It Might Be Time to Replace Your Nonstick Cookware — Here's What to Look Out For

How happy does this Caraway Ceramic Nonstick Aluminum 12-Piece Cookware Set ($395) make you feel? Available in an array of upbeat colors, it's made of cast aluminum for even heating, with ceramic nonstick cooking surfaces for easy cleanup. Oven safe up to 550 degrees, it's truly a does-it-all cookware set — and that's something to smile about.

Metal pans have their place in a cooking and baking repertoire, but there's something special about glass. Pyrex Deep 9-Inch x 13-Inch Rectangular Glass Baking Dish ($15) is a classic, thanks to its slightly rounded corners (way less chance of cakes and casseroles getting stuck) and durability. Every kitchen should have one.

This Gastrolux Biotan Nonstick Induction 2.1-Quart Dutch Oven ($90) might just be the Tesla of nonstick cookware. Not only does it have a unique proprietary nonstick coating, it also has a magnetic bottom, in case you use an induction cooktop. (Smart, right?) It also has a patented handle fixation process that requires no screws or rivets, so it looks sleek. Unlike a Model 3, however, this beauty is on serious sale — and well worth the investment.

The Our Place Perfect Pot ($165) is worth showing off on Instagram — but it's way more than just a looker. It's lightweight and built to last, and its ceramic coating allows stews and sauces to slide right off when it's cleanup time. Plus, it comes with a roasting rack and a wooden spoon that fits in place just so. Now you know how the pot got its name.

You might see a stainless steel pan and think, "Wait a minute, that's not a nonstick option!" Au contraire, friend. All you need is a bit of oil to season the pan, and you're cooking with gas. (Or electric, if that's more your speed.) Seriously, a little prep work will make a pan like Our Table 12-Inch Stainless Steel Fry Pan ($20) your new best friend when it comes to sautéing, searing, and even making scrambled eggs.

For easy egg bites and crumb-free cupcakes, get your hands on a set of OXO Good Grips Silicone Baking Cups ($11). You can pop them in the oven, then release your treats without mess.

While cast-iron cookware has a learning curve, once your pans are seasoned, they're truly nonstick and will serve you like nothing else. Another plus? These heavyweight pans tend to be very well priced. Case in point: the Simply Essential 2-Piece Cast Iron Fry Pan Set ($14) gives you two pans for less than $15. A small price to pay for pans you'll use for literal decades.

Are you using a baking sheet without a silicone baking mat? Allow us to make your life way simpler. Our Table Nonstick 24-Inch x 16.3-Inch Silicone Baking Mat ($17) is one of those little investments that can transform any baker from an amateur into the local expert. This nonstick mat allows for easy prep work, and it's oven safe up to 480 degrees. Warm cookies just slide off of it, and cleanup is so much easier than scrubbing chocolate-chip debris off a metal pan.

Can't decide between a cast-iron skillet and a ceramic pan? Guess what — you can have both. The Ayesha Curry Cast Iron Enamel 10-Inch Skillet with Helper Handle ($40) is made of cast iron for superior heat retention, and the nonstick enameled interior keeps food from sticking. Also, that metallic-teal color? Super fresh.

GreenPans are a revelation. Watch in awe the first time you cook eggs on a GreenPan York Ceramic Nonstick 12-Inch Hard-Anodized Aluminum Fry Pan ($30) as the eggs just slide off onto a plate. No mess, and no chiseling dried egg gunk from the pan. Did we mention that it's on sale? (It's on sale.)