Enamel cookware are made from cast iron and then coated with an enamel glaze. Not only does the glaze make the pot rust- and wear-resistant, it also prevents food from coming into direct contact with the cast iron, which can cause food to stale. However, even though enamel potjie pot for sale are highly durable, they may develop problems over time, such as surface wear, scratches, or glaze peeling.

A French skillet is a heavy and thick saucepan usually larger, flatter, and deeper than a regular frying pan. Its size ranges from 9-11 inches, but some come in 8 or 12 inches.

Easy to Clean: The enamel coating on cast iron cookware sets makes them easy to clean and maintain. They can be hand-washed with mild detergent and warm water, and are also dishwasher safe for added convenience.

Best for: Almost any food that needs searing, including steak and burgers. Cast-iron pans are ovenproof, so you can use them to roast meats like beef or pork and to bake cornbread, deep-dish pizza, shepherd’s pie, and more. And they retain heat so well that they’re a good choice for deep-frying chicken, doughnuts, or other foods because they keep the oil at a constant temperature.

The details: Cast-iron frying pans are practically indestructible, and they’re handed down for generations in many families. That makes their typically low price even more attractive. And if well cared for, cast iron develops a patina that releases food almost as well as nonstick. But the pans are heavy, and you have to be patient when heating them up because they don’t come up to temperature fast. Once they do, however, they retain heat.

Our tests of coated and uncoated cast-iron pans show how versatile this cookware can be. We sear steaks, brown scallops, and bake cornbread to see how well a cast-iron pan works for home cooks. The best pans ace all these tests. We also judge how easy they are to clean. Because of the enamel coating, the coated pans are a bit easier to clean than the uncoated ones.

Here are two recommended cast-iron pans from our tests.