Why We Whack Our Skillets on Concrete

Plus, our guide to nonstick cookware. [America's Test Kitchen]( [The Well-Equipped Cook. A weekly newsletter from your favorite unbiased tasters and testers.]( [America's Test Kitchen: Notes from the Test Kitchen]( [recipes]( [product reviews]( [Equipment guides]( [gear heads]( The Latest from the ATK Reviews Team [Whacking a skillet on the concrete]( Why We Whack Our Skillets on Concrete In the Test Kitchen, we have a go-to method for simulating years of use in your home kitchen. [Learn more ›]( [Vinegar]( Does Vinegar Ever Really Go Bad? If you’ve had a bottle of vinegar in your pantry for a few years, don’t worry. [Learn more ›]( This Week’s Equipment Guide [Nonstick: The Easiest Cookware to Use]( Nonstick: The Easiest Cookware to Use [SEE EQUIPMENT GUIDE]( [Hannah Crowley. Executive Editor, ATK Reviews] If you’re looking for the easiest cookware to use and maintain, look no further than nonstick. If I’ve splurged on halibut or want a supereasy clean-up, I reach for my nonstick skillet. There are two main types of nonstick: traditional or “PTFE” nonstick, most commonly known by the brand name Teflon, and ceramic nonstick, sometimes called “green nonstick.” We’ve reviewed dozens of skillets in each style, and there are pros and cons for each. [Traditional nonstick]( pans are coated in a layer of what is essentially plastic. The plastic is extremely nonstick but fallible over time, which is one reason why [we don’t suggest spending a ton of money on a nonstick pan](. The coating can also break down and emit fumes at higher temperatures, so you should never heat a nonstick pan empty. Read more about [the dos and don’ts of traditional nonstick cookware](. [Ceramic nonstick pans]( get their nonstick properties from a material that’s derived from beach sand. The surfaces are more brittle and prone to cracking, which can make food stick. The upside? They don’t release dangerous fumes under high heat like the PTFE pans do. To learn more about which style of nonstick is right for you, [check out our handy guide](. [A Carbon Steel Skillet]( Must-Have of the week A Carbon Steel Skillet If the whiplash of the pros and cons listed above has your head spinning, I’d like to make a third suggestion: a carbon-steel skillet. The pan I cook from most frequently is a little 8-inch carbon-steel skillet named Eddie (what, you don’t name your favorite pans?). I adore carbon steel because it is naturally nonstick. When properly cared for, the surface of a carbon-steel skillet builds a seasoning of polymerized (cooked-on) oil, eventually creating a slick surface that releases food just as well as plastic or ceramic nonstick. Plus, carbon steel will last forever, and even if you mess up the surface, you can always start over; it’s very forgiving. Eddie and I get into fights sometimes but we always make up in the end. [Read more ›]( [Matfer Bourgeat Black Steel Round Frying Pan, 11 7/8-inch]( Our Winner Matfer Bourgeat Black Steel Round Frying Pan, 11 7/8" Cooking: ★★★   Ease of Use: ★★★   Nonstick: ★★★ [BUY NOW]( FREE FOR TWO DAYS Related Recipes [Spanish Migas with Fried Eggs]( Spanish Migas with Fried Eggs [Get the recipe ›]( [Pan-Seared Shrimp with Peanuts, Black Pepper, and Lime]( Pan-Seared Shrimp with Peanuts, Black Pepper, and Lime [Get the recipe ›]( [For the Love of Cooking, Try Digital All Access: 12,000+ Reliable Recipes, Free Shipping in Our Shop, Mobile App, 8,000+ Product Reviews, Cookbook Collection. Get 14 Days Free.]( Explore More Featured Products [Mini-Muffin Tins]( Williams Sonoma Goldtouch Pro Mini Muffin Pan Mini-muffin tins are so fun for making cute baked goods or a selection of bite-size desserts. This pan released beautifully and made the most gorgeously golden brown muffins and cupcakes. [Buy It Now ›]( [Nonstick-Safe Spatulas]( Matfer Bourgeat Exoglass Pelton Spatula Many nonstick skillet manufacturers claim their pans are metal-safe, we found that not to be the case. We recommend using a plastic spatula to keep your nonstick pans in tiptop shape. [Buy It Now ›]( [Festive Bundt Pans]( [Nonstick Whisks]( [Stovetop Griddles]( [Small Nonstick Saucepans]( [SEE ALL THE EQUIPMENT]( More Equipment Guides [Healthy Drinks to Get You Through the Season]( [Healthy Drinks to Get You Through the Season]( [Fresh Pasta Is a Simple Luxury]( [Fresh Pasta Is a Simple Luxury]( [Icon] Reviews you can trust The mission of [America’s Test Kitchen Reviews]( is to find the best equipment and ingredients for the home cook through rigorous, hands-on testing. 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