Copper cookware, excels at even heat distribution and its ability to heat and cool quickly. Because copper has a tendency to react with acidic foods, copper cookware is typically lined in less reactive metals such as tin or stainless steel. Hand washing is recommended with all copper cookware products.

Cast Iron
When shopping for a frypan, skillet, or dutch oven, you can never go wrong with cast iron. The heavy metal cookware works best when used for frying and browning foods. Heat distribution can ranges from excellent so-so, and cast iron takes longer than lighter metals, such as copper, to heat up and cool down. The durability of cast iron also guarantees years, if not a lifetime of use, in your kitchen.

Here's a helpful hint: When you purchase brand new cast iron cookware, you must thoroughly scour the pan with soap and hot water in order to remove the protective, food-safe wax coating added by most manufacturers.

Aluminum
The most common material for cookware, distinguishing between the variety of aluminum pots and pans can easily get confusing — Especially when factoring in all the different gauges, casts and other attributes typically used in the marketing of aluminum cookware.

Heavy-gauge aluminum cookware is preferred by many because of its ability to heat up both quickly and evenly. However, not all aluminum is created equal. Thin-gauge aluminum features poor heat distribution and can dent easily. Dark, anodized aluminum cookware may offer increased durability over thinner-gauge aluminum cookware, but it is not dishwasher safe. Anodization or the addition of metals like Titanium, or polished finishes, are also examples of "helpful" extras aluminum cookware manufacturers promote, but the gauge remains the most important factor to consider when buying these products.

Stainless Steel
Available almost anywhere cookware is sold, stainless steel cookware has a low price and is favored for being dishwasher safe. Stainless steel, however, is not known for even heat distribution and products are typically layered with aluminum or copper to ensure more consistent results. However, you should be able to find high-quality stainless steel cookware products if you look carefully and are just looking for reliable basics for everyday use.