DU Chefs: What's the best nonstick pan on earth?

[Robb]

Aside from the answer I know I'm gonna get, "any pan with a whole stick of butter in it". ;)

Dishwasher-safe. Oven proof would be a plus. And less than a million dollars, please.

[benddem]

1. calphalon

:)

[Robb]

3. Ah - but...

don't they go all funny in the dishwasher? :shrug:

[lazarus]

2. Actually

You just gave away the problem. "Dishwasher-safe". Never, ever put a nonstick pan in the dishwasher. Same with your chef's knife or cast iron skillet.

A nonstick pan actually doesn't even require soap and water. Just wipe it off with a clean towel, and it's clean. Non-stick, remember?

The dishwasher will absolutely ruin the three items I listed.

[Robb]

5. I disagree with at least one.

I've been putting chef's knives in dishwashers for years. Commercial ones too. And once I got past wooden handles, I never had a problem.

[SOteric]

6. Yeah, I've never had a problem running a professional knife

through even an industrial flight washer.

[SOteric]

4. Honestly, professionals never use 'em.

The high temperatures needed to really properly cook food tend to disintigrate the non-stick finish, - and in a manner toxic to birds and small animals by the way.

A well seasoned copper-cored sauteuse is your best friend.

[Robb]

8. What about these new materials?

Like Anolon, or Calphalon One? Any word?

[SOteric]

19. Maybe as an omelette pan,

But still not in the professional kitchen, still can't take the searingly high heats required to cook lean meats properly. :shrug:

[gator_in_Ontario]

7. T-Fal

They are from France *ducking*....best pans I ever had....you can get them anywhere in US or Canada I think...

[Kathy in Cambridge]

22. T-Fal and Caphalon

I love my T-Fal omelette pan!

[gator_in_Ontario]

23. don't even need seasoning...it is non-stick!

[BrotherBuzz]

9. Griswold #8

well seasoned...no need for dishwasher and my pan spends a lot of time in the oven...Sorry, it's the Luddite in me speaking.

[NNN0LHI]

10. Bought my wife a set of Wolfgang Puck pans. They were the worst

The non-stick stuff started bubbling off within months. Pure junk.

Don

[Bozola]

11. Cooking on Teflon is an idiotic thing to do

especially if you have birds.

Use cast iron.

[ScreamingMeemie]

12. My set of old (they were my husband's great grandmothers)

perfectly seasoned, cast iron griddles...Everything comes out (literally) perfect everytime. :hi:

[morningglory]

15. Have to get a really old one that is perfectly smooth on the bottom.

Garage sales and pawn/junk shops. People are sophistocated about the value now and they cost about 12-18$ last time I was in the market, but you don't really have to wash them. Plain water and a scrubbie if something gets stuck. Also, they have found that women that use iron skillets do not get anemic like the teflon people. I told this to my daughter in law and she said she had always had a problem with anemia until she married our son who does most of the cooking on old iron skillets.

[ScreamingMeemie]

20. Dish soap will damage them. I use a plastic scraper on mine.

:hi:

[lazarus]

24. I use salt

When I finish cooking, I just drop a tablespoon or so of kosher salt in, and use my tongs and a rag to scrub. Then just wipe the salt out, and it's perfectly clean.

[Tripper11]

13. We just bought an 11 piece T-Fal set

and love them...pots and pans. We bought an extra 20" T-Fal and they work wonders. We don't put them in the dishwasher though. No need to because they are so easy to clean anyway. We only paid $125 all told at Bed, Bath & Beyond.

[Liberal Christian]

14. I love the Cooks Essentials line from QVC

I've had the hard enamel, which I liked, but just bought a set of their hard anodized.

The non-stick finish is really durable. You can use metal utensils and it won't scratch, and the cookware is a nice weight. Much better value than Calphalon for similar quality.

[Rabrrrrrr]

16. I will second this set!

I have used pans of the Cooks Essentials line, and hope to procure some for myself, and that's from me, a guy who absolutely is vehemently againt non-stick. But the Cooks Essentials aren't that teflon crap non-stick, and they ARE serious, sturdy, no BS pans that re just magically non-stick, without any of the general anti-cooking effects of previous forms of non-stick.

[GOPisEvil]

17. Well-seasoned cast iron.

Mine resembles an oil slick, and I take only moderate care of it. :-)

[arwalden]

25. Yes... I like those too.

Why are they so expensive??

-- Allen

[GOPisEvil]

26. Because they last a lifetime. BUT!

I bought mine in a thrift store for 10 bucks. I cleaned it up; seasoned it, and it works like a charm! :thumbsup:

[Stephanie]

18. What about the danger from Teflon?

This was in the news this fall. Overheated Teflon causes dangerous fumes. Carcinogenic, I think. It was scary. I put two good Iron Clad saute pans under the sink. Now I can't make an omelet!

[GOPisEvil]

21. You don't cook omelets at super high heats.

Go ahead and use teflon for eggs. :thumbsup: