Most of our favorite home cooked meals require time and effort, from learning proper knife handling technique, to prepping ingredients, to organizing your work station. Cleaning up, on the other hand, should always be as quick and easy as possible—whether you have a dishwasher, or you are the dishwasher (note: we actually do recommend hand washing your cookware whenever possible!).
Here are some of our top recommendations for cookware that cleans up easily, without hours of soaking or scrubbing.
Types of Easy to Clean Cookware
Generally speaking, the easiest pans to clean are the ones that are already non stick to begin with. Some options, like tin-lined copper, are non stick due to their naturally smooth, frictionless surface, or—like carbon steel—because they’re designed to be seasoned with a non stick layer of polymerized oil.
Others, like enameled cast iron, ceramic non stick, or conventional non stick, rely on some kind of coating to prevent sticking and make the pans easier to clean.
Carbon Steel Cookware
Carbon steel cookware is a true kitchen unicorn: not only is it fantastic for searing, roasting, and other high heat cooking methods, but it’s also fairly easy to clean up. Once properly seasoned, carbon steel offers the same non stick properties as a cast iron skillet, with better heat distribution and responsiveness.
For regular cleaning, we recommend a quick wipe with a dry paper towel—that’s it! If your carbon steel pan is extra dirty, you can try scrubbing it with a stiff-bristled dish brush or stainless steel chainmail, or try out one of our other favorite heavy-duty carbon steel cleaning methods.
Ceramic Non Stick Cookware
One of the top selling points of our CeramiClad™ Non Stick Cookware—other than its smooth, stain-resistant coating made without harmful chemicals—is how easily it cleans up. With a glossy, frictionless surface similar to that of conventional non stick cookware, ceramic non stick repels water and oil, preventing food from sticking and burning.
The one caveat, however, is that ceramic is fairly delicate: applying too much force—or using overly harsh cleaning products and tools—can leave it permanently scratched or otherwise damaged. For this reason, it needs to be handled extra gently while cleaning.
Copper Cookware
While copper isn’t an inherently non stick material, it is known for its ability to distribute heat incredibly evenly. This—plus the fact that copper is highly responsive to temperature change—helps protect against food burning and sticking. Our Copper Collection is lined with our signature Stainless Clad so it doesn’t have to be retinned like vintage copper cookware. To clean, simply follow the guidelines in our copper cookware care guide.
Enameled Cast Iron Cookware
Like carbon steel, unfinished (aka non-enameled) cast iron becomes naturally non stick once it’s been seasoned, growing even smoother and more non stick over time. Of course, this requires taking the time to season—and occasionally re-season—your cast iron over time.
Enameled cast iron is an excellent, slightly more entry-level alternative, with comparable searing power and heat retention, featuring a naturally non stick enamel coating that makes cleanup a breeze. Dish soap and water should be enough to get this clean most of the time, but be sure to follow our guide to cleaning enameled cast iron cookware.
Non Stick Cookware
Last but certainly not least, there’s conventional non stick cookware. Arguably the easiest to clean of all these options (next to ceramic non stick), non stick cookware releases stuck-on food and oil with hardly any effort (meaning no cleanup afterward), provided that your pot or pan is well cared-for. Same as with ceramic, conventional non stick should be treated gently to avoid scratching or chipping the finish.
Key Features to Look for in Easy to Clean Cookware
If you’re in the market for new, easy-to-clean cookware, here’s some factors to look out for.
- Non stick coating OR seasoning helps food release easily from the pan surface, minimizing the need for heavy scrubbing
- A smooth, flat surface discourages sticking, prevents food and oil from building up, and is quick and easy to wipe down
- A durable, scratch-resistant surface protects cookware from permanent damage, helping it last longer and perform better
Ready to Shop?
Nothing makes us less motivated to cook—and more inclined to order takeout—than the prospect of being elbow-deep in dirty dishwater with a stack of crusty pans to wash. Fortunately, some of our favorite, most durable cookware—from our French-made Enameled Cast Iron to our CeramiClad collection—are as easy to clean as they are a pleasure to use.
