating.

Stainless steel is an alloy of multiple metals like iron, nickel, and chromium, all of which contribute different characteristics to create a stronger, higher-performance material. You can also find pans labeled “stainless clad,” which are made from several layers—or ply—of different metals and alloys bonded together for optimized heat conduction and distribution. Our 5-Ply Stainless Clad features five layers of four different metals, resulting in an incredibly durable, corrosion- and rust-resistant pan.

    Enamel pots are a popular choice for slow cooking and stewing.  Enamel coating not only adds a pop of color to the kitchen but also makes the pot easy to clean and maintain.  

You can put a copper pan in the oven if you’re making a dessert like a tarte Tatin, but remember that copper can’t take the high heat of cast iron or stainless, so most manufacturers don’t recommend temperatures above 450 °F.

In our tests, we put copper skillets through the same heating evenness and sauté performance tests as stainless steel pans, which are also uncoated. We also cook foods that require controlled heat, including risotto, a gooey banana tarte Tatin, and melted white chocolate. All the copper pans perform well, Fisher says.

Here are two recommended copper pans from CR’s tests.

Cast Iron Oyster Grill Pan