Carbon steel pans are just as suitable for high heat cooking as cast iron, but with a lighter, less bulky profile. Here are some distinct advantages of using this pan.

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.

Dutch Oven Uses:

Square Cast Iron Griddle

Sizzling steak plates and platters offer a unique and interactive dining experience, allowing restaurants and home cooks to present sizzling, aromatic dishes directly to the table. This article explores the features, applications, and benefits of sizzling steak plates and platters, highlighting their ability to enhance the presentation and enjoyment of sizzling hot meals.