Type of Cookware

Features

Weaknesses

Care and Cleaning

Clad Metal - Aluminum & stainless steel

Heats quickly and evenly if heavier gauge

Professional quality cookware is built to conduct heat evenly up the sides of the pans

Will dent or warp if lightweight; heats unevenly

Some manufacturer's products might be dishwasher safe, otherwise clean by hand

Stainless Steel

Does not react with foods cooked in pots and pans.

Strong and easy to clean.  It doesn't scratch, pit or dent.

Conducts and retains heat poorly

Easy clean

Anodized Aluminum

Conducts heat efficiently and durable

Easily stained by food

Not dishwasher safe.  Wash by hand.

Cast Aluminum

Pan bottoms are thicker so they absorb and retain heat well therefore using less energy

Sidewalls are thin so they distribute heat quickly
Lids are thick and heavy to retain moisture.

Wash by hand.

Enamel coated aluminum

Lower cost

Chips easily.

Heat transfer is not equal throughout pans

Wash by hand unless manufacturer indicates it is dishwasher safe.

Cast Iron cookware

Conducts and retains heat efficiently

Handles high temperatures well

Lower cost

Reacts with many types of food

Wash by hand, not dishwasher safe.

Tempered Glass, Ceramic and porcelain

Cooks unevenly when used on the stove top.

Can break easily with sudden temperature changes.

Easy to clean.  Can put in dishwasher.

Copper Cookware

Heats and cools quickly

Cookware can be expensive to purchase

It isn't nonstick, requires polishing, and needs to be relined every 10 years or so.

Will need to be hand washed.

Porcelain coated cookware

Easy to maintain and tough finish inside cookware.

Can be chipped

Light-colored enameled surfaces don't brown food as well as those that are dark and will also eventually discolor with use

Easy to clean.

Non-stick cookware

Has special coating fused to interior surfaces allows for fat free cooking.

Prevents food from sticking

Cannot use metal utensils

Avoid using high heat for cooking

Most non-stick cookware pots are not dishwasher safe Clean up is minimal

Uncoated cookware

Browns quickly, food sticks and makes good gravy or sauces

Light weight cookware

Not expensive; dents easily

Dishwasher safe