Nonstick Steel Core Vs. Nonstick Aluminum Cookware

Choosing a Core

• Aluminum core pans are the superior option because they offer even heat distribution and reduce hot spots that can cause uneven cooking. If you want a pan that includes the benefits of both stainless steel and aluminum, look for a pan with an aluminum core clad in stainless steel. With such pans, aluminum cores are encapsulated inside and bonded to stainless steel. Stainless steel protects the exterior of the pans and serves as the cooking surface. This type of pan adapts to use with induction, halogen and glass ceramic cook tops.

Stainless vs Aluminum

• Stainless steel has relatively poor conductivity in comparison to aluminum, so it is a less-than-ideal choice for a core material, but it provides shine when used on the exteriors of pans. As a cooking surface, stainless steel does not react with food, and it cleans easily, even when not sealed with a nonstick coating. Aluminum is also used on pan exteriors. Disk-bottom pans are clad, but instead of containing a core of aluminum, they incorporate aluminum at the point where the heat source meets the pan.

Hard Anodized Aluminum

• Hard anodized aluminum pans are nonreactive to food and harder than stainless steel. Such pans might include features such as aluminum cores, stainless steel cooking surfaces and nonstick interiors. Hard anodized aluminum pans provide scratch-resistant nonstick surfaces. These types of pans are not compatible with induction cook tops.

Heating

• Pans with an aluminum core are not made for use with high heat. With the efficient conductivity of the pans, you will only need to use moderate temperatures to prepare your ingredients. Overheating can cause discoloration of the nonstick interiors and warping in your pans. Manufacturers also recommend using only moderate heat on pans that have a petroleum-based nonstick coating. Ceramic-based and other alternative coatings mean you do not have to expose your family to the potential dangers of petroleum-based coatings in order to have a nonstick cooking surface.

Cleaning

• Most nonstick pans are not dishwasher safe. Dishwasher cleaning can scratch or degrade the surfaces of nonstick pans over time. Those with stainless steel and hard anodized stainless exteriors are generally dishwasher safe, but check the manufacturer’s instructions for each pan, as care and use suggestions for lines of cookware vary.