Hearty and Flavorful Meals: Dutch ovens are perfect for creating hearty and flavorful meals such as stews, soups, roasts, and casseroles. Their ability to maintain a consistent temperature and seal in moisture results in tender and succulent dishes.

Versatility Of Cast Iron Skillets

Characteristics Of Enamel Cookware

Outdoor and Indoor Cooking: Dutch ovens are versatile enough to be used both indoors and outdoors. They are ideal for preparing campfire meals, as well as for use on stovetops, ovens, and grills, making them a versatile addition to any kitchen or outdoor cooking setup.

Typically made by adding a non-stick coating to aluminum pans, non-stick frying pans are ideal for cooking delicate foods with a tendency to stick, such as fish, fried eggs, and pancakes. The non-stick coating limits the amount of oils and fats needed to cook food and makes cleanup a breeze since your food won't stick to the pan. Non-stick pans are best used in low to medium heat settings to extend the coating's life. Using a non-stick pan in high-heat applications can damage the coating and cause it to smoke, peel, or flake.

For purchasing guidance, please read our review of the best stainless steel skillets and our sauté pan round-up. But whichever pan you choose, there are a few things to keep in mind while shopping.

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.

Maintenance and Care: