The 2 Best Carbon Steel Pans of 2024, Tested & Reviewed
Less expensive, lighter pans may only be oven-safe to 350 degrees, and higher-quality, heavier pans can often withstand temperatures well above 500 degrees (including use under the broiler). Be sure to always check the manufacturer’s instructions to determine the maximum heating capacity of your cookware (and their lids) before use. To tramontina cookware ensure proper use and maintenance of your Tramontina pan, you should always check the instructions that come with it. Never, ever use nonstick cooking spray on your pan because, ironically, it can make foods stick. To be effective, nonstick pans do need some fat, so we recommend that you rub your cold pan with a bit of vegetable oil.
You may put a great deal of thought into which ingredients you cook with, but you might not be paying as much attention to the materials behind the pots and pans you have on hand. The FDA has kept a close watch on chemicals known as PFAs (per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances), which can cause health problems when introduced to the food supply. PFAs may appear in a number of food supply items, including food processing equipment, fast food wrappers, takeout containers, and the coating in certain types of nonstick cookware. While The FDA has determined that there is a reasonable certainty of safety with the normal use of nonstick cookware, there are plenty of non-toxic options available to ensure safe and healthy cooking at home. The durability of stainless steel allows it to stand up to daily use and does not limit you to using only certain utensils while cooking. Though stainless steel is less reactive than some other types of cookware, it is not recommended that you store food (especially acidic foods) in your stainless steel pots for long periods of time.
We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. Wirecutter is the product recommendation service from The New York Times. Our journalists combine independent research with (occasionally) over-the-top testing so you can make quick and tramontina cookware confident buying decisions. Whether it’s finding great products or discovering helpful advice, we’ll help you get it right (the first time). Lesley Stockton is a senior staff writer reporting on all things cooking and entertaining for Wirecutter.
Lids are made from stainless steel so you can’t see what’s cooking, but they’re unbreakable and you can use them in the oven along with the pots. A good cookware set helps you enhances the flavor of your food plus it also tramontina pans helps you maintain good health. For example non-stick pans help in effortless food release, while stainless steel pots offer excellent heat distribution, different cookware sets cater to different cooking styles.
Note that two of the major PFAS of concern, PFOA and PFOS, are no longer used in nonstick cookware. They were considered long-chain PFAS and have largely been replaced by short-chain versions (often known as GenX or PFBS) that in theory break down faster. All our picks have nonstick coatings produced using these newer, short-chain PFAS. Although it’s not an apples-to-apples comparison, a pre-seasoned cast-iron skillet has decent initial release and will become smoother as you use it over time. We’re not trying to claim that cast iron is as slick out of the box as a new nonstick skillet, because it’s definitely not.
From ceramic cookware sets to stainless steel pots, we’ve rounded up a few of the best non-toxic cookware sets and pieces we’ve tried. Whenever we’ve tested this cookware line, the pans showed excellent heat distribution, and gave a really good sear with minimal sticking. We especially like how sturdy these pans are, and how well they held up when used for six months in one of our test kitchens. The riveted stainless steel handles stayed cool when cooking, making it easy to grab pots and pans without having to search for a potholder. There can be some sticking from time-to-time, like when we cooked rice, but they are easy to get back to like-new with a little extra elbow grease. During our tests, this warmed up thoroughly and uniformly when we needed subtle heat for eggs or scallops.
We also like that the silicone sheath on the handle is removable. The pan’s wide-angle curves made flipping fried eggs and pancakes simple. Its comfortable-to-hold handle and good balance kept hand and arm fatigue at bay, and the bent lip allowed us to cleanly pour out excess oil without any rogue drips. In 2023, we invited a group of testers who have limited grip strength or arm mobility (whom we paid for their feedback) to assess a few nonstick pans for comfort, weight, and balance. This heavy-bottomed pan is a solid choice if you cook on induction.
However, if price isn’t a barrier, you’ll certainly be happy with an All-Clad stainless-steel skillet. In recent years, Teflon (and PTFE in general) has been under scrutiny, mostly because it is produced using per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as forever chemicals. But there’s little to no PFAS present in the finished product, so PTFE should be safe to cook on if used correctly. The wide shape enables quick and accurate flipping without the use of a spatula. And even if you’re more inclined to use a turner, the wide flare offers more room to maneuver under food than straight sides do. A bent lip is a bonus that makes it easy to pour off liquids (like excess grease or batter) with minimal dripping.
Exposure to PFAS is linked to a variety of health issues, including cancer, obesity, and weakened immune function. For this reason, many people are concerned that using nonstick cookware is dangerous to their health. PPG claims that Eclipse has “high abrasion resistance,” and if this chart is an indicator of durability, it’s the second sturdiest coating the company makes. This list of the best non-toxic cookware reflects insights from some of the many tests we’ve performed to find the top cookware. Recently, the brand launched a 2.0 version of its flagship pan, taking into account vocalized customer issues like damaged coating over time or cracking within the handle. As a result, we’ve found the new-and-improved version to be worth a spot in your cookware collection.
Laura’s work can be found on FoodNetwork.com, Better Homes & Gardens, Real Simple, and more. This piece was also reviewed by Sabrina Russo, RD, a registered dietitian with nearly a decade of experience in the field. We also preferred pans with wide, sloping edges that were at least two inches high. Any shorter, and vegetables went flying when we tried to stir or sauté. We preferred pans on the lighter side, which allowed them to heat up faster and made it easier to move them in and out of the oven, as well as to swirl crepe batter around.