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Advantages |
Disadvantages |
| Aluminum |
excellent heat conductor |
- porous and relatively soft |
| |
- relatively light in weight |
- dents and scratches easily |
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- difficult to clean |
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- stains easily |
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- reacts to food |
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- oxidizes to a dull gray color |
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- warps easily |
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- requires a "nonstick" coating |
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|
|
| Stainless Steel |
- extremely durable |
- poor heat conductor |
| |
- non porous, extremely hard |
|
| |
- smooth surface, easy to clean |
|
| |
- dent and scratch resistant |
|
| |
- does not react to foods |
|
| |
- easy to maintain mirror finish |
|
| |
|
|
| Cast Iron |
- relatively low cost |
- extremely heavy |
| |
- holds heat longer |
- rusts easily |
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|
- reacts to food |
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|
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| Copper |
- excellent heat conductor |
- relatively high cost |
| |
|
- reacts to food (toxic with some foods) |
| |
|
- oxidizes, very difficult to maintain finish |
| |
|
- dents and scratches easily |
| |
|
- must be lined with tin, nickel, or stainless steel |
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|
|
| Enameled Steel |
- colorful, fashionable |
- very poor heat conductor |
| |
|
- chips easily |
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- rusts easily when chipped |
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|
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| Carbon Steel |
- low cost |
- very poor heat conductor |
| |
|
- rusts easily |
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| Glass |
- can be decorated or plain |
- extremely poor heat conductor |
| |
|
- heat resistant if tempered |
