The stainless steel cookware market has almost doubled in the past five years as consumers prioritize durability, versatility and easy upkeep. But unlike nonstick alternatives, cooking with stainless steel comes with a learning curve. To get the best cooking results and maintain peak shininess over time, we spoke with a chef and a cookware expert about how to cook with stainless steel properly, helping both beginners and experienced cooks get the most from the material.
Why Stainless Steel?
It’s no surprise that stainless steel cookware is typically what chefs rely on in professional kitchens, thanks to its unique strength and versatility.
“The durability of stainless steel will hold up to even the most rigorous of kitchen environments,” says Michael Handal, chef instructor at the Institute of Culinary Education. “There is also nothing, really, that cannot be cooked in stainless steel, as it is non-reactive and will not give foods an off-taste.”
Durability
These pans can withstand an exceptional amount of use over time with minimal upkeep required. Nonstick cookware, in comparison, is known for eventually wearing down due to its coating, and it requires more gentle usage to maintain its form.
“This cookware will last for many years with proper care,” Handal says, adding that it doesn’t chip or deteriorate like nonstick does. It’s resistant to high heat and regular stints in the dishwasher. Though he adds, these pans can scratch over time, so be mindful when cooking with metal utensils.
Ideal For Searing And Pan Sauces
In order to properly sear foods or build a fond (for sauce), a pan needs to be exceptionally hot. Handal says stainless steel is one of the best surfaces to use for this purpose, especially when compared to nonstick.
“Nonstick cookware of any kind does not allow food and juices to reduce and accumulate in the same way stainless does, as these types of cookware are designed to prevent sticking,” Handal says. “To form a fond, that sticking is essential.”
Comparatively, cast iron is also great for searing, but that material comes with more weight and required upkeep. “Stainless steel gives the same kind of cook, just a little more flexibility,” says Fran Attilio, managing director of the Cookware & Bakeware Alliance. Additionally, cast iron pans typically have darker surfaces, which make it more difficult to monitor cooking progression by color compared to stainless steel.
Easy Upkeep
Compared to other cookware materials, like cast iron (which requires regular upkeep) and nonstick (which shouldn’t be put in the dishwasher), stainless steel is notably easy to maintain.
“It’s such an easy-to-care-for-and-use product,” Attilio says. Hot, soapy water is typically enough to scrub off any food stains, and most stainless steel cookware can be tossed in the dishwasher without fear of degradation.
Stainless steel also doesn’t have any cooking limitations (like cast iron does with acidic ingredients, like tomatoes and lemon juice), so it’s versatile enough for all foods—as long as you know how to cook with it.
How To Cook With Stainless Steel
Preheating Is Key
The most common mishap beginners notice when cooking with stainless steel is unwanted food sticking—especially with delicate items like eggs or fish. While stainless steel will never perform like a nonstick pan, there is a method to prevent sticking.
“The key here is to allow the pan to preheat before cooking,” Handal says. “This is probably the step that can be the most frustrating for the home cook.”
He advises setting the pan on medium heat before you’re ready to cook. You can tell when it’s hot enough by performing the water droplet test: Add several small drops of water to the pan to see how they react.
“If the water sizzles and just evaporates, the pan is not hot enough,” he says. “The water should actually dance on the surface of the pan and move around seemingly without evaporating in small balls of water.”
Attilio adds that you can also use a temperature gun to monitor your pan’s heat as it warms up to ensure it’s just right for what you’re cooking.
Avoid Warping
Depending on the quality and ply layers of your stainless steel pan, you may have to take extra care to avoid warping. The best way to do this is to avoid “shocking” the pan or quickly taking it between extreme temperatures.
“There is probably nothing more damaging to stainless steel pans than to drop a hot pot into a sink of cool water,” Handal says. Always allow your hot pan to cool down before placing it in water, as doing so can help prevent warping over time.
Maintain The Shine
Most stainless steel cookware is safe to put in the dishwasher, but if there are stuck-on food remnants, you’ll want to scrub those beforehand.
“Usually, hot water, a good degreasing dish soap and a medium-coarseness plastic scrub pad will do most of the hard work when it is time to clean up,” says Handal.
Attilio shares another cleaning hack that she swears by: Place a wet paper towel on the pan’s surface, cover it with dishwashing detergent and let it sit before rubbing it around with a sponge. “It pulls the stuff right up,” she says. “It's the craziest trick I've ever seen.”
If your pan eventually loses its shine or starts collecting stains that don’t come off with dish soap, both Attilio and Handal recommend Bar Keeper’s Friend.
“[It’s] a great abrasive for removing burned-on, stubborn material or stains from pots and pans,” Handal says, but advises against using it every day. “If used this way, it may significantly contribute to scratches on the bottom and insides of stainless steel pots and pans.”
Why Trust Forbes Vetted
The Forbes Vetted home team is dedicated to evaluating top-rated kitchen products and helping our readers use and care for them in order to maximize their lifespan.
- The author of this article, Monica Petrucci, is the home and kitchen editor at Forbes Vetted; she has been reporting on kitchen products like cookware for the past five years. Petrucci has covered several consumer education topics, from kitchen gadget organization to spring cleaning bedrooms.
- Overseeing this article, Amy Moran is the senior home and kitchen editor at Forbes Vetted. She manages all of Forbes Vetted’s kitchen content, including our roundup of the best stainless steel cookware sets.
- We perform regular updates on all of our articles to ensure they remain accurate and helpful to readers. This piece was last updated in July 2026.
Our Experts
- Michael Handal, culinary arts chef-instructor at the Institute of Culinary Education
- Fran Attilio, managing director at the Cookware & Bakeware Alliance
