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What the most versatile pan out there?

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Cast iron? Stainless steel? Non-stick?
Maybe something else?
What do you think is the best pan if you had to choose one?
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GuidoS
0
Oct 25, 2018
Same. Only misen that made a knife I cover more.
fischface
0
Oct 7, 2018
For coffee makers, I prefer a simple glass drip or a siphon.
AmuseBoucheMB
1
Sep 28, 2018
Copper with a stainless lining is amazing, as is carbon steel! Both are versatile and long-lasting.
Jbabo
7
Jun 23, 2018
Definitely a multi layered copper stainless clad. Only because you can't simmer or even really cook anything acidic in a carbon or cast iron pan. Then non-stick pans are super temperamental in my opinion. Even with the greatest care they will become scratched and no longer non stick. As other people have mentioned they also don't do great with high heat and often can't be thrown in the oven to finish. But no matter what you get get something with a well riveted or welded handle that is metal. In my experience you also don't need a ton of different sizes.
EZ_living
211
Oct 7, 2018
JbaboRe: nonstick...
Boy, you can say that again. 4 months ago I bought myself a new nonstick pan and set out to treat it like a baby.
Never once has the surface touched metal. I cleaned it with running water, soap, and a gentle caress with a kitchen towel. I stored it hanging from its own hook with no other pans on a 1-foot radius.
And yet still: scratches! It boggles the mind.
GunsOfBrixton
911
May 16, 2018
A year ago I would have said cast iron hands down. But then a thrift store find of a couple of high quality copper-clad stainless pans came along, and now I'm torn. I use both regularly, with great results, but since the OP asked for most versatile - I'm leaning clad stainless. The lighter weight and faster heating are a slight edge over the invincibility and beauty of the cast iron.
ulven
25
May 16, 2018
Cast iron
phoenixsong
1055
Apr 21, 2018
Non-stick, coz I'm hopelessly lazy XD
Tdm5
0
Mar 20, 2018
Swiss picnic
mammaraj
1
Jan 18, 2018
I have to say I love my Calphalon pans but they can beat up pretty fast (not the old ones, the newer ones that come in colors). Le Crusets makes fantastic stuff but it's super expensive so I only have one of their  Dutch ovens but I use it for everything! I would love to go the cast iron route but just haven't done it yet.
LeCheffre
42
Jan 9, 2018
A non-stick skillet is not actually that versatile, as high heat will harm the coating.
I have a cast iron that I use for a lot of things, but I find maintaining it to be a bit intimidating.
I have some nice calphalon pans, from before they went non-stick on everything. They're dark, they are layered steel and aluminum, and they are very very good.
dandel
92
Mar 22, 2018
LeCheffreI’ve used my cast iron skillet for more than 14 years and the game changer was getting a chain mail scrubber to clean it with. If you don’t have one already, I highly recommend it!
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