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3 Coating-Free Alternatives to Non Stick Pans

Donโ€™t love coating? Weโ€™ve still got you covered.

By Rachel BaronFeb 26, 2024
A person is sautรฉing food in a frying pan on a stove, with steam rising from the pan.
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We love non stick cookware. Versatile, lightweight, andโ€”most importantlyโ€”easy to clean, non stick pots and pans are a staple of our cookware arsenal. With that said, plenty of people simply prefer uncoated cookware, either because they want something a bit longer-lasting or because they want to use their pan in the oven or over high heat.

If youโ€™re one of those people, this guide is for you: each of these non stick alternatives offers a comparableโ€”if not identicalโ€”cooking experience, as well as similarly quick and easy clean-up. From stainless steel to enameled cast iron to carbon steel, youโ€™ve probably even got one of these on hand already.

Carbon Steel

Well-seasoned carbon steel is our number one favorite swap for non stick cookware. Once seasoned, carbon steel repels water and oil nearly as effectively as non stick cookware, providing a similarly slick cooking surface. Itโ€™s also a great option if you love the lightweight feel of non stick cookwareโ€”for example, our 10โ€ Carbon Steel Frying Pan weighs just half a pound more than our 10โ€ Non Stick Frying Pan.

Whatโ€™s more, carbon steel is even more durable than non stick cookware (even high-quality non stick cookware). And where thereโ€™s not much you can do to salvage a badly scratched non stick pan, carbon steel is virtually indestructible: pretty much any issue, from rust to damaged seasoning, can be solved by scrubbing and reseasoning your pan.

Enameled Cast Iron

The glossy interior of your favorite enameled cast iron pan isnโ€™t just for showโ€”it also offers an impeccably smooth cooking surface that doesnโ€™t require any special maintenance or seasoning, and is relatively easy to clean. The one (relative) downside is that, like non stick, that enamel coating is somewhat delicate: youโ€™ll want to avoid using metal utensils and scratchy sponges to avoid damaging it. However, unlike non stick, you can safely use enameled cast iron in the oven and over high heat without damaging the glaze.

Stainless Steel

At first glance, stainless steel cookware may seem like a weird item to include on a list of non stick cookware optionsโ€”and youโ€™re not entirely wrong: stainless steel can be pretty stick-prone. But hear us out: if you know how to prepare your pan properly, stainless steel can actually function as a decent non stick alternative.

Before cooking items like eggs or fish in stainless steel, make sure to temperโ€”i.e., bring your ingredients to room temperatureโ€”first, as cold ingredients tend to stick more easily than warm or room temperature ones. You should also make sure to preheat your pan before adding your oilโ€”you can read more on how to prep your stainless steel pan in our guide. By following these steps (and with a little patience), youโ€™ll be turning out even the most stick-prone ingredients with ease.

Ready to Shop?

You should always feel 100% comfortable in your home kitchenโ€”and that includes choosing cookware you feel good about. From our pre-seasoned Carbon Steel to our 5-Ply Stainless Clad options, we have plenty of safe, durable, and coating-free cookware options to pick from.