Nonstick Cookware

Nonstick is a good choice for skillets

Despite the fact that most chefs and reviewers recommend uncoated cookware, about half of all shoppers prefer nonstick. Nonstick cookware comes in a variety of materials, most of which have a Teflon or Teflon-like interior coating (see the section on Teflon safety below). New models of nonstick cookware are coming on the market that are PFOA- and/or PTFE-free, and we'll discuss them below. The nonstick coating allows you to use a little less fat, but it also impedes heat conduction, making it harder to brown foods. It also prevents fond from forming in the bottom of the pan.

While nonstick pans are said to be more convenient and easier to clean, manufacturers recommend hand washing them, and you shouldn't stir foods with metal utensils. Even if you follow these instructions, the coating will eventually flake off. Unlike cast iron, nonstick cookware isn't "lifetime" cookware, so reviews say you're better off buying a budget nonstick skillet that you won't mind parting with when the coating deteriorates, and sticking with stainless steel or cast iron for the rest of your cookware.

Kirkland Signature Hard Anodized cookware (*Est. $180 for a 14-piece set), a Costco exclusive, fares well in the single professional review we read, and it receives excellent ratings from owners posting to Epinions.com. The Kirkland set is made of hard-anodized aluminum with a Teflon interior coating. The stainless steel handles are heat-resistant, and the set is oven safe to 500 degrees (although it's not recommended for broiling). Like most nonstick cookware, it's not dishwasher safe. Kirkland Signature cookware isn't available in every Costco store, but Costco members can buy it online. Kirkland Signature cookware is only available as a set.

Reviews say that the anodized aluminum Simply Calphalon Nonstick cookware (*Est. $200 for a 10-piece set), which has a double coating of Teflon, is an average performer. Testers at Cook's Illustrated found the skillet's handle to be oddly shaped, and they wish the pan were bigger. Some owners report problems with the nonstick coating, which they say is prone to flaking. The Cuisinart Chef's Classic nonstick (*Est. $150 for 14 pieces), receives a few reviews on Amazon.com about gradually developing spots where food will stick, despite solid performance in professional tests.

If you're buying a cookware set, experts say you're better off buying uncoated cookware and supplementing it with a nonstick skillet or two. If you're in the market for an inexpensive nonstick skillet for sticky tasks, reviews say the WearEver Premium 12-Inch Hard Anodized Skillet (*Est. $30) is well balanced and a great value. The KitchenAid Gourmet Essentials Hard Anodized Nonstick Open French Skillet (*Est. $20) is also deemed a reliable alternative to more expensive pans in reviews. Testers note that inexpensive nonstick skillets tend to cook quickly, so you'll have to pay attention to delicate foods such as fish.

Reviews differ about the benefits of hard-anodized cookware, which uses an electrochemical process to alter the molecular structure of aluminum. As a result, the aluminum turns a dark gray and hardens. According to experts, this type of interior surface resists sticking to an extent, but it isn't truly nonstick. Many owners say that this cookware releases food less easily over time. Reviews indicate that a hard-anodized interior does, however, brown foods well.

Calphalon One (*Est. $600 for a 10-piece set), is touted as an advanced cookware line that combines the best qualities of traditional and nonstick cookware. Calphalon has infused anodized aluminum with a polymer that's said to release foods more easily than Teflon. Cook's Illustrated put these claims to the test and found that although Calphalon browned and seared well, eggs and flour-coated chicken stuck to the pan. Calphalon also has a line of cookware called Calphalon One Nonstick (*Est. $600 for a 10-piece set), which the manufacturer says has a matrix of four interlocking nonstick layers on the interior surface. We have not seen any professional reviews of this cookware, but some users at Amazon.com report that the nonstick layer peels off with frequent use.