Cast Iron Skillet With Wooden Handle

    Cast iron skillets are a versatile and essential tool for any kitchen.  Known for their durability, even heat distribution, and heat-holding capabilities, they're perfect for frying, baking, and more.  When choosing the right cast iron skillet, there are some key features to consider, including the presence of a lid and the type of handle.

Frying pans have long handles and are often shallower. These pans aren’t designed for slow cooking or braising. Despite having flared sides, the pans are just slightly taller.

Handle Construction

Though stainless steel started in the 1930s and continued after World War II, stainless frying pans were only mass-marketed in the 1950s. Companies concentrating on cookware produced the first stainless steel frying pans.

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.

    Additionally, the versatility of cast iron skillets extends to outdoor cooking.  Whether you're grilling on the grill or cooking over an open flame while camping, this versatile cast iron skillets  can handle high temperatures and deliver consistent cooking results. Cast Iron Skillet sturdy construction and insulating properties make it a solid choice for outdoor cooking adventures, ensuring you can enjoy delicious meals even away from the comfort of your kitchen.