Cookware: where buy it for life enthusiasts and home cooks agree

This means that of these three, the traditional mass produced lodge model is the most durable. It's basically indestructible

durability tested it Cast Iron vs Enameled Cast Iron: Which is Better? | Gear Heads

Cites durability

We'll first look at our traditional winner from lodge. This is by far the least expensive of the bunch and it is a really great bargain.

value tested it Cast Iron vs Enameled Cast Iron: Which is Better? | Gear Heads

Cites price

but it's also the heaviest of the three options at eight pounds

handling tested it Cast Iron vs Enameled Cast Iron: Which is Better? | Gear Heads

Cites weight (against)

You will need to use a little bit of fat in these pans to get that non-stick ability.

performance tested it Cast Iron vs Enameled Cast Iron: Which is Better? | Gear Heads

Cites non-stick surface (against)

this cooks perfectly fine. Like needs nothing. It is rough. Yeah, it is.

recommendation owns one The Uncomfortable Truth Behind Lodge Cast Iron Pans

Cites surface finish (against), non-stick surface

The Lodge Classic is also a great option if you want something more substantial, and the value is incredible.

value tested it I Tested Every Cast Iron Skillet, These Are the Best & Worst

Cites price

Despite the lighter construction, it actually had the best heat retention of all 12 skillets.

best in class tested it I Tested Every Cast Iron Skillet, These Are the Best & Worst

Cites heat retention, price

Few products in the world last forever, perform really well, and cost under $30.

value tested it Best Cast Iron Skillet? I Tested Lodge, Smithey, Field, Stargazer, & Calphalon

Cites durability, price

The best part is that you can get a Lodge 12-inch cast iron skillet that will last a lifetime for under $30.

value tested it Cheap Cookware That's Actually Worth Buying (And 4 Brands to Avoid)

Prudent Reviews earns commission on this. Stated in the source: “Those are affiliate links, so I'll earn a commission if you click and buy, but at no extra cost to you.” Kept and labelled rather than dropped — a paid endorsement is still evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.

Cites durability, price

could cook French omelets with minimal fat straight out of the box?

performance owns one The Uncomfortable Truth Behind Lodge Cast Iron Pans

Cites surface finish (against), non-stick surface

The main complaint about lodge cast iron pans is always the same.

performance relaying someone else The Uncomfortable Truth Behind Lodge Cast Iron Pans

Cites surface finish (against), heat control (against), non-stick surface (against)

The Lodge Chef Collection is lighter, easier to maneuver, and had the best heat retention in my test.

recommendation tested it I Tested Every Cast Iron Skillet, These Are the Best & Worst

Cites heat retention, weight

If you don't want to spend that much, Lodge Classic is the best value. It costs a fraction of the price and still performs really well.

value tested it Best Non-Toxic Cookware? I Tested All-Clad, Made In, Le Creuset & More

Cites build quality, price

so in my mind and I'll give you my opinion in my mind I would much rather buy a l cruset knowing that if I ever wanted to sell it I could get 75% of what I paid for it back without any hassle then try to save some money and get this have a subpar product and at the end of the day never be able to sell it and get my…

recommendation tested it Le Creuset vs. Lodge Enamel — Compare and Contrast.

all I know is that these are both things that are going to last you pretty much forever until you drop it and break a hole through your floor

durability tested it Le Creuset vs. Lodge Enamel — Compare and Contrast.

Cites durability

a nice little thing of note is that the lodge comes with a stainless steel handle on the top the L Crusade does not however this is good up to about 500 a little bit over 500° that's good for an infinite amount of temperature but when you think about it you really shouldn't be using this above 500° anyway so I feel…

handling tested it Le Creuset vs. Lodge Enamel — Compare and Contrast.

Cites heat resistance (against)

Along with Misen, Le Creuset handles have the widest openings.

handling tested it Best Dutch Oven? I Tested Le Creuset, Staub, Lodge & More

Prudent Reviews earns commission on this. Stated in the source: “Those are affiliate links, so I'll earn a commission if you click and buy, but at no extra cost to you.” Kept and labelled rather than dropped — a paid endorsement is still evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.

Cites ease of cleaning, handle, heat resistance, lid, weight

After speaking with their customer service, I confirmed that they cover the enamel for life. So, if 10 years down from now under normal circumstances, you see a chip in the enamel they'll replace the Dutch oven for free.

repairability relaying someone else Don't Buy Le Creuset Until You Watch This (Test Results)

Cites warranty

Let's start with color selection - no brand comes even close to Le Creuset in this category. They offer over 20 different colors, from classic Flame orange to deep blues and modern pastels.

best in class tested it Don't Buy Le Creuset Until You Watch This (Test Results)

Cites appearance

Although the performance is great, the same could be said for much cheaper Dutch ovens, especially since they’re all made with the materials - cast iron with an enamel coating.

value tested it Don't Buy Le Creuset Until You Watch This (Test Results)

Cites price (against)

While this is a significant investment, both brands perform exceptionally well and can last for decades.

durability tested it I Tested the World's Most Expensive Cookware (Which Brands Are Worth It?)

Cites durability

While this is a significant investment, both brands perform exceptionally well and can last for decades.

performance tested it I Tested the World's Most Expensive Cookware (Which Brands Are Worth It?)

Cites heat control, heat retention, lid, moisture retention

personally if i was you i would get a dutch oven just like this one or the size that suits you this is going to be fantastic

recommendation owns one Le Creuset Dutch Oven and Braiser Do You Need Both?

you get the same flawless enamel quality as Staub but over 20 color options and a beautiful two-toned gradient that the brand has become known for

appearance tested it Best Dutch Oven? I Tested Le Creuset, Staub, Lodge & More

Prudent Reviews earns commission on this. Stated in the source: “Those are affiliate links, so I'll earn a commission if you click and buy, but at no extra cost to you.” Kept and labelled rather than dropped — a paid endorsement is still evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.

Cites appearance, coating

It also retains moisture well and has wide handles, a comfortable knob, and flawless enamel.

performance tested it Best Non-Toxic Cookware? I Tested All-Clad, Made In, Le Creuset & More

Cites moisture retention, coating, handle, lid

I can honestly tell you that the first time my wife and I cooked on the Heritage steel pans there was a flavor component that we had been missing for the last 18 19 months while using hexclad the crust the my art effect the golden brown whatever you want to call it that we are getting out of these pans for our food is…

performance owns and uses it daily Our Journey From Hexclad to Stainless Steel

Cites ease of cleaning, flavour impact

so after spending about 2 weeks researching and quite honestly going down a very steep Rabbit Hole the clear winner for us was Heritage steel

best in class tested it Our Journey From Hexclad to Stainless Steel

the transparency in their messaging in their marketing and on their website was so clear no marketing terms no crazy claims of what it can and can't do it's just this is good ass cookware okay and we think you'll like it like I like that messaging that's direct to the point and I appreciate that

recommendation owns and uses it daily Our Journey From Hexclad to Stainless Steel

Cites reputation

I have now that we have these incredible pots and pans we want and quite frankly we know that they will last forever

durability owns and uses it daily Our Journey From Hexclad to Stainless Steel

Cites durability

Heritage steals lifetime warranty protects lifetime for manufacturer defects and those will be replaced for free if your pans are destroyed by fire flood storm earthquake misuse commercial application this is this is a pretty good one here neglect accidents or or if they're altered in such a way that the performance…

repairability tested it Our Journey From Hexclad to Stainless Steel

Cites warranty

Heritage steel 100% made in the USA some of the materials may be sourced from outside the USA but they are 100% handmade in the US not made by hand they do use machines but like you know hands are running those machines

reliability tested it Our Journey From Hexclad to Stainless Steel

Cites reputation, country of manufacture

to maximize corrosion resistance properties it's especially Adept at resisting salt pitting and you can avoid salt pitting by warming your water up first and then adding your salt to your pot if you're cooking spaghetti things like that but that metal is also good for resisting leeching and other types of corrosion

durability tested it Our Journey From Hexclad to Stainless Steel

Cites rust resistance

both of these brands are lightweight but feel very solid when held in your hand

handling owns and uses it daily Our Journey From Hexclad to Stainless Steel

Cites handle, heat resistance, weight

so if you're a restaurant or if you're a small restaurant or whatever and you want highquality stainless steel cookware you could do this and when they you begin to destroy them like every restaurant does you will get them for half price not bad

use-case fit tested it Our Journey From Hexclad to Stainless Steel

Cites warranty

the eater line is meant to be a bit cheaper and easier to make its 304 steel surface is less expensive to source and its brush surface is less labor intensive but these are still five layers thick just like the titanium series

value tested it Our Journey From Hexclad to Stainless Steel

Cites build quality, price

It's one of the best values because it performs similarly to All-Clad, but it's less expensive, has a titanium-strengthened cooking surface, and because of the grinding and polishing they do by hand, the edges are noticeably smoother.

value tested it Is Heritage Steel the Best American-Made Cookware? My Honest Review

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Cites price

Based on my testing, it's one of the best stainless steel brands on the market.

best in class tested it Is Heritage Steel the Best American-Made Cookware? My Honest Review

Prudent Reviews earns commission on this. Stated in the source: “Those are affiliate links, so I'll earn a commission if you click and buy, but at no extra cost to you.” Kept and labelled rather than dropped — a paid endorsement is still evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.

but for me I don't want to have to replace my pots and pans every 18 to 20 months because the non-stick coating is wearing off on them so I won't be using these anymore I'm going to be switching to like a stainless steel all clad type of pot and pan and I'm not really sure what brand to buy yet

recommendation used to own one I Can't Recommend HEXCLAD Pots & Pans Anymore :(

and in fact the 8 in pan that I always use to cook my eggs in you can see here hopefully um it's missing this is where it's the non-stick coating really started to scrape off and right there my eggs stick there all the time and it's very hard to kind of avoid that section when you're cooking cooking eggs in an 8 in…

durability used to own one I Can't Recommend HEXCLAD Pots & Pans Anymore :(

Cites coating durability (against), durability (against)

but I don't believe that 18 months is long long enough for a cookware of this class and price

value used to own one I Can't Recommend HEXCLAD Pots & Pans Anymore :(

Owned 18 months , no longer

Cites durability (against)

if you're buying these for 100% nonstick you're going to be slight disappointed as America's Test Kitchen pointed out and I'll link to their videos in the description they do this honestly it's kind of a silly little test that they they call the egg test it's not really how to cook how you should cook an egg um most…

performance owns and uses it daily I Can't Recommend HEXCLAD Pots & Pans Anymore :(

Cites non-stick surface (against), scratch resistance (against)

they do offer a lifetime warranty on their products and they did live up to that warranty so I do appreciate them living up to that with their warranty even though if you have a warranty you should live up to it right

repairability used to own one I Can't Recommend HEXCLAD Pots & Pans Anymore :(

Cites warranty

now I use butter or avocado oil or olive oil when I'm cooking my eggs and I never really had that issue with the eggs sticking to my pan

performance owns and uses it daily I Can't Recommend HEXCLAD Pots & Pans Anymore :(

Cites non-stick surface

I've been recommending hexclad pots and pans for almost the last 2 years on my channel I don't anymore now this isn't going to be a bash hexclad kind of video I actually think there a good company and they make a fairly decent product and I did enjoy my time with them until what we're about to discuss

value used to own one I Can't Recommend HEXCLAD Pots & Pans Anymore :(

so now I first ordered my six-piece set the 8 10 12 in hybrid pans they call it and it they come with lids so they're six pieces and I also got the walk along with it I think they were running a special on February 17th 2022 so almost 2 years ago at the time of recording this video

ownership used to own one I Can't Recommend HEXCLAD Pots & Pans Anymore :(

Owned 23 months

And they're remarkably non-stick. Sloppy Joe's slide right off. Scrambled eggs slide off. hamburger, chicken, anything we have put on it over the last 18 months easily slides right off.

performance owns and uses it daily 18 months with Gordon Ramsay's Hexclad cookware, was it worth it?🤔

Owned 18 months

Cites ease of cleaning, non-stick surface

This is me opening them in December of 2023. And to get right to the point, it's held up remarkably well. These pans that we purchased 18 months ago still look brand new.

durability owns and uses it daily 18 months with Gordon Ramsay's Hexclad cookware, was it worth it?🤔

Owned 18 months

Cites durability

This pan by Smithey is around $200 compared to the Lodge's, $44 a quarter of the price.

value tested it Cast Iron vs Enameled Cast Iron: Which is Better? | Gear Heads

Cites price (against)

You can see right here this pan is really smooth to the touch, whereas this one is a little rougher.

performance tested it Cast Iron vs Enameled Cast Iron: Which is Better? | Gear Heads

Cites surface finish

I recently tested six of the highest-rated cast iron skillets on the market, and according to my tests, Smithey is the best overall. It had the best heat retention, the smoothest non-stick surface, the widest pour spouts, and one of the better-designed handles.

best in class tested it Best Non-Toxic Cookware? I Tested All-Clad, Made In, Le Creuset & More

Cites base and rim, handle, heat retention, non-stick surface

If price is not a factor, Smithey is the best overall skillet.

best in class tested it Best Cast Iron Skillet? I Tested Lodge, Smithey, Field, Stargazer, & Calphalon

Cites ergonomics, heat retention, non-stick surface

At 105°F, Smithey had the best heat retention, followed by Lodge Classic, Stargazer, a tie between Lodge Chef Collection and Calphalon, and finally, Field, which had the lowest temperature.

performance tested it Best Cast Iron Skillet? I Tested Lodge, Smithey, Field, Stargazer, & Calphalon

Cites heat retention, heating speed, non-stick surface

I've used Smithey for over 2 years, and it's still one of the pans I reach for the most.

durability owns and uses it daily I Tested Every Cast Iron Skillet, These Are the Best & Worst

Owned 2 years

Cites durability

If you want a skillet with a smoother surface and a more high-end design, and you don't mind spending more to get it, Smithey and Made In are my two favorite premium options.

best in class owns and uses it daily I Tested Every Cast Iron Skillet, These Are the Best & Worst

Cites appearance, non-stick surface

In my tests, it heated slower than some of the thinner skillets, but it retained heat really well.

performance tested it I Tested Every Cast Iron Skillet, These Are the Best & Worst

Cites heat retention, non-stick surface

Because of that, it's the best overall handle.

handling tested it Best Cast Iron Skillet? I Tested Lodge, Smithey, Field, Stargazer, & Calphalon

Cites handle

Said he had a field and he had trouble with eggs early on and he resolved to just quit cooking eggs for a while. He went and cooked a bunch of other stuff and said he circled back around to eggs later on and then they were non-stick.

durability relaying someone else Field Cast Iron Review: Egg Problems & Great Gratins

Cites seasoning durability

Now, Chris also said later that uh all that cooking he did, he was in some sort of um hurricane relief situation, and I don't know if he was cooking for first responders or for people in a shelter or what have you, but when one of the hurricanes hit, he was doing a ton of cooking and used his field.

use-case fit relaying someone else Field Cast Iron Review: Egg Problems & Great Gratins

Cites seasoning durability

On the negative side, it has the worst heat retention of all the cast iron skillets I've tested, which means it cools down faster when you add cold ingredients.

performance tested it Field Company Review: Best Lightweight Cast Iron?

Cites heat retention (against), heating speed (against)

it's incredibly lightweight at just 5.5 lb, and because the construction is thinner than most cast iron skillets, it heats up much faster.

performance tested it Field Company Review: Best Lightweight Cast Iron?

Cites heating speed, non-stick surface, stovetop compatibility

The biggest issue with this skillet is warping. Field has a heat ring around the bottom, but after heating, the center bowed outward far enough to extend past the ring. That caused the skillet to wobble noticeably, and it even spun when I tapped the handle.

durability tested it I Tested Every Cast Iron Skillet, These Are the Best & Worst

Cites warp resistance (against)

Field Company is a fantastic lightweight skillet. I reach for it more often than some of the others because it's so much easier to handle and heats up faster.

handling owns and uses it daily Best Cast Iron Skillet? I Tested Lodge, Smithey, Field, Stargazer, & Calphalon

Cites heating speed, weight

If you want a skillet that's easy to handle, Field Company is the best option. It has a smooth surface just like Smithey, but it weighs significantly less and heats up faster.

handling tested it Best Non-Toxic Cookware? I Tested All-Clad, Made In, Le Creuset & More

Cites surface finish, heating speed, weight

It also has a mirror polish finish that looks stunning where the Eater series is more brushed.

appearance tested it Heritage Steel Cookware Review: Eater vs Titanium

Sprint Kitchen earns commission on this. Stated in the source: “If you use the link, I earn a small commission, but it doesn't cost you a thing.” Kept and labelled rather than dropped — a paid endorsement is still evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.

Cites appearance

Between you and me, I think the Titanium series is beautiful and the quality is slightly better than the Eater, but you're probably better off just saving a buck and getting the Eater series cookware as the performance is pretty much the same.

performance owns and uses it daily Heritage Steel Cookware Review: Eater vs Titanium

Sprint Kitchen earns commission on this. Stated in the source: “If you use the link, I earn a small commission, but it doesn't cost you a thing.” Kept and labelled rather than dropped — a paid endorsement is still evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.

Cites build quality

The Eater series feels more comfortable and is less likely to slip versus the titanium series, especially when your hands are wet.

handling tested it Heritage Steel Cookware Review: Eater vs Titanium

Sprint Kitchen earns commission on this. Stated in the source: “If you use the link, I earn a small commission, but it doesn't cost you a thing.” Kept and labelled rather than dropped — a paid endorsement is still evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.

Cites ergonomics (against)

Both handles are hollow and they have this bump underneath that prevents you from burning your hand.

handling tested it Heritage Steel Cookware Review: Eater vs Titanium

Sprint Kitchen earns commission on this. Stated in the source: “If you use the link, I earn a small commission, but it doesn't cost you a thing.” Kept and labelled rather than dropped — a paid endorsement is still evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.

Cites handle

The reinforced titanium makes it even more resistant to corrosion and pitting. If you cook with a lot of acidic foods like tomatoes, wine, or citrus, the titanium series is supposed to handle it better over decades of use.

durability relaying someone else Heritage Steel Cookware Review: Eater vs Titanium

Sprint Kitchen earns commission on this. Stated in the source: “If you use the link, I earn a small commission, but it doesn't cost you a thing.” Kept and labelled rather than dropped — a paid endorsement is still evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.

Cites rust resistance

The third and final difference between these pans is the cooking surface: the Eater Series has an industry standard 18/10 stainless steel cooking surface, but the Titanium Series has a 316Ti steel, which is an alloy that's reinforced with titanium to help it resist pitting.

durability tested it Heritage Steel Titanium vs. Eater Series: Is the Pricier Pan Better?

Cites build quality, country of manufacture, durability, rust resistance

I like the heat coverage I get. I like the heat retention in the pan. I like the triple layer of the cooking. And I just think that they look right, they feel right, the weight is right, and the cooking retention in the pan is perfect for my style.

performance uses it professionally, daily 35 Years of cooking equipment - What I use everyday

Cites appearance, even heating, heat retention, weight

I use mainly Hestan pans. That's the pan of choice for me. Uh, and the copper bond is the choice of the pan that I like the most.

best in class uses it professionally, daily 35 Years of cooking equipment - What I use everyday

This is good for for soups. It's good for cooking whole pieces of nice chicken thighs and things like that. So, it's got nice flat area, nice wide base, good heavy weight to it, and it will retain that heat as well brilliantly.

use-case fit uses it professionally, daily 35 Years of cooking equipment - What I use everyday

Cites heat retention, shape and form, weight

And if speed, responsiveness, and control are important to you, the CopperBond collection is the best performer in Hestan’s lineup.

best in class tested it Is Hestan Cookware Really the Best Money Can Buy? (Test Results)

Cites heat control, heating speed

Of the eight pans I tested, Hestan CopperBond heated the fastest, followed by All-Clad Copper Core.

performance tested it Is Hestan Cookware Really the Best Money Can Buy? (Test Results)

Cites heating speed, heating speed, heating speed

Between you and me, I think the Titanium series is beautiful and the quality is slightly better than the Eater, but you're probably better off just saving a buck and getting the Eater series cookware as the performance is pretty much the same.

recommendation owns and uses it daily Heritage Steel Cookware Review: Eater vs Titanium

Sprint Kitchen earns commission on this. Stated in the source: “If you use the link, I earn a small commission, but it doesn't cost you a thing.” Kept and labelled rather than dropped — a paid endorsement is still evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.

Cites price

Both handles are hollow and they have this bump underneath that prevents you from burning your hand.

handling tested it Heritage Steel Cookware Review: Eater vs Titanium

Sprint Kitchen earns commission on this. Stated in the source: “If you use the link, I earn a small commission, but it doesn't cost you a thing.” Kept and labelled rather than dropped — a paid endorsement is still evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.

Cites ergonomics, handle

These handles are similar to Made In handles, except they fork right before the body of the pan to disperse heat and keep the handle cool.

handling tested it Is Heritage Steel the Best American-Made Cookware? My Honest Review

Prudent Reviews earns commission on this. Stated in the source: “Those are affiliate links, so I'll earn a commission if you click and buy, but at no extra cost to you.” Kept and labelled rather than dropped — a paid endorsement is still evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.

Cites handle, safety

I haven't had any issues with pitting with the Eater Series, so while that is an advantage for the Titanium Series, it hasn't become an issue with the other pan.

durability tested it Heritage Steel Titanium vs. Eater Series: Is the Pricier Pan Better?

Cites build quality, country of manufacture, durability, rust resistance

In the $100 to $200 range, Made In, All-Clad D3 Everyday, and Heritage Steel Eater Series are the safest long-term buys. I've used all three for years and they consistently perform great.

recommendation owns and uses it daily I Tested Every Stainless Steel Fry Pan, These Are the Best & Worst

'Cause I got a similar All-Clad set for my wedding 13 years ago and I have to say, it looks brand new and I've used it for all those 13 years.

durability owns and uses it daily Made In vs All-Clad: Which Cookware Set is Best? | Gear Heads

Owned 13 years

Cites appearance, durability

This is restaurant performance gear right here.

performance owns and uses it daily Made In vs All-Clad: Which Cookware Set is Best? | Gear Heads

Cites build quality

Both of these sets performed beautifully, aced all our tests.

performance tested it Made In vs All-Clad: Which Cookware Set is Best? | Gear Heads

Cites even heating, handle, heat conduction

we actually have co-winners from All-Clad, a 10-piece set, and from Made In, another 10-piece set.

best in class tested it Made In vs All-Clad: Which Cookware Set is Best? | Gear Heads

Cites build quality