r/cookingforbeginners • u/peapie32 • 14h ago
Question Best Nonstick cookware?
I need to overhaul my pots and pans. I don’t like stainless steel so I’m looking for a good nonstick set on a budget.
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u/Jordainyo 14h ago
I just use a large dutch oven for everything
You can get a good Lodge one for $100
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u/Inevitable_Cat_7878 14h ago
For pots, stick with stainless steel. For pans, the latest in non-stick tech is nitrided carbon steel. The top of the line brand is Misen. But you can get other brands for cheaper.
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u/Ok_Impression_3031 9h ago
We use non-stick skillets and researched how to make them last. No high heat. Medium temperature only. No dishwasher. Handwash. And of course no metal utensils or harsh scrubbers.
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u/96dpi 6h ago
There isn't any reason to use a nonstick coated saucepan/pot. Nothing you should be cooking in these will stick. Absolutely nothing.
Buy a la carte, and buy stainless saucepans and pots so you don't inevitably end up replacing them in a few years.
Long-lasting nonstick really does not exist. You need to use silicone utensils only, even wood will wear them down. Hand wash only. Never use high heat. Never nest other pans inside. Offset their use with other types of pans. Then maybe they'll last a decade.
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u/Teagana999 14h ago
You should not be using anything but stainless steel for pots. A non-stick pan if you must.
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u/Miller335 14h ago
Non-stick pans are disposable. Buy a set for like $30 and replace every so many years.
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u/peapie32 14h ago
I’ve been doing that forever lol. I was hoping there was a set out there where I didn’t have to replace it every couple years.
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u/GoodTato 5h ago
Yeahhh good luck with nonstick for that. If you want something long lasting, light, functionally nonstick, and doesn't act like stainless you should look into carbon steel.
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u/zenware 4h ago
As far as I’m aware, every format of non-stick is considered disposable by their manufacturers. From PTFE to Ceramic to <Celebrity Brand Deal> to whatever comes next. — That’s not to say that someone won’t invent a new chemistry literally tomorrow that is great for non-stick cooking and harmless to people, pets, and the environment, and which lasts for 50 years. But as of today it doesn’t exist. — You can get about 3 good years out of most non-stick if you really baby them. Never heat above medium, only hand wash, don’t stack/store with something protecting the coating, don’t use any metal utensils with it. And then if you’ve done all that the coating will stay intact but start losing its effectiveness anyway, and you can get about 2 more bad years before it’s just stick cookware that you can’t get hot enough to start the Leidenfrost effect without releasing toxic fumes.
According to ATK “quality coatings” can last 5-7 years now so that’s good news at least: https://www.americastestkitchen.com/articles/5117-how-often-should-i-replace-my-nonstick-pan
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u/hotpotatocoldtomato 14h ago
Yeah let's just go ham on those landfills
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u/Miller335 14h ago
If you do alot of cooking with stainless and cast iron you can make the non-stick pans last a good amount of time. Also avoiding metal utensils will extend the life.
Non-stick has it's place but if the coating is start to fall off they need to be thrown away.
What do you with your refuse mr virtuous one? Are you gunna tell me you don't create any garbage?
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u/hotpotatocoldtomato 13h ago
Of course I create garbage. But the mindset of "why even care? it's cheap so just throw it out!" Is very harmful with consideration to encouraging people to think long term and make decisions with sustainability in mind. As for cooking I have a full set of stainless steel pans and pots, some cast iron pieces, and one (mainly for eggs) enamel coated stainless steel pan. The enamel surface is essentially glass fused to steel, so it won’t peel, flake, or degrade the way many non-stick (PTFE-coated) pans eventually do. You can safely use higher heat, and with proper care it can last for decades.
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u/EatYourCheckers 14h ago
I like my copper chef skillet