Best for: Almost any food that needs searing, including steak and burgers. Cast-iron pans are ovenproof, so you can use them to roast meats like beef or pork and to bake cornbread, deep-dish pizza, shepherd’s pie, and more. And they retain heat so well that they’re a good choice for deep-frying chicken, doughnuts, or other foods because they keep the oil at a constant temperature.

The details: Cast-iron frying pans are practically indestructible, and they’re handed down for generations in many families. That makes their typically low price even more attractive. And if well cared for, cast iron develops a patina that releases food almost as well as nonstick. But the pans are heavy, and you have to be patient when heating them up because they don’t come up to temperature fast. Once they do, however, they retain heat.

Our tests of coated and uncoated cast-iron pans show how versatile this cookware can be. We sear steaks, brown scallops, and bake cornbread to see how well a cast-iron pan works for home cooks. The best pans ace all these tests. We also judge how easy they are to clean. Because of the enamel coating, the coated pans are a bit easier to clean than the uncoated ones.

Here are two recommended cast-iron pans from our tests.

    There are a few tips to remember when cooking with a cast iron Dutch oven.  First, it's important to season your Dutch oven properly before use to create a nonstick surface and prevent rust.  Additionally, using gentle heat and avoiding sudden temperature changes can help extend the life of your Dutch oven and prevent cracking.

There aren’t many distinctions between the two cookware, but they are designed for different purposes. Some regard the differences to be minor, while others view them to be significant. Well, you can keep both so you can efficiently prepare tasty dishes.

    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.

With tall sides and a wide base, sauté pans pack more weight. Larger sauté pans may even come with a secondary helper handle, which is a small loop handle attached opposite the main long handle as well as a cover or lid. This is helpful, as the weight of larger sauté pans is difficult to move around, especially since they can hold plenty of food. 

To help give you a running start, we’ve put together a guide to six of the most common pan materials, how to cook with them, what they’re best used for, and how to decide which one is right for you.

Flavor Enhancement: The tight-fitting lid of a Dutch oven helps to trap moisture and flavors, resulting in dishes that are rich, tender, and deeply infused with the essence of the ingredients.

French skillets can also have non-stick coatings like frying pans, but this is less common due to their straight edges.

Sizzling Plate