Skillets, according to Cooking YouTube

Stainless steel is the ultimate all-purpose cookware. You can use it to sear meat and fish, saute vegetables, boil pasta, simmer sauces, and much more.

Stainless steel is also the best type of cookware for pan sauces. Since it's uncoated, cooking meat in a stainless steel pan creates fond, which is the brown stuck-on bits of concentrated meat flavor at the bottom of the pan.

In fact, a well seasoned cast iron skillet can rival and certainly outlast any non-stick pan.

This is a glass-like coating, and it prevents the metal from rusting and keeps it from reacting with acidic foods, which can happen with traditional cast iron.

As we saw with the burgers, the carbon steel pan has certain traits that really make it a great all-around pan. It definitely has that nice heat retention and heat transfer of a cast iron pan. It has that nice release of a non-stick pan. This is a great all-around pan, does almost anything you want it to do, it's…

they're sort of hybrid skillets they kind of take all the best properties from a cast iron skillet and a stainless steel skillet and combine it into this perfect skillet

biggest cons of carbon steel there really isn't any that's the beauty of carbon steel

honestly for me carbon steel skillets are my favorite skillets to use so i don't see very many cons to be honest

if i want to be practical if it was the end of the world and i can only have one skillet and it had to be something i can just set it and forget it yeah it would be a stainless steel skillet because it doesn't rust it does everything all the other skillets can do

um but it's not the end of the world so if i can only have one skill it would be a carbon steel skillet

Other secret of this pan is its ability to become naturally non-stick. So the smooth grain of this takes to seasoning a little faster than cast iron and it becomes very rapidly non-stick when you season it. And you can cook in it with just a little bit of fat, and food will just come right out. So if you're really…

Stainless steel or, in particular, a fully clad pan where there are layers of stainless steel, aluminum, and stainless steel is really known for its ability to make even, uniform heat. The aluminum transmits heat very quickly, stainless steel much more slowly. The stainless retains it so it spreads, and you get this…

In the carbon steel, I think we got the sort of Goldilocks moment. You get this really beautiful golden brown crust that is deeply brown, and nice, and crusty. Inside is nice and pink. And you really get this nice contrast between the brown crust and the cooked interior that is nice and juicy. So I thought it was a…

When we were done, there was almost nothing in the pan. It was just, I wipe it out, rinse it out, and we're good to go.

Because it’s so thick and heavy and holds heat well, it’s the better option for searing steaks, pork chops, chicken, and other meats.

It’s also better for cooking eggs, pancakes and other delicate ingredients. When cast iron is well seasoned it performs similarly to a non-stick pan.

Lastly, cast iron is ideal for roasting, baking, and frying because it heats up gradually and maintains a consistent temperature over long periods. Because it heats slowly, you’re less likely to burn food.

Stainless steel is more of a go-to everyday type of cookware. It heats fast and evenly and you can use it to cook any type of food, including tomato sauces, soup, and other acidic and liquid heavy meals.

But, since stainless steel pans are made with a highly conductive aluminum or copper core, they heat up fast and evenly.

The water in the stainless steel pan started boiling after 2 minutes and 55 seconds, and the water in the cast iron pan started boiling after 3 minutes and 34 seconds.

Cast iron may not heat up as fast or evenly as stainless steel, but due to its thick construction, it has far superior heat retention.

Don’t get me wrong, stainless steel pans, especially good quality fully clad pans, retain heat well, but not at the same level as cast iron.

After ten minutes, the water in the cast iron pan was 104 degrees Fahrenheit and the water in the stainless steel pans was only 96 degrees Fahrenheit.

Because it’s nonreactive and heats evenly, you can cook anything and perform any cooking technique.

Cast iron is also versatile - you can use it searing, roasting, sauteing, frying, baking, and cooking eggs.

But if you do it the right way, it also creates a slick surface that makes it easy to cook eggs and other delicate foods without sticking.

Because it responds to temperature changes quicker, you have more control over the results.

so now it's time to turn these and just look at that crust absolutely gorgeous this is off the cast iron

now let's check the stainless steel also an absolutely beautiful crust i wasn't expecting it to be that good

you can hear that that's there's a lot of crust that formed on that stainless steel and same with the cast iron i don't know that there's really any difference in the crust here and it's the same on both sides like really really solid crust

it looks like on the cast iron pan we got a pretty good medium rare all the way through

in terms of overall evenness and doneness i'm gonna give that to the cast iron pan and frankly that's actually what i would have expected too with a cast iron pan you have the thermal capacity of that pan really absorbs a ton of energy into it as it's heating up on the grill and it just allows for a more even cooking…

so the taste test on the stainless steel steak absolutely incredible as well a slightly different level of doneness but still we've got that rich buttery beefy texture got the garlic the rosemary the saltiness this is just perfect

the crusts were almost identical it rendered the fat cap just as well

i'm here to tell you that a cast iron skillet is going to be a really good skillet regardless of the surface finish

however i do agree that a smoother does mean a better cast iron skillet

now later on we're going to talk about carbon steel and carbon steel has a really smooth surface right out of the factory and it sears meat exceptionally well with an amazing non-stick coating

so let's talk about cast iron skillets that are made out of cast iron have some of the best properties and are famously known for getting a really good sear because cast iron is so densely packed it tends to retain heat really really well

cast iron doesn't necessarily get really piping hot for example stainless steel gets extremely hot and can shoot up to a really high temperature really fast

but where cast iron really shines is retaining that heat and once it gets up to that operating temperature that you're looking for it tends to retain an even temperature all around

but once you do figure it out once you get to know it a little bit better it's amazing you just have to kind of plan ahead

really once you do that you got a really good non-stick coating it's properly seasoned and you're really ready to go

now once you do develop a deep seasoning the risk of rust kind of diminishes over the years

but once a cast iron skillet is seasoned cleaning it is not the issue food just slides right off

it's a very small thing you have to do at the end of a cook that really goes a long way it's not an inconvenience at all

i feel like cast iron skillets don't tend to react as much as carbon steel skillets do

but once carbon steel and cast iron get their seasoning down i don't see them reacting anymore i've never had them react to where it completely stripped off the coating or anything like that

carbon steel skillets get hot really quickly they can really get up to high temperatures so that means they're going to sear food amazingly

they don't retain heat as well as cast iron skillets but that also means that they don't share any of those negatives

carbon steel skillets will react to temperature changes accordingly they will heat up and cool down much faster than cast iron skillets

food literally slides off of carbon steel skillets i've never had a mess with any of my carbon steel skillets when it comes time to clean them oftentimes i can just literally wipe the inside and i'm done

i usually put it back on the stove sanitize it put a drop of oil lubricate it store it away i never even have to use soap or water

eggs will literally slide right out of carbon steel skillet it's like foods ice skating on this thing

stainless steel skillets are the lightest out of the three skillets get really hot tremendously fast and they tend to cool down really quickly as well

biggest pro stainless steel skeleton is they do not rust so you don't have to worry about having to dry them or doing any special treatments after to completely dry them off and keep them from oxidating

now you'll see a lot of videos out there where people will tell you no they won't and that's true if you follow the fundamentals and you make sure that they heat up properly before throwing your food in there and you make sure you have enough fat cooking oil or grease or whatever it is that you're using yes food won't…

they're really light they heat up quickly they sear amazingly they're very easy to clean and they create fun for amazing sauces

and finally cast iron skillets are almost indestructible it's a tool that you're gonna cherish and pass down to your kids and grandkids

they will definitely outlive you and it's something that you're going to pass down to your kids and grandkids for sure just like a cast iron skillet

european families will often find their grandparents carbon steel skillets stashed away somewhere in the attic

That extra height is really necessary for containing hot oil and food, such as when frying donuts and shallow frying chicken.

but we preferred those with wide broad loops that we could really hang onto, especially when wearing oven mitts

Generally though, we recommend buying a 12 inch skillet if you can. It's always good to have the option of a bigger pan for recipes of different sizes

Another downside, don't expect enamel cast iron skillets to be or become non-stick.

While some manufacturers claim their pans will do this and become more non-stick with use, in our hands-on testing experience, we found that not to be the case.

You also wanna avoid using metal utensils and scraping or banging the pan, you know it's glass, so you gotta be a little bit careful with it.

Most artisan makers will also take the time to hand polish their pan surface, which makes it naturally non-stick much faster than a mass produced pan.

These cast iron pans start out like traditional cast iron, but then they're coated in a glass like vitreous glaze that seals the pan from air and moisture that could cause rust

their enamel coating makes enamel cast iron pans virtually maintenance free. You never have to season them and you can soak, use soap and scrub as much as you'd like.

Okay, that is my buying guide for these wonderful lifetime pans.

As Hannah said, an important feature of cast iron skillets is its natural non-stick ability.

Repeated exposure to smoking hot oil continues to build on this coating, making it more slippery and durable. That's why even though most skillets these days come with a factory seasoning, the surface will become even more non-stick with repeated use.

Its superpower is that it can retain and conduct plenty of heat for deep browning of food.

like regular cast iron, these pans have excellent heat retention, so they'll sear, fry and braise well maintaining the heat you want without undesirable temperature dips as food is added or flipped

Though all of these are gonna sear a great steak.

A thick heavy pan has the mass and density to hold more heat than a thinner pan does, and once preheated will cook more evenly than a thinner and lighter pan

Best of all, you can cook almost anything, even acidic foods that need to be simmered for a long time like a tomato sauce because the enamel seals the cast iron making the pan rust proof and non-reactive.

While both regular and enameled cast iron pans are induction compatible, the smoother enameled bottoms can be a little gentler on glass cooktops

Enameled is for the person that never wants to think about seasoning their pan. Enamel doesn't need it.

When you do need to season it, all you have to do is clean it, dry it, rub it with a thin layer of oil, and bake it in the oven. Although the baking portion takes an hour or so, the actual work you need to do takes less than 5 minutes. It’s not a big deal and it’s not difficult

But the reality is that seasoning isn't just oil; it's polymerized oil that's been bonded to the cast iron. It's hard and tough and as long as the dish soap doesn't contain lye or sodium hydroxide, a few drops won't hurt

I always recommend using a chainmail to clean cast iron, but if you cooked an especially messy meal and chainmail is not doing the trick, mild dish soap is okay

As you can see, the soap didn’t impact the seasoning at all

But flavoring food with a small amount of acidic ingredients, such as a splash of wine, vinegar, or lemon juice, won't cause any issues

If you're not cooking highly acidic foods for a long time, like over 30 minutes, the seasoning should be fine

To prove this point, I squeezed a whole lemon into this cast iron pan and let it simmer for about 4 minutes. After removing the lemon juice and wiping the skillet, you can see that the seasoning wasn't affected at all

One of the reasons I love cast iron is that it retains heat exceptionally well

Once it's fully preheated, it retains heat well, so your food will cook evenly

That may be true, but in my experience, this step is completely unnecessary. If the skillet is well-seasoned and you dry it thoroughly, it shouldn’t rust, and you don't need to oil it after each use

For acidic foods, stainless steel and enameled cast iron are better options since there's no seasoning to damage and those materials are non-reactive.

But you don't need to do it often and after you do it once, you realize how easy it is.

In my experience, mild dish soap does no harm.

One of the biggest advantages of carbon steel is its durability. It won't crack or break if you drop it, which can happen with cast iron.

And there's no coating or enamel that can wear down or chip.

You can use metal utensils and even cut food in it, although I try to avoid that because the sharp edge will scratch the seasoning.

It’s one of the rare products that gets better with age. The more you use it, the better the seasoning develops.

The one major limitation with carbon steel pans is acidic foods. A squeeze of lemon or a splash of wine won’t hurt, but prolonged exposure to acidic foods, like tomato sauce, will strip the layer of seasoning right off the looking surface.

Bare cast iron pans have this same issue.

Carbon steel consists primarily of iron, which rusts when exposed to water and air.

The fact that you need to season carbon steel pans may seem like a major downside, and for some, it's a deal-breaker.

The two rules that I do highly recommend following are, one, don’t put carbon steel pans in the dishwasher. The hot water, steam, and dish detergent will ruin the seasoning.

And two, always dry your pans completely after washing them. Even a well-seasoned pan can rust if moisture is left on it for long periods.

if you notice tiny black bits on your food when you cook with carbon steel, or if you wipe the pan with a paper towel and the paper towel turns black, that's a sign that you need to deep clean your pan. Those black bits are either tiny pieces of the seasoning flaking, burnt food, or both.

The one thing you need to be cautious about is warping. If you expose it to drastic temperature changes, like rinsing it under cold water when it's piping hot, the metal can expand and contract unevenly, which leads to a wobbly, unusable pan.

most of the pans once we'd seasoned them were amazingly non-stick after one round of seasoning we saw fried eggs sliding around like a puck in air hockey

omelets rolling out in perfect golden Oblongs zero sticking

Tarts popped right out with very few exceptions looking glossy and intact

most of the time we weren't even tempted to scrub because nothing stuck we could practically just wipe them out with a paper towel after we were cooking

a smoking hot traditional Skillet does a perfectly acceptable job and a cast iron skillet is brilliant at Browning and Searing but we found the carbon steel pans trumped both of them

impressively deep even Browning in the best carbon steel pans easily on a par with cast iron

they're lighter and thinner so they heat up in almost half the time as cast iron

They also gradually get a slick surface patina that releases food easily.

Now, as for the enameled pans, we saw that in recipes that required plenty of fat, like steaks or fried chicken cutlets, enameled pans all released foods well and delivered good browning.

When we made cornbread and flipped over the pans, all the traditional skillets instantly turned out perfectly brown, crisprusted cornbread, but four of the six enamelled models stuck to the cornbread and tore out a chunk of the bottom crust.

Both are going to give you great heat retention and browning.

Our buying, seasoning, and maintenance guide for every chef's secret weapon, the carbon steel skillet.

I have my pan here from home. This is little Eddie. Eddie and I have gotten in a lot of fights over the years, and we always make up.

i highly recommend for all the skillets in this video to at least get 10 inches or larger preferably 12 inch skillets because 12 inch skillets are literally the jack of all trade skillets you can feed a family in a 12 inch skillet

i feel like once you got a cast iron skillet your next logical step is to upgrade to a carbon steel skill

i feel like every kitchen should have at least one stainless steel skillet if you can afford it

they have the same sort of nonstick properties you know similar to cast-iron

but once they're preheated they cook they cook up swell