Cookware MaterialsStainless Steel Ultra-durable, nonreactive and usually dishwasher safe, stainless steel is a wonderfully versatile cookware choice. It is layered with good heat conductors like copper or aluminum and performs beautifully in any shape and on any heat source. Cast Iron Cast iron heats more slowly than many materials, but it heats evenly to a high temperature and retains heat for a long time. Cast-iron cookware can be used on the stovetop, in the oven, on a grill or under a broiler, and it's perfect for slow cooking. Look for it coated with enamel which makes it both nonreactive and easy to maintain.Ceramic Stoneware, porcelain and clay are all very attractive choices that easily move from the oven or stovetop to table for beautiful presentation. The ceramic material is fired at extreme temperatures for remarkable durability, then finished with a glaze or enamel coat that resists chips, cracks and stains, and keeps it from absorbing odors or flavors. It is great for baking desserts and casseroles, as well as slow cooking and braising. Anodized Aluminum Aluminum is an excellent conductor of heat, and when anodized or combined with other nonreactive metals such as stainless steel, it's an integral part of the world's best cookware. Anodized aluminum has been treated so that the exterior is hard and smooth-it's nonreactive and resistant to corrosion. All anodized cookware in our collections is nonstick. Nonstick Exceptionally easy-to-clean, nonreactive and much more versatile and durable than you might expect, nonstick cookware is a great all-purpose choice to have on hand for cooking with less fat, sautéing and much more. Nonstick aluminum cookware is a good choice for its excellent conductivity, as is nonstick clad stainless steel cookware.Copper Copper is the best possible conductor of heat, transferring it rapidly and evenly throughout any pan. It also cools rapidly once it is removed from the heat. Copper pans are typically lined with tin or stainless steel for perfect performance. Clad Clad cookware is made by bonding top and bottom layers of a nonreactive material like stainless steel with middle layers of pure aluminum and/or copper to improve the quickness and evenness of its heat distribution capabilities. A great all-around choice, clad cookware performs beautifully and is built to last. Use it for everything from sautéing to boiling to making sauces.11

12 Class is in session. Develop your technique and further your skills with a Sur La Table cooking class. We're constantly creating fun new ways to expand your culinary repertoire. Just visit surlatable.com for a complete list of current classes.