What’s the best nonstick cookware on the market today? That’s a question that I’m going to answer in this article today.
First off, why do you want the best? Safety! There’s been a ton of stuff in the news recently about the safety or lack of safety when it comes to the nonstick pan coating surface as it starts to peel away. The last thing in the world you want to do is have that stuff get into your food! Is it toxic? Is it harmless? I don’t care! I want the best nonstick cookware they won’t flake off into my food and I’m sure you do too.
I really don’t know what the chemical is that those coatings use, but I don’t want it in my food, and neither do you, and that’s the bottom line.
Besides health and safety, we also want cookware that’s going to be easy to use and actually work the way it’s supposed to. Not all nonstick is created equal and it’s important to find the best because you don’t want to spend that kind of money on something that doesn’t work all that well, and I’ve seen this happen time and time again to many people.
If you cook a lot of food in your kitchen, chances are you’re interested in making things as easy as possible and that’s where nonstick really shines. Non-stick makes cooking easier, and it makes CLEANUP easier as well. I like stainless steel pots and pans, but it takes me forever to clean them by hand every day. Here comes nonstick to the rescue!
Another benefit is that they are generally less expensive compared to traditional stainless steel options.
So what’s the best? Honestly there are a zillion brands that sell their own version of this stuff, and it’s really hard to narrow down the absolute best. Plus you also have to choose between teflon, hard-anodized aluminum, and cast iron. Where to start?
Teflon is really cheap, but flakes off over time. The FDA says that it’s not a health concern, but I’m not willing to risk it. Cast iron is great but is a real hassle to “season” and keep them clean. That leaves hard anodized cookware, and it’s my choice for “the best”. Now it’s just a matter of narrowing it down to a particular brand. Some popular ones are:
- Anolon Professional 12-Piece Nonstick Hard-Anodized Cookware Set – $179
- KitchenAid Gourmet Essentials 12-Piece Nonstick Hard-Anodized Cookware Set – $165
- Simply Calphalon Nonstick Hard-Anodized 10-Piece Cookware Set – $200
- Cuisinart Chef’s Classic Nonstick Hard-Anodized 14-Piece Cookware Set – $170
- Circulon Elite 10-Piece Nonstick Hard-Anodized Cookware Set – $210
- Rachael Ray Hard Anodized 14-Piece Nonstick Cookware Set – $250
These are all highly rated and greatly reviewed sets that will probably hold up well and last a while, and of course, get the job done when it comes to actually cooking.
So at the end of the day, the best nonstick cookware seems to be hard anodized aluminum. Narrowing down a specific brand is a little more tricky because everyone’s circumstances are different. I suggest you head down to your local department store or specialty shop and hold a few in your hands. The set that feels right in your hands is probably the best one for you.
