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