This is the best video I've watched regarding cookware for the purpose of cooking different foods. I've toyed with trying one pan, one pot for everything but unless I want to limit what I eat then a small variety is more practical.
Thank you thank you THANK YOU for this! I'm wanting to not just buy another box set now that I'm expanding the range and recipes of my home cooking, and I've tried article after article. Almost forgot youtube was a thing! Your video was one of the first to pop up when I put key words like first time home owner and they were right to suggest you. Objective, informational, and all-encompassing! Great and relevant reviews even a year later.
Great video, Andrew! Solid information. Trying to explain why NO SINGLE type of cookware is "the best" is very difficult. If cost is no option and weight is not a concern, serious copper like Falk or Matfer Bourgeat are the best. But they cost a fortune and are very heavy. I have each of these types of cookware that you cover, except for non stick. Waste of money and bad for the environment. Really sad when I see people buying a high end non stick pan like Hestan or All Clad. They will just be tossing it in a few years.
After years of different types of cookware, from non-stick to impact bonded stainless steel, I decided to go for fewer, but higher quality, pieces. I started with a copper core 12" skillet, a stainless steel 3qt pot, and then added in a 10" cast iron. I have since added a 6qt stockpot and a cast iron griddle. I feel pretty covered by this selection that will last for years. I am still waiting for a housewarming Le Creuset Dutch oven later.
Andrew, I've watched many videos on this subject and I was still confused. Just wanted to leave a comment that this video has made it all clear for me. Thank you. (I actually found your channel thanks to the "Frying Pan Size" video which was also very helpful.)
Great video!, 😃 very informative, I use cast iron a lot. ( I also collect it ) I also use carbon steel, but the carbon steel pans I have are also heavy. Lately I've been using mexican clay, I'm aware of the lead in clay pottery, so I leached out the lead. I used a process ( shown here on RUclips ) using vinegar and baking soda, and it actually worked!. Two lead test came out negative. I also use good ol mexican cinsa enameled steel, very light, very safe and rather durable. What I use doesn't fill our landfills like nonstick pans do, nonstick doesn't last very long. Thank you! Peace! ☮
I have both sizes of those Misen Carbon Steel Skillets and love them. But I also have a cast iron pan that I just can't seem to part with, even though I don't think I've ever used all three at once
Hi, thanks for all this very honest reviews! What do you think about enameled steel pan ? I wonder why its so difficult to find some and no one talks about it ? My parents have extremely old enameled carbon steel pan, they are like the carbon steel pan but without having to season it, and much more easy to handle than enameled cast iron. I tried brand like Riess or Merten and Storck but doesn't seem as durable.
Please do one video on comparing all knives i have a restaurant but could never find a good knife that would be slick sharp to cut fish. I have spent a fortune on knives in 11 years.
A few de Buyer Mineral B Pro carbon steel pans, one de Buyer Alchemy 5-ply stainless steel pan and one sauce pan and I don’t need anything else. I got it all covered and my great grandchildren will thank me at the grave one day. 😊
awesome video but you missed the King of all. good old traditional Unglazed/non treated clay pot. yes, it is delicate relative to other pans but the concerns like pores, lasts, heating all depends on the skill of the potter and the quality of the clay he uses. if bought from correct place, clay is better than all of these pans coz 1. Good clay add nutrients such as calcium, magnesium etc to the food, 2. clay is alkaline in nature and will neutralize high toxicity found in high acidic or mercurous foods like meat and fish, which is very good for stomach. Thus clay react with acidic food but in a positive manner 3. clay pot also releases something "sorry/i forgot what it was" which in turn helps preserve the food for much longer time outside, which otherwise get spoilt in any other pans (sort of a natural refrigerator). A 7 star chef once told me, one of his secrets to searing fish and braising is that he uses only clay pots, that's how I came to know about it. Indians and many Asian countries are known to cook in clay pots and they also uses Brass (Uruli) a lot. You are right about copper with Tin lining but you should not use it for cooking every meal. Coz Tin also reacts both positive and negative depends on the items you are making. Again all these with the fact that how much your manufacturer know and care about their product. Even if you buy expensive pans from All-clad, Demeyere etc, even they do not know or cannot tell you where their steel is being sourced from. Coz some steel, regardless of meeting modern standards, can still release traces of manganese or cobalt into the food.
Don't obsess on seasoning. Truth is, getting and keeping a perfectly non-stick seasoning on any material is really unlikely in normal use. Instead, it's easy to just always reseason. Clean your pan, heat it to med-high, and put a little oil in it, and tilt it to spread it evenly. Use any oil you cook with. Let it heat a minute, and turn the heat off. Wipe out excess with a paper towel when it's cool enough. Next time you cook, just remember to heat the pan before putting food in it, and the food, including eggs, should slide around like it's on ice. The key is you have to do it basically every time you cook, but it's very easy and it works very well. Sometimes if you get the timing wrong food will stick a little. Don't worry, eventually you'll get it down and nothing will stick ever again. The problem comes in when you get the idea that your gonna put a permanent non-stick season, usually from RUclipsrs who tell you to use special oils or waxes, and to season it in the oven carefully. Can this work? Some people insist it can, but my feeling is that in normal use inevitably something happens to damage the season, maybe you cook something too hot, or you scrub it too hard with detergent. The point is it's very finicky, so it's easier to just get in the habit of constant, easy, stove-top seasoning. I usually cook at night, clean my pan by heating plain water then scrubbing lightly with a brush and detergent, then drying while heating on the stove, add a little oil, then turning it off. When i cook my eggs the next morning, it's all ready, and it's more non-stick than any coating like Teflon.
Overwhelmed with choices for investing in a good 5-ply stainless steel skillet. I'd like your input on the new-ish introduction of titanium. Is it just marketing hype? What's the advantage? does it do anything? We want to know!
Can you review the Demeyere AluPro nonstick that claims to have an innovative 5-layer Ti-X coating featuring three layers of enhanced nonstick coating with a Plasma Primer?
What about titanium? I've heard that used in the marketing for a few pans recently, but I don't know anything about what makes it good (or not) for cooking.
The more I watch your videos, the more I appreciate the direct info you provide. Keep it up! Im a noob trying to move away from my non-stick collection and Im getting overwhelmed with all the choices. I THINK Im going to pick up some stainless steel. I have a 12' ss Paderno fry pan but dont know anything else about it as I cant find model numbers on it. Im thinking about getting a saute pan and have a few options that are close enough in price to each other that its a non factor in the choice. So, here's my questions...What size saute pan would be best for 2 people? I can get an All-clad D3 in either 3 or 4 qt, a Demeyere Industry 3 qt, or an All-clad copper core 5qt for roughly the same cost. Which would you grab?
The short answer is 3 or 4 quart will be best for your situation. 5 is a little too big unless you like a lot of leftovers or entertain often. Here’s more context prudentreviews.com/saute-pan-sizes/
Please make a performance review between Allclad d3 and the luxurious copper core. Is it worth to upgrade & how about in the long run / lifespan? Is copper core have longer lifespan & easier to maintenance? Thanks
The main difference is that Copper Core is slightly more responsive (better heat control). For most home cooks, D3 is perfectly fine. Here’s my full comparison: prudentreviews.com/all-clad-d3-vs-copper-core/
Never soak pans in cold water. It's a mess, can rust some pans, and doesn't always work. Do it the easy way: First, scrape off everything that comes off easily. I've found that if i put a little water in a hot pan, or heat the pan with a little water in it, within a few minutes whatever was stuck on lifts off easily. It shouldn't take very long. You don't need to put detergent, vinegar, or anything else in, water is fine. With this technique i never have to scrub hard, i usually lightly scrape with a spatula, then lightly scrub with a brush or plastic scrubber, more like wiping, with a little detergent. Comes perfectly clean every time, in just a few minutes.
For over ten years now, I've personally preferred Starfrit The Rock, non-stick pans. I fully acknowledge their major flaw, that they rarely last more than 2 years, but for me, they work so much better than any other pan for those two years that it's worth it.
I use mine almost every day! It depends on what you cook the most. I use an enameled cast iron braiser because I love soups and stews❤ just do what works for you!
0:14 Dear One thank you for bringing a wonderful video about cooking utensils, but what about our health? Here is a question and an answer I found. What is your opinion? Is eating in ceramic good for health? Ceramic is completely non-reactive, and contains no chemical additives. There's nothing to leach into your food, so your cookware is safe. Since you can use less oil than with other cookware, you can cheerfully sauté your food rather than steaming or boiling it, which can decrease the nutritive content. Best regards.
Get all of them. I use them for specific things I cook. Except for copper & nonstick. Copper is too expensive & once you nailed dwn how to use carbon steel & cast iron, you won't need nonstick anymore.
Have you heard of a brand called soy? They line copper with silver! Silver is non reactive, naturally non-stick and more responsive than even copper. But it's extremely expensive😅
Great overview and very informative. The only thing I would critique is the extremely low music bed playing under the video. I stopped the video a half dozen times trying to figure out where the faint music was coming from in my house, before finally figuring out it was the video!
Well unfortunately you forgot literally the best of the best of the best true it's extremely expensive but that would be porcelain lined cast-iron prone to chipping if you are extremely rough with it but it is the ultimate nonstick for absolutely everything even it extremely high temperatures and it's the best of the best granted it will set you back for $500 apiece
9:47 teflon is toxic and so is copper. Stay safe with stainless, aluminum/aluminium or iron cookware and use oil to prevent most sticking. No need to season most of the time.
I was disappointed that you showed non-stick cookware without warning people about the danger of coated cookware. Sure, you can be careful not to overheat them. But a recent report about PFAS and coated cookware has made it clear none of the stuff should be used. It wears off and where does it go? It goes inside you. And it leeches into your food as you cook. Maybe own one non-stick frying pan for eggs and fish that you treat very carefully. But not complete sets of this toxic cookware!
This is demonstrably false and also nonsensical in essence. The production of non stick coating is toxic, and it should be opposed on environmental grounds. Using it for cooking is completely safe All pasta is extruded on Teflon dies. Just because you watched a random documentary doesn't make you an expert on the subject
Read the full guide to learn more about each material: prudentreviews.com/best-cookware-materials/
From a Husband to a highly informative youtuber. Thank you.
This is the best video I've watched regarding cookware for the purpose of cooking different foods. I've toyed with trying one pan, one pot for everything but unless I want to limit what I eat then a small variety is more practical.
Thank you thank you THANK YOU for this! I'm wanting to not just buy another box set now that I'm expanding the range and recipes of my home cooking, and I've tried article after article. Almost forgot youtube was a thing! Your video was one of the first to pop up when I put key words like first time home owner and they were right to suggest you. Objective, informational, and all-encompassing! Great and relevant reviews even a year later.
Really appreciate you saying that! Happy to help :)
Great video, Andrew! Solid information. Trying to explain why NO SINGLE type of cookware is "the best" is very difficult. If cost is no option and weight is not a concern, serious copper like Falk or Matfer Bourgeat are the best. But they cost a fortune and are very heavy. I have each of these types of cookware that you cover, except for non stick. Waste of money and bad for the environment. Really sad when I see people buying a high end non stick pan like Hestan or All Clad. They will just be tossing it in a few years.
This was exactly what I was looking for. Thank you for your thorough explanations!
Extremely informative video for beginner home cooks like me, thank you!!
Glad it was helpful!
I love stainless... Not even bothering with the nonstick for eggs anymore.
After years of different types of cookware, from non-stick to impact bonded stainless steel, I decided to go for fewer, but higher quality, pieces. I started with a copper core 12" skillet, a stainless steel 3qt pot, and then added in a 10" cast iron. I have since added a 6qt stockpot and a cast iron griddle. I feel pretty covered by this selection that will last for years. I am still waiting for a housewarming Le Creuset Dutch oven later.
Andrew, I've watched many videos on this subject and I was still confused. Just wanted to leave a comment that this video has made it all clear for me. Thank you. (I actually found your channel thanks to the "Frying Pan Size" video which was also very helpful.)
Great video!, 😃 very informative, I use cast iron a lot. ( I also collect it ) I also use carbon steel, but the carbon steel pans I have are also heavy. Lately I've been using mexican clay, I'm aware of the lead in clay pottery, so I leached out the lead. I used a process ( shown here on RUclips ) using vinegar and baking soda, and it actually worked!. Two lead test came out negative. I also use good ol mexican cinsa enameled steel, very light, very safe and rather durable. What I use doesn't fill our landfills like nonstick pans do, nonstick doesn't last very long. Thank you! Peace! ☮
I have both sizes of those Misen Carbon Steel Skillets and love them. But I also have a cast iron pan that I just can't seem to part with, even though I don't think I've ever used all three at once
This video deserves way more likes than it has!
Appreciate that!
Fantastic, by far the best video I found on the topic. Thanks a lot!
Omg this is what I was looking for! Thanks!!
I was hoping to know more about the newer non-stick surface, like "The rock" cookware.
Insanely helpful video
Excellent video. Thank you!
Love your videos. So informative. In my retirement I really look forward to stepping up my domestic game. 😁
Hi, thanks for all this very honest reviews! What do you think about enameled steel pan ? I wonder why its so difficult to find some and no one talks about it ? My parents have extremely old enameled carbon steel pan, they are like the carbon steel pan but without having to season it, and much more easy to handle than enameled cast iron. I tried brand like Riess or Merten and Storck but doesn't seem as durable.
VERY GOOD VIDEO. THANK YOU
Please do one video on comparing all knives i have a restaurant but could never find a good knife that would be slick sharp to cut fish. I have spent a fortune on knives in 11 years.
Bless you! Especially for the summary 😢❤🎉
Helpful, thanks.👍
A few de Buyer Mineral B Pro carbon steel pans, one de Buyer Alchemy 5-ply stainless steel pan and one sauce pan and I don’t need anything else. I got it all covered and my great grandchildren will thank me at the grave one day. 😊
Will all clad stainless steel be good for searing meat and making a gravy with the drippings? Such as smothered chicken in gravy?
what about glass, stone and granite?
Great video sir, competent informative and I found it very helpful. Thanks!
Thanks so much Will - appreciate the support!
awesome video but you missed the King of all. good old traditional Unglazed/non treated clay pot. yes, it is delicate relative to other pans but the concerns like pores, lasts, heating all depends on the skill of the potter and the quality of the clay he uses. if bought from correct place, clay is better than all of these pans coz 1. Good clay add nutrients such as calcium, magnesium etc to the food, 2. clay is alkaline in nature and will neutralize high toxicity found in high acidic or mercurous foods like meat and fish, which is very good for stomach. Thus clay react with acidic food but in a positive manner 3. clay pot also releases something "sorry/i forgot what it was" which in turn helps preserve the food for much longer time outside, which otherwise get spoilt in any other pans (sort of a natural refrigerator). A 7 star chef once told me, one of his secrets to searing fish and braising is that he uses only clay pots, that's how I came to know about it. Indians and many Asian countries are known to cook in clay pots and they also uses Brass (Uruli) a lot. You are right about copper with Tin lining but you should not use it for cooking every meal. Coz Tin also reacts both positive and negative depends on the items you are making. Again all these with the fact that how much your manufacturer know and care about their product. Even if you buy expensive pans from All-clad, Demeyere etc, even they do not know or cannot tell you where their steel is being sourced from. Coz some steel, regardless of meeting modern standards, can still release traces of manganese or cobalt into the food.
Don't obsess on seasoning. Truth is, getting and keeping a perfectly non-stick seasoning on any material is really unlikely in normal use.
Instead, it's easy to just always reseason.
Clean your pan, heat it to med-high, and put a little oil in it, and tilt it to spread it evenly. Use any oil you cook with.
Let it heat a minute, and turn the heat off. Wipe out excess with a paper towel when it's cool enough.
Next time you cook, just remember to heat the pan before putting food in it, and the food, including eggs, should slide around like it's on ice.
The key is you have to do it basically every time you cook, but it's very easy and it works very well.
Sometimes if you get the timing wrong food will stick a little. Don't worry, eventually you'll get it down and nothing will stick ever again.
The problem comes in when you get the idea that your gonna put a permanent non-stick season, usually from RUclipsrs who tell you to use special oils or waxes, and to season it in the oven carefully.
Can this work? Some people insist it can, but my feeling is that in normal use inevitably something happens to damage the season, maybe you cook something too hot, or you scrub it too hard with detergent.
The point is it's very finicky, so it's easier to just get in the habit of constant, easy, stove-top seasoning.
I usually cook at night, clean my pan by heating plain water then scrubbing lightly with a brush and detergent, then drying while heating on the stove, add a little oil, then turning it off.
When i cook my eggs the next morning, it's all ready, and it's more non-stick than any coating like Teflon.
Beat metal for cooking is Brass. In India we used brass utensils from a very long time.
Interesting. Brass cookware is very rare in the US.
Overwhelmed with choices for investing in a good 5-ply stainless steel skillet. I'd like your input on the new-ish introduction of titanium. Is it just marketing hype? What's the advantage? does it do anything? We want to know!
Arent teflon spans poisoning?
Nice! Can you use enamel cast iron on wood fire! -New to camping here.
I wouldn’t. Bare cast iron is ideal for that
Can you review the Demeyere AluPro nonstick that claims to have an innovative 5-layer Ti-X coating featuring three layers of enhanced nonstick coating with a Plasma Primer?
What about titanium? I've heard that used in the marketing for a few pans recently, but I don't know anything about what makes it good (or not) for cooking.
The more I watch your videos, the more I appreciate the direct info you provide. Keep it up!
Im a noob trying to move away from my non-stick collection and Im getting overwhelmed with all the choices. I THINK Im going to pick up some stainless steel. I have a 12' ss Paderno fry pan but dont know anything else about it as I cant find model numbers on it. Im thinking about getting a saute pan and have a few options that are close enough in price to each other that its a non factor in the choice. So, here's my questions...What size saute pan would be best for 2 people? I can get an All-clad D3 in either 3 or 4 qt, a Demeyere Industry 3 qt, or an All-clad copper core 5qt for roughly the same cost. Which would you grab?
The short answer is 3 or 4 quart will be best for your situation. 5 is a little too big unless you like a lot of leftovers or entertain often. Here’s more context prudentreviews.com/saute-pan-sizes/
Please make a performance review between Allclad d3 and the luxurious copper core. Is it worth to upgrade & how about in the long run / lifespan? Is copper core have longer lifespan & easier to maintenance?
Thanks
The main difference is that Copper Core is slightly more responsive (better heat control). For most home cooks, D3 is perfectly fine. Here’s my full comparison: prudentreviews.com/all-clad-d3-vs-copper-core/
So what pots are best to boil beans? Stainless, steel cast iron or copper?
A pressure cooker lmao. If you only wanna ever cook beans then these distinctions don't matter. You can cook beans in an electric kettle
I would enjoy a review by you of Visionware.
Super helpful!! Great job!
I’d like to know about granite coating
What about granite cookware?
Thanks
Can you say what are best nickel free ?
You are a legend!!
Hahaha I don’t know about that but thank you 😂
More knowledge cool.
Aw you didnt talk about how much glass sucks but the pro is that its cute 😂
Never soak pans in cold water. It's a mess, can rust some pans, and doesn't always work. Do it the easy way:
First, scrape off everything that comes off easily.
I've found that if i put a little water in a hot pan, or heat the pan with a little water in it, within a few minutes whatever was stuck on lifts off easily. It shouldn't take very long. You don't need to put detergent, vinegar, or anything else in, water is fine.
With this technique i never have to scrub hard, i usually lightly scrape with a spatula, then lightly scrub with a brush or plastic scrubber, more like wiping, with a little detergent.
Comes perfectly clean every time, in just a few minutes.
Is it dishwasher friendly
For over ten years now, I've personally preferred Starfrit The Rock, non-stick pans.
I fully acknowledge their major flaw, that they rarely last more than 2 years, but for me, they work so much better than any other pan for those two years that it's worth it.
I think this is missing ceramic and stone based. Other than that, loved this video
What about hard anodized?
Brass & Bronze ! Is the best..
Ouch!! Enameled cast iron. 💔 i was gonna buy but you're right, i don't need it!
I use mine almost every day! It depends on what you cook the most. I use an enameled cast iron braiser because I love soups and stews❤ just do what works for you!
0:14 Dear One thank you for bringing a wonderful video about cooking utensils, but what about our health? Here is a question and an answer I found. What is your opinion?
Is eating in ceramic good for health?
Ceramic is completely non-reactive, and contains no chemical additives. There's nothing to leach into your food, so your cookware is safe. Since you can use less oil than with other cookware, you can cheerfully sauté your food rather than steaming or boiling it, which can decrease the nutritive content. Best regards.
As the owner of 6 cast iron pans I take offense at the notion that you only need one hahahaha.
What about ceramic n clay pots
Great for baking, not a fan for stovetop use. More details here: prudentreviews.com/xtrema-review/
Get all of them. I use them for specific things I cook. Except for copper & nonstick. Copper is too expensive & once you nailed dwn how to use carbon steel & cast iron, you won't need nonstick anymore.
What about "stone"??
Have you heard of a brand called soy? They line copper with silver! Silver is non reactive, naturally non-stick and more responsive than even copper. But it's extremely expensive😅
I have not, but I’ll check it out!
Great overview and very informative. The only thing I would critique is the extremely low music bed playing under the video. I stopped the video a half dozen times trying to figure out where the faint music was coming from in my house, before finally figuring out it was the video!
8:00 I have read that copper is very bad for your health ...
Well unfortunately you forgot literally the best of the best of the best true it's extremely expensive but that would be porcelain lined cast-iron prone to chipping if you are extremely rough with it but it is the ultimate nonstick for absolutely everything even it extremely high temperatures and it's the best of the best granted it will set you back for $500 apiece
What, No PYREX?
Pandrew
9:47 teflon is toxic and so is copper. Stay safe with stainless, aluminum/aluminium or iron cookware and use oil to prevent most sticking. No need to season most of the time.
Holy crap man I'm never buying copper again.
What happened to you with copper
I was disappointed that you showed non-stick cookware without warning people about the danger of coated cookware. Sure, you can be careful not to overheat them. But a recent report about PFAS and coated cookware has made it clear none of the stuff should be used. It wears off and where does it go? It goes inside you. And it leeches into your food as you cook. Maybe own one non-stick frying pan for eggs and fish that you treat very carefully. But not complete sets of this toxic cookware!
This is demonstrably false and also nonsensical in essence. The production of non stick coating is toxic, and it should be opposed on environmental grounds. Using it for cooking is completely safe
All pasta is extruded on Teflon dies. Just because you watched a random documentary doesn't make you an expert on the subject
Thank you.
I truly hate the intro music. Loud and out of place.