Material guide

Five materials cover everything on this site. Each is genuinely better than the others at something, and each has a limit that is worth knowing before the box is opened.

Granite nonstick

Aluminium body, speckled coating. Best at eggs, pancakes, fish, anything that would weld itself to steel. It likes medium, and no higher, works on induction, and the oven position is: usually to 350°f. Washing: yes, but hand washing doubles its life.

Ceramic nonstick

Mineral coating, no PTFE. Best at the same jobs, for cooks who would rather avoid ptfe entirely. It likes medium, works on induction, and the oven position is: usually to 350°f. Washing: yes.

Stainless 3-ply

18/10 around an aluminium core. Best at searing, reducing, deglazing, anything finished under a grill. It likes as high as your hob goes, works on induction, and the oven position is: to 500°f. Washing: yes, and it will not mind.

Enamelled cast iron

Iron under a glass coat. Best at braises, stews, bread, and going straight to the table. It likes low and slow, it does the rest, works on induction, and the oven position is: yes, lid included. Washing: hand wash.

Stoneware

Glazed and fired hard. Best at plates and bowls that hold heat and survive a stacked cupboard. It likes table use, not the hob, is not for a hob at all, and the oven position is: warming only. Washing: yes.

What the coating certifications mean

PFOA and PFOS are processing chemicals phased out of cookware manufacture, and lead has no business near food at all. A set marked free of all three has been tested for it. That says nothing about how long the coating lasts, which is decided by heat and utensils rather than chemistry.