CHARACTERISTICS
OF COOKWARE MATERIALS
The pan material affects how fast heat transfers from the surface cooking zone through the pan material and
how evenly heat spreads over the pan bottom. Choose pans that provide the best cooking results.
Aluminum
Cast iron
Ceramic or
ceramic glass
Copper
Earthenware
Porcelain enamel-on-steel
or
enamel-on-cast iron
Stainless steel
• Heats quickly and evenly.
• Use for all types of cooking.
• Medium or heavy thickness is best for most cooking.
• Used as a core or base in cookware to provide even heating.
• Heats slowly and evenly.
• Good for browning and frying.
• Maintains heat for slow cooking.
• Can be coated with porcelain enamel.
• Heats slowly and unevenly.
• Use on low to medium settings.
• Follow manufacturer's instructions.
• Heats very quickly and evenly.
• Used as a core or base in cookware to provide even heating.
• Can be used for cooktop cooking if recommended by the
manufacturer.
• Use on low settings.
• See cast iron and stainless steel.
• Heats quickly but unevenly.
• A core or base of aluminum or copper on the cookware provides
even heating.
• Can be coated with porcelain enamel.
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