Since non-stick cookware entered the market, it’s been a topic of debate: should you be using those trusty stainless steel pieces or upgrading to the non-stick variety? Here’s our guide written to settle this matter once and for all. Stainless steel or nonstick – get the Mega Boutique nonstick vs stainless verdict.

When to Use Non-Stick Cookware

Non-stick cookware can form an essential part of your kitchen supplies. There are many reasons why you might opt for non-stick cookware over stainless steel cooking. These pieces are convenient and easy to use, and can help keep cooking-related stress at bay. 

Delicious Delicacies

Sometimes, with stainless steel, a simple piece of fried fish can turn into a burnt, sticky mess. A good omelette can go bad in only a few seconds in a stainless steel pan. This is because it can be hard to manage more delicate ingredients with the weight and localised heat of the stainless pan. Non-stick cookware is great for creating creamy and consistent pancakes and crepes, eggs cooked just to your liking and delicious dumplings with just the right amount of crisp. 

Healthy and Low-Fat Cooking

You should also use non-stick cookware when you want to limit the amount of oil or butter you use in your cooking. Just a couple of drops of oil will lubricate your non-stick pan very well, and this can be a great outcome if you are cooking for someone who is health-conscious or dieting. A veggie stir fry can be cooked quickly with just a dash of oil, and without any detriment to the flavour.

When Time is of the Essence

Using nonstick vs stainless cookware is also a good idea when you are in a rush or if you hate doing the dishes. As the name suggests, non-stick cookware rarely leaves you with a messy pan. A simple wipe with a paper towel is all you need to clean it up, and definitely no scrubbing or scouring is required. In fact, if you are too vigorous with the washing up, you can damage the surface of your non-stick pots and pans. 

Scrumptious Sauces and Soups

Our final recommendation for using non-stick is when you are preparing something with a high liquid content. Cooking up a creamy pasta sauce or gently simmering off a risotto? A non-stick, no-fuss pan is perfect!

When to Use Stainless Steel Cookware

When it comes to stainless pan vs nonstick options, you will find that your stainless steel cookware is more durable and likely to have a longer lifespan than non-stick cookware. Use stainless steel, like this Essteele Per Vita Stainless Steel Fry Pan, with confidence if you want to fry, sauté, brown, boil, braise, or simply sear your meal. 

For the Perfect Steak

Stainless steel fry pans do a much better job at cooking most types of meat, allowing an all-over searing to occur. This results in a lovely browning or caramelisation when frying steaks and other cuts. Monitor the meat, watch for when the searing has finished, and then flip it over. Trying to shift it too early can cause the meat to tear. 

Chicken and Seafood

Stainless steel is also great for cooking chicken, firmer fish like tuna and salmon, and seafood like mussels. Flavours have time to infuse into white meats and seafood, even if they are only lightly seared. Consistent heat retention and distribution in stainless steel gives you a great finish that is full of flavour.

Boiling and Braising

Stainless steel cookware is often bigger and more robust than its non-stick counterparts, and for this reason, it is handy for cooking large batches of pasta or grains. You can also use something like this Essteele Per Amore Covered Saucepan to braise batches of vegetables, such as beetroots, carrots, potatoes, or cabbage, or even to prepare tender and flavoursome poached pears with cardamom. That’s dessert covered! 

A Slow Burn

The results you get with stainless steel will vary depending on the process you use. For best results in general cooking, allow the pan to heat up first before you add your oil or butter. Then, allow more time for your chosen cooking oil to heat up before adding the main ingredients. Using lower heat settings will give you a better overall result, so make sure you are using the stainless steel when you have plenty of time up your sleeve. 

Non Stick Vs Stainless Steel Cookware: The Verdict

At the risk of being called out for sitting on the fence, does there genuinely have to be a winner in the stainless steel cookware vs nonstick cooking challenge? Is stainless steel non stick superior, or do both options have their strong points and weaknesses? We believe that it’s all about knowing which option will work better for whatever it is that you want to cook up. 

Non-stick cookware can prevent any food from becoming stuck; however, on some dishes, you might really want that delicious crust, caramelisation, or browning, and that’s where stainless steel comes in.

Other factors, such as the type of cooktop you have, whether you cook with gas or electricity, or if you have an induction system, will all impact your decision. You should also consider attributes such as ease of use, ease of cleaning, and cost.

Having some high-quality options for both types of cookware gives you the flexibility you need to get a great outcome on every dish, every time. Thankfully, at Mega Boutique, we have plenty of choices for making your own decision on nonstick vs stainless. Our range of quality cookware includes a variety of pots and pans, as single pieces or in an entire cooking collection. This selection ensures quality and durability, meeting the requirements of both professional chefs and home cooks.