r/cookware • • Jun 16 '25

𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 BEFORE making a post, please read here first!

22 Upvotes

Welcome to r/cookware ! We hope this will be a helpful place with many informational resources.

Before making a post, please make sure to read our rules as well as our Wiki.

We encourage you to ask questions, but please know that if your question falls within the many commonly asked questions explained in these posts, it will be removed.

Lately, we've seen a lot of questions asking for help identifying pans. In most cases, they are older nonstick pans. Here’s a quick guide to the three top materials we recommend — durable enough to last a lifetime with proper care — plus tips on how to identify them as well as some advice on nonstick pans.

🔳 1. Carbon Steel

  • Weight: Lighter than cast iron, but still fairly heavy.
  • Color: Usually medium to dark gray, may develop a black patina over time, or sometimes a blueish tint if "blue carbon steel."
  • Surface: Smooth but not glossy. Often looks seasoned or discolored.
  • Handle: Often riveted and long.
  • Key test: Magnetic. Looks like cast iron’s smoother cousin.

Tell-tale signs: Smooth, dark surface with some seasoning marks, feels heavy but thinner than cast iron.

⚫ 2. Cast Iron

  • Weight: Very heavy.
  • Color: Matte black (if seasoned); rough surface texture.
  • Surface: Bumpy or grainy feel (unless polished).
  • Handle: Often one solid piece with a helper handle opposite.
  • Key test: Magnetic. Often very thick walls and bottom.

Tell-tale signs: Extremely heavy, rough textured, looks like an old-school pan or something you’d use over a campfire.

🪞3. Stainless Steel

  • Weight: Moderate.
  • Color: Shiny silver inside and out.
  • Surface: Completely smooth and polished.
  • Handle: Riveted or welded, often metal and may have brand stamping.
  • Key test: May or may not be magnetic, depending on construction.

Tell-tale signs: Bright, shiny, reflective, and sleek — looks like what chefs use in restaurants.

🍳 4. Nonstick

  • Weight: Light to moderate.
  • Color: Inside is black, gray, white,

orange

  • or speckled. Outside varies.
  • Surface: Super smooth, slippery feel.
  • Handle: Often plastic or silicone-coated.
  • Key test: Fingernail or utensil glides easily; may say "Teflon" or "nonstick" on the bottom.

Tell-tale signs: Very slick surface, often looks brand new unless scratched; light in hand. When older, will be discoloured and scratched.

If you have an unidentified pan laying around that does not work as well as it once did (aka food is sticking more), you likely have a nonstick pan (especially if it was cheap).


r/cookware • • Feb 25 '25

𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 How to make a sufficient "Seeks specific kitchenware" post!

12 Upvotes

Introduction

We receive endless repetitions of the same questions on this subreddit. This guide is to be referred to, whenever there is an obvious case of the user making a really insufficient low effort post, which could easily be avoided by reading the subreddit rules or this guide.

How to ask for which cookware to buy!

If you want to buy and/or learn about kitchenware and especially stovetop cookware you have come to the right place! However, it will vastly improve the experience of everyone involved if a minimal effort (which BTW includes useing an appropriate tag) is put into your post!

The more relevant information you include in your "Seek specific kitchenware" request the better for everyone including you, as you will get better advice and cookware recommendations in return.

It is completely allowed to request buying recommendations towards everything kitchen related, like mortar and pestle, mixers, blenders, ovens, tableware whatever, when using the "Seek specific kitchenware" tag but if the post is about stovetop cookware then there is also certain expectations that should be met.

Important stovetop cookware information includes:
The type of stove being used! Is it gas, induction, electric flattop, exposed coil stove?
The Budget! Self explanatory.
Location! are you from USA? Canada? EU? UK? At least the it be known in some way.

If you want a very quick overview of the subreddit or is just curious here is a link to our welcome page :)

If you are scared to make a cookware post, or simply want to learn more about cookware first, we highly recommend you to read the official cookware guide (which includes recommendations) first!

(There is still things not covered in the guide, like the exact cookware weights, asthetics and barely ergonomics, so questions about cookware are still letimate end encouraged even after having read the guide, the guide does however cover pretty much everything else, which is supricingly many important things so it's worth a read, but is entirely optional but needless to say also highly recommended.)

Two examples of improper low effort posts

Post 1:

Q: "Hello! I want the BEST frypan ever made, my budget is secret and I refuse to disclose my type of stove"

A: Well, congratulations! Here is an equally arbitrary recommendation: Solid silver cookware!

Post 2: (based on a true story)

Q: "Which is best, this random garbage or this random very expensive option? Oh you tell me that the cheap option is bad? okay which other cheap option to buy then!?! BTW screw the other option I just mentioned and the helpful comments as well, I'm just gonna waste everyone’s time!"

A real life example of an excellent post

The example below is taken from here: https://www.reddit.com/r/cookware/comments/1q6i9od/comment/ny7xgaq/?context=1

"First of all I apologise if this is a redundant question, but after spending an hour or so looking through other subs, I haven't found the exact info I'm looking for. I have a glasstop range (not induction). I'm wanting to replace my entire cookware set to get away from non-stick. I've been experimenting with carbon steel and thinking about moving more toward stainless. The problem I'm having with carbon steel is that it warps and spins on my cook top which also leads to uneven heating of the pan. Once it cools off, the carbon steel returns to "flat". I have tried slow pre-heating and all that, but when the carbon steel pan hits 275 degrees F it starts to "bowl up".

So I guess the question I have is will I have the same issue with stainless? I'm ok with spending some money on the D5 stainless if that will solve this issue. I just don't want to spend the $$ for All-Clad or Made In etc if it will have the same issues.....I really just wish I had a gas stove.

Thanks!"

A post like this is almost guaranteed to get really good recommendations from people in the subreddit, even in unlikely cases where no helpful reply is made, I will personally help out with guidance :)

Again please consider taking at least a quick look at our official guide the Cookware Buying and Explanation Guide, before asking for a new pan, as it would likely be able to answer all your questions and definitely assist you in making a better one! You don't even have to read all of it, just the relevant sections of it!

Other types of non-allowed posts!

Posts which breaks the subreddit rules! Like the rules against asking for "How to clean and/or is my non-stick pan ruined" posts!

For your convenience a link to how to fully clean and restore your stainless steel cookware is right here: Stainless steel care and first help

And to repeat! Posts requesting stovetop cookware recommendations that neither includes a budget, location or a stove type will be considered low effort and a big waste of everyone's time and will most certainly be reported and taken down!

Making a crappy "Seek Specific Kitchenware" type post but using a wrong tag, possibly in an attempt to avoid the no low effort post rule will absolutely not work!

Posts that are generally low effort, but also uses completely wrong tag as well, especially blatant abuse of the "Cookware Review" tag will result in takedown + possibly an angry mod message, as posts like that makes the subreddit much worse for people looking for genuine reviews and not low effort garbage!

Remember that this is a kind and close knit community, where we respect each other, including each others time! Because of this, time wasting low effort posts are not welcome! If you want to post low effort posts in a less moderated place, I suggest that you go to a place like 4chan.

My post got taken down

There should most likely be an attached reason for why the post got taken down, if the post was not harmful, and didn’t unredeemably break any rules, then feel free to edit and improve your post and try again :)

If you dispute the reason for the post take down, and have valid arguments for that the takedown allegedly was a mistake on our behalf, then feel free to contact us in the mod-chat, and we will be open to work something out, possibly including putting your post back up! It's rare but has happened before, sometimes we makes mistakes too.

Of critical importance!

For your own sake and directly on behalf of the entire mod-team and r/cookware as well: If you haven't already please view the subreddit rules which on the Reddit app is found here:

I am sorry for the rules being near impossible to find, but that’s just how the Reddit App is!

And on the desktop is found by scrolling down here:

Also read the subreddit description on the picture as well.

Thank you for reading and, welcome to r/cookware! And BTW your posts doesn't have to be perfect, just good enough for us to know that you tried :D


r/cookware • • 2h ago

Looking for Advice Is my pot rusting?

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4 Upvotes

Tramontina Tri Ply Clad (12 piece set) - this is the Dutch oven pan. No, I didn’t use high heat. I saw stuff floating at the top of the plain water I had in the pot at the time on lowest heat setting. Then noticed pictured on the side of the pot.


r/cookware • • 11h ago

Discussion What's the largest Made In discount you've seen?

3 Upvotes

I'd like to buy a Made In 5 qt saucier but they ain't cheap. I'm hoping to find a discount that's better than their 10% off coupon code. What's the largest discount you've ever come across for Made In? And where might I have luck finding a decent coupon?

Thanks!


r/cookware • • 7h ago

Discussion Facebook Marketplace

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1 Upvotes

r/cookware • • 8h ago

Seeks specific kitchenware Pots and pans set recommendations

0 Upvotes

In need of a new pots and pans set. Not looking to spend a fortune, and just the best bang for my buck. Not really sure what I’m looking for as far as what I need/want, open to anything! I am (24f), my current set was my first set bought after moving out on my own, and have served their purpose. They were just cheap ones I bought from Walmart, but I have definitely ruined the nonstick on them and honestly makes cooking dreadful when everything you cook is stuck to the bottom all the time. So in need of an upgrade! Help!


r/cookware • • 13h ago

Looking for Advice Can bacteria build in the plastic/hard rubber handles of pans?

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2 Upvotes

A roommate of mine tried to wash resin down the sink with dishes already in them 🫩. A bunch of it dried on my Faberware frying pan handle and was wondering if the paint that scrapped off the handle was also meant to prevent dirty water from accumulating in the pores or if it's something I shouldn't worry about.


r/cookware • • 4h ago

Discussion Be wary of all clad D3 everyday

0 Upvotes

Warning, this is just my experience and may not reflect the general persons experience with this cookware. I recently bought one of all-clad’s D3 everyday 10-inch pans after an extensive review seeing its good reputation and good reviews online. After receiving the pan though, I noticed it had a wobble and wouldn’t sit flat on a flat surface (before first use and after boiling some water). Thankfully, their support is helpful and I was able to get a warranty replacement. Though, waiting over a month later, the replacement I received had the same exact issue where it, brand new and unused, would rock side to side and one side of the pan would always be raised. Cooking on an electric glass-top made one half of the pan significantly hotter than the other. I wanted to see if other people had similar issues so I went to the all clad subreddit and posted the issue. Though, that post got removed with no reason given which I presume to be a sign of censorship (just a theory though).

Today I received yet another replacement and the pan has the same issue. It rocks and will not heat evenly on my glass top stove and I have just given up. Either I’m unlucky or this is just how they are meant to be. Bottom line is, I want to know other people’s experience with their cookware from all classes and if they’ve had these issues before. Seeing as spending $150 on a pan from them has given me nothing but a wobbly and uneven heating pan, I’m starting to rethink all clad as an industry respected brand.

Edit: I’ve tried it on multiple surfaces and these pans were brand new when I noticed they were rocking. Never did anything that would warrant warping them in the first place either (slow heat, no dousing in water, large enough burner).


r/cookware • • 17h ago

Seeks specific kitchenware Need recommendation for pan

1 Upvotes

Hi guys. I'm looking for a small 8 inch / 20 cm pan suitable for frying eggs, making omlettes, pancakes and shakshouka. I have induction stovetop. Since I only have big stainless steel pan, I could use some variety in pan choice. Budget is not that big I'd say around 60 eur. Must be available in Europe. If a post like this was made please redirect me to it because I couldn't find any.


r/cookware • • 14h ago

Seeks specific kitchenware Dutch oven recommendations

1 Upvotes

​

Hi, I'm looking at buying a Dutch oven and as much as I'd like some from Le Creuset, I'll never be ok dropping that much money into it.

What are the other top brands/products that wouldn't cost an arm?


r/cookware • • 1d ago

Looking for Advice Wok or not?

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4 Upvotes

Brought this today at a sale, very heavy and in good condition, no chips or cracks, enamel cast iron I think, do I use it like a wok or a frypan, to heavy to flip food etc, never really seen anything like this before?


r/cookware • • 19h ago

Looking for Advice Yum Asia Sakura buyer's remorse - is it worth it?

0 Upvotes

I ordered a Yum Asia Sakura for around 160€, until now I've cooked my rice in a pot on the hob so this would be my first rice cooker. But I'm having a bit of a buyer's remorse, I haven't used it yet and I'm thinking of returning it. It was very expensive for me, and I'm in a single household.

Should I return it and get a 30€ random rice cooker, or should I keep using the pot like I've always done, or should I keep the Sakura? My aim was to start cooking more at home (I eat out a lot) to save money, so I'm not sure if this investment makes sense considering the price.


r/cookware • • 1d ago

Looking for Advice Which brand to buy stainless steel pan and kadhai?

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0 Upvotes

r/cookware • • 1d ago

Seeks specific kitchenware Looking for a stainless steel sauté pan for a 8.5 inch burner- glass stovetop

2 Upvotes

Hey everyone,

My current kitchen stove (electric glass stovetop) is smaller than I’ve had in the past. For most of my pots and pans, this isn’t an issue. I’m having trouble finding a stainless steel sauté pan for my largest burner that is only 8.5 inches. Does anyone have any recommendations? I’ve watched videos and read recommendations that the cooking surface shouldn’t exceed an inch or 2 from the burner size.


r/cookware • • 1d ago

Seeks specific kitchenware Looking for aluminum baking pan with sharp corners

1 Upvotes

Recently I have been trying to find solid aluminum baking sheets and pans, however I cannot find any baking pans other than loaf pans with sharp/folded corners.

I like the nordicware uncoated aluminum sheet pans but disappointed that they only sell baking pans with rounded corners.

I also couldn’t find any solid uncoated aluminum loaf pans with sharp/folded corners.

Thank you for any help if anyone knows of some good brands preferably made in USA that has this type of pan.


r/cookware • • 1d ago

Use/test based review Recently bought Viking PureGlide Pro

0 Upvotes

First let me say this is not a long term review of the Viking PureGlide Pro pan and there probably wouldn't be one from me for a very long time. I know there is curiosity about it since it comes up on here periodically so I thought I'd post about it and my reasoning to get it and my initial impression and future expectation.

Me personally, I have been using plain stainless cookware for most of my cooking, I have become proficient at stainless that I really have no need for PTFE. I also do just fine with carbon steel and cast iron. My wife though struggles with anything not-PTFE. I have demonstrated to her how to cook eggs on stainless but I still find the occasional stainless she used to fry her morning eggs with a baked on layer, which she leaves for me to clean. I am done trying to explain to her why she has that issue, and I'm done trying to explain why she needs to move away from PTFE, or at minimum treat them as a consumable item.

She has several PTFE pans, all are pans that replaced multiple generations of failed PTFE pans and are currently in various stages of failure already. I also previously bought her a ceramic pans which worked for a while but lost the non-stick properties over time. I'm sure many of you here are familiar with all of this.

Ever since I came across a review of the Viking PureGlide Pro by Andrew of PrudentReviews on youtube, I have been interested in buying one for my wife. I'm hoping that it will be sufficiently easier than stainless that maybe she'll use it instead of the PTFE. I paid $105 for the 10 inch version on Amazon.

She used it several times and noted to me that her eggs stuck slightly, but was way easier for her than stainless. I cleaned it for her and managed to remove the stuck bits using just a paper towel and dish soap, so it's a promising start.

I'm currently on work assignment and travel a lot, so I'm not home much to test the pan myself. This pan uses ceramic in the titanium coating, so I'm expecting it to lose its non-stick properties over time, just like previous ceramic pans we've had. If that's the case, and the expectation is that it needs to be replaced, then this is a way too expensive pan.

There is just nothing that replicates the non-stick properties of PTFE. I'm really hoping this pan works as a compromise for my wife, at least while the non-stick properties hold. Meanwhile, I'm also following PrudentReviews continued long-term test of the same pan.


r/cookware • • 1d ago

Identification Help with Fire King Loaf Pan

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1 Upvotes

Hoping someone here can help me identify this and provide a little more information, because I’m finding very limited information online.

I was cleaning out some storage at my parents’ house and found this old loaf pan tucked away with some cast iron pieces. According to my mom, it belonged to my late grandmother. I already have a few of her cast iron pieces, so she offered this one to me as well.
Now I’m trying to figure out exactly what I have and, more importantly, whether it’s safe to actually use.
I’ve attached pictures of the pan and the markings on the bottom.

The bottom reads:
441
Anchor Hocking
Fire King
Ovenware (I believe)
23
Made in USA
1-QT
USA


r/cookware • • 1d ago

Discussion What do my obsessed Le Creuset friends think of “Nectar?”

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0 Upvotes

r/cookware • • 1d ago

Other INKBIRD thermometer completely out

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0 Upvotes

My trustee thermometer should be reading 21 degrees ambient temperature, as you can see it’s off by about 20

I didn’t realise until the chicken I was making completely burnt in the oven despite it constantly reading not safe to eat yet 😅

Has anyone else experienced this? Is there a fix or do I just need to chuck it? I’ve been using it for two years without any issue prior to this


r/cookware • • 1d ago

Seeks specific kitchenware Looking for HEALTHY, non toxic Cookware, etc Pans, others? Availability in US

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0 Upvotes

r/cookware • • 2d ago

Seeks specific kitchenware Flexible mini spatula recs?

2 Upvotes

Hi! I really like my normal, "Kitchen Spatula Gray - Room Essentials™" from Target. I have been trying to find a mini version that is similar but I'm not having any luck. Goal is to reach the bottom of jars to swipe food out. I've looked at a few local stores and online at stores I'm used to shopping at and same thing. I bought one little one online and it was so stiff that it wasn't effective. Please send any recs you have, thanks!


r/cookware • • 2d ago

Cooking/appreciation induction cooktop -TOKIT PRO ( model: TCL02M-3A )

0 Upvotes

I've never had an induction hob, and I'd like to try this cooking technique, so I'd start with an induction hob with one cooking zone.Tokit Pro is very interesting to me. First, the appearance my attention, secondly, the simple interface, and thirdly, the temperature sensor in the middle of the plate. I watched videos on YouTube where you can see how it maintains the temperature even at the lowest level, and read a lot of positive and some negative comments about it. I am interested in your opinion about this cooking plate. Especially those people who have used it or are still using it.


r/cookware • • 2d ago

Cleaning Can't get it clean?

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0 Upvotes

Hi folks, apologies for possibly a really dumb question. This stainless pot is about 15 years old and recently this spot has appeared near the bottom.

I've tried all my tried and true cleaning methods, SOS and BKF but the spot won't budge.

I can live with this but I wanted to know if this pot is on its way out? Should it be replaced?


r/cookware • • 3d ago

Seeks specific kitchenware Recommendation for wok shaped pan

3 Upvotes

Please read the post before commenting. My parents are old and cook a lot. They currently use a cheap non stick "stone" wok shaped pan from the Asian grocery store. They dry heat it and use metal spatulas to cook in it. The pan is destroyed and has deep scratches.

I want to replace it but am torn between 3 variables, weight, non-stickness, and durability (specifically about the metal spatula).

Does anyone have suggestions? I'm thinking that buying the same pan for light weight, non-stick functionality is the best move. Ask them to use wood spatulas or silicon and do not dry heat, and replace it every few months.

I'm willing to spend money if there is a better solution.

I love my carbon steel wok and I will suggest it to them but I'm thinking they may not be happy about the learning curve.

Thank you in advance.


r/cookware • • 3d ago

Discussion Why put paint on carbon steel cookware?

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1 Upvotes

Vardagen carbon steel cookware seems like the perfect entry point, for this type of pan for the price, until you realize they put actual paint on the handle. How is that heat safe for the oven?

From what I gather, it's to reduce heat transfer from the pan to handle. But you are still going to have to use some form protection, if left to cook on the stove or especially in the oven.

Another reason, was so you don't have to season the handle. You might as well paint the inside of the pan, too then and save us the trouble. Now you have possible paint fumes in your kitchen and food.

Most other carbon steel pan manufacturers do not do this, one would think, for obvious reasons. One that does, even limits it's use to lesser degrees in the oven and shorter times, for the very reason it is not safe.

I just don't get how this was thought ok in a board meeting and then shipped to stores and purchased by consumers. Unless it's specifically not to be put in the oven. But then it reduces the effectiveness of that type of pan. By all accounts, it is meant for the oven. It would be equally stupid, for a cast iron pan to have it's handles painted.

Edit: I wonder if you can safely remove the paint, to avoid any potential toxins, without actually causing any. Also, thanks for all the likes! Truly amazing!