What material is the best pan you own made of?
I am building my own kitchen (YAY) and I also need my own set of pots&pans. I want the essentials, so I already opted for a copper saucepan (need it for styling purposes as well) and a cast-iron skillet. I need something for stir-fries and that can really favor caramelization. My nonstick pans are awesome, but they don't exactly do a good job in this sense, and I don't love steel pans. I set my eyes on lyonnaise / blue steel / carbon steel pans, but I read that you cannot cook with acidic foods in them (so no deglazing with wine)...
What is your experience in this sense? What would you recommend in terms of materials and brands? And what is your favorite pan you own?
Thank you!
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15 Comments
For less frequent use but a real favorite, is my oval Le Creuset gratin dish. It's a beauty, and for gratins you simply can't find anything nicer. I know nothing about styling, but I do know that the ones like mine that I've seen in beauty shots look so classy.
I have a large flat generic lid with a heatproof handle that fits on my large (12") skillet, and on any other pan with two handles (i.e., nothing angled up to get in the way, at least for the smaller ones). I got it a restaurant supply store. I put it in the indispensable, real keeper category. It's of excellent quality, but not a fancy brand.
I love the heavy, stainless steel lined copper skillet I was given years ago. Mr T bought it at Sur La Table (their brand, made in France). Another real favorite that I reach for constantly, it conducts perfectly, while turning heads with its classic beauty. Plus, it goes into the oven - so helpful.
I hope this helps. ;o)
I love 3-ply stainless steel with copper on the middle. Very easy to use, rust-proof, good at conducting heat and no heat spot. Because we have ceramic stovetop, I cook even all my stir fries &fried rice in pasta pot because it has largest (flat) contact with heat source and I never have problem turning them with spatula.
My favorite pan is one you can only find on eBay... It's an original Cuisinart 5.5 quart deep saute with lid that has a copper pocket on the bottom. The original cookware was made in France. What's on offer these days is from either China or SriLanka - not sure which.
2nd choice is a pan with a conductor metal protected by or sandwiched by a surface more convenient for cooking (e.g. enameled cast iron, steel sandwich with copper in between).
BTW, the no-acid thing for cast iron is more about not doing long cooking or storage with an acidic sauce or liquid, because of the interaction with the pan. You could deglaze with stock and add a bit of wine off the fire for flavor, or even a very quick deglaze with wine.
Avoid aluminium. While data linking it to Alzheimers etc. are inconclusive, they are worrying.