When it comes to using a cast iron Dutch oven, the possibilities are endless. From soups and stews to roasts and breads, this kitchen workhorse can do it all. Dutch oven ability to evenly distribute heat makes it ideal for slow cooking and stewing, resulting in tender, flavorful dishes. Plus, the Dutch oven's tight-fitting lid helps lock in moisture and flavor, making it ideal for making delicious one-pot meals.
The details: These pans solve the frustration of food sticking, and they require little oil for cooking. Plus they’re lightweight, easy to clean, and affordable. But they can’t take the high heat of a cast-iron or stainless steel frying pan. “You’re not going to get much of a sear in a nonstick pan,” says Cindy Fisher, who conducted Consumer Reports’ cookware tests.
And they don’t last as long as cast-iron, stainless, or copper frying pans. “Nonstick is going to wear out the fastest,” Nitahara says. “The nonstick coating is fragile, and once you scratch it, it’s hard to flip an egg.”
In our tests of nonstick pans, we cook four eggs in quick succession. An excellent rating means all four eggs easily slid out of the pan. A poor rating indicates that some egg residue was left behind. To test nonstick durability, we rub the pan with steel wool for 2,000 strokes or until the coating has worn through.