Choosing the safest and healthy cookware for your kitchen is not so much easy as you think. You have to know the distinguishing of the materials, the
process of maintaining, the temperature level, the price, and many more. It will make you confused when you have to choose the one between stainless steel vs nonstick cookware. Because both of the cookware are great by their own features.
Stainless steel and non-stick cookware are mostly durable, attractive to look and mostly both of them are safe for humans. In this post, I will share everything in detail about these cookware products. Hopefully, this post will help you to choose the right cookware for your kitchen.
Introducing Stainless Steel and Nonstick Cookware
There are some most popular types of cookware with details just below. Check it out to get more valuable information.
Overview of Stainless Steel Cookware
Stainless steel cookware is typically made from a combination of more than one material. This type of cookware is mostly made of stainless steel, chromium, and iron including small percentages of nickel, aluminum, and copper. Even though stainless steel cookware is made of multiple layers of other materials but only stainless steel comes in contact with the food.
This feature makes the stainless steel cookware more stable. The levels of stainless steel cookware are a variety from low to high that refers to the durability, quality, and temperature resistance ability.
Though stainless steel makes the cookware very durable, but it is known as a bad heat conductor. That’s why an aluminum or copper layer added to the base of the pans and pots to improve the heat conductivity.
Compared to other usual cookware, stainless steel cookware gives lots of effective benefits. This cookware is extremely durable and nonreactive to the foods. This type of cookware is very comfortable to maintain and clean and also sturdy and last longer.
Overview of Non-stick cookware
The main feature of non-stick cookware is it is coated with a thin layer of Teflon or some other materials. Teflon is the brand name 
of a commercial compound called PTFE.
Nowadays, there are other metals also used on the non-stick coating surface like anodized aluminum, cast iron, ceramic, and silicone. This non-stick coating provides ultra-smooth and slippery cookware surfaces that release the food easily with less effort.
Non-stick cookware allows cooking with less oil and also much easier to clean compared to other usual metal cookware. This type of cookware can be made from the same materials as other usual metal cookware.
For example, ceramic and copper can be used on non-stick cookware. But the most common material for non-stick cookware is hard anodized aluminum. Anodized aluminum is lightweight, rust-resistant, affordable, and a good heat conductor that makes the non-stick cookware more comfortable.
Stainless Steel VS Nonstick Cookware
Non-stick cookware has a non-stick coating surface while stainless steel cookware does not provide this feature. That’s the feature 
that mainly makes them differ from each other. The Best Non-stick Cookware allows cooking with less oil or butter, while you cannot omit oil with stainless steel cookware. Both of the forms of cookware are durable and also non-reactive to the foods.
However, stainless steel pots and pans are heavier than non-stick pots and pans. Because non-stick cookware is mostly made from hard anodized aluminum which makes the pans lightweight and more comfortable to use.
On the other hand, stainless steel is the combination of some other materials including chromium and iron which makes it heavier.
Although, both of them are safe for the oven, but stainless steel can resist more than non-stick one. Non-stick cookware is not suitable for heavy use on the other hand professional chefs recommend stainless steel one for that. The process of maintaining stainless steel cookware is easier than the non-stick one.
Before going to the brief discussion, check this quick comparison chart of stainless steel cookware vs nonstick cookware below.
| Stainless Steel Cookware | Nonstick Cookware | |
|---|---|---|
| Raw Materials | Stainless Steel combined with Nickle, Aluminum, Iron, Carbon or Copper | Mostly Aluminum with Teflon or Other Nonstick coating |
| Durability | Mostly durable and last for a long | Body is durable but most of the time nonstick surface get damaged within a few months |
| Compatible With | Gas, Induction, Electric, Glass, Ceramic or Halogen Cook top. | Mostly Glass, Ceramic, Glass and Gas Stove Top |
| Oven Safe | Yes for Almost every good-quality stainless steel cookware | Available both oven safe and not safe |
| Dishwasher Safe | Yes | Available both dishwasher safe and not |
| Cooking Temperature | Can tolerate extreme temperature | Only suitable for low to medium temperature cooking |
| Best For | Searing and browning | Frying anything |
| Healthy | Yes | Depends on raw materials and production process |
| Utensils Compatibility | Almost all | Silicone, Nylon, Wooden and Bamboo |
| Price | High | Low |
Nonstick Vs Stainless Steel | Side by Side Comparison
- Durability
As said before, stainless steel pots and pans heavier than nonstick as they are made of higher grade stainless steel and other metals. So if you are looking for a cookware set that will last for a long, then you should go for stainless steel.
- Healthy Cooking
Everyone should concern about healthy cooking. And selecting non-toxic cookware is the most important part of healthy cooking. As most of the stainless steel cookware made of food-grade stainless steel materials, so there is no health issue with them.
On the other hand, most nonstick cookware especially cheap prices one made of low-quality or toxic materials. Some brands also use Teflon coating on their nonstick pans that also dubious about health issues.
- Non-Stick Cooking Surface
If you want to cook food like fish, vegetables, or eggs with very little oil, then you should go for nonstick cookware. Because their nonstick surface works very well for cooking with less oil (until nonstick coating damaged).
Stainless steel pans and skillet surface is also nonstick enough but not good as nonstick. But if you season and maintain it properly, then its nonstick property also works fine.
- Cleaning and Care
You must avoid any kind of metal scrubber or hard detergent while cleaning nonstick pots and pans. This also the same for stainless steel but they don’t need special care while cleaning and storing. Stainless steel cookware cleaner also available that you can use to clean it quickly and easily without damaging the nonstick property.
- Cooking Temperature
As you know, stainless steel can tolerate more heat than nonstick. And there is no chance to leach any toxic or harmful substance from stainless steel while cooking at high temperatures.
On the other hand, nonstick cookware can leach harmful toxins while cooking at high temperatures. There is also the risk of damaging the nonstick surface for high heat.
- Dishwasher and Oven Safe
Almost all stainless steel pots and pans from well-known brands are dishwasher and oven safe. On the other hand, a few companies make oven and dishwasher safe nonstick cookware. And using a dishwasher or oven for a long time may damage their nonstick surface.
- Using Utensils
Silicone, wooden, bamboo, or rubber utensils are ideal for cooking with nonstick cookware. Using any kind of metal utensils can damage the nonstick surface. But most of the stainless steel cookware is metal utensils safe.
- Price
When compare to nonstick cookware, stainless steel cookware price is higher. You can get a good quality nonstick cookware set for $100-$150. But a good quality stainless steel cookware will cost $300 or more.
Stainless Steel Vs Non-stick Vs Cast Iron
Non-stick and cast iron pans or pots come with a non-stick coating surface that allows cooking the food with less butter or oil. On the other hand, stainless steel cookware products do not provide the non-stick feature. Stainless steel and cast iron cookware are suitable for versatile use while non-stick cookware is not compatible with that.
Non-stick and stainless steel cookware distribute heat evenly because they use an aluminum base on their pots or pans. On the other side, cast iron does not heat evenly, it requires pre-heat before starting your cook.
Even though all of them are durable but stainless steel will more last longer than non-stick and cast iron cookware. Non-stick and stainless cookware is nonreactive to the foods while cast iron is reactive to acidic foods. However, all of the forms of cookware are affordable and available in different sizes and designs.
Final Words
You are at the end of the stainless steel vs nonstick cookware comparison. Well, if you are looking for something more durable, sturdy, and lasts longer, then you can choose stainless steel one.
On the other hand, if you’re conscious about your health and want to cook your food with less fat or oil then non-stick cookware will be a great choice for you. Although, both of the cookware are great and they will make both of your kitchens and cook beautiful and enjoyable.
Useful Resources
- https://nourishedkitchen.com/stainless-steel-cookware/
- https://www.thekitchn.com/good-question-s-5-13875
- https://blog.dixonvalve.com/what-is-food-grade-stainless-steel
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/0002934381906008