Feeling overwhelmed? Don’t be. This site is a tool, not a textbook. You don’t have to read it in order. Dive in wherever you are.
1. Start with Your Problem.
Thinking about a new skillet? Go straight to our Comparisons. Click on “Stainless vs. Cast Iron” or “Non-Stick: Ceramic vs. PTFE.” We break it down by cooking style, maintenance, weight—the real deciding factors. Don’t start with brands. Start with the type of tool you need.
2. Get Geeky with Brands.
Once you know you want carbon steel, check the Brand Deep Dives. See who makes what. We look at heritage, manufacturing locations (France? USA? China? It matters to some people), and overall philosophy. Is De Buyer all hype? What’s the deal with Made In? We dig.
3. Think Globally.
This is a fun section. Click Global Kitchen. See what’s trending in different countries. You’ll find surprises. The preferred wok material in Hong Kong. Why certain clay pots dominate in Morocco. It’s cultural anthropology, for cookware nerds.
4. Trust the Data, But Use Your Gut.
In Statistics & Reports, we post our test findings. Heat distribution scans, handle temperature over time, weight distribution graphs. It’s objective. But cooking isn’t a lab. Your comfort matters. Maybe the “technically best” pan is too heavy for you. That’s fine. Use our data to inform your gut feel, not replace it.
A Quick Tip: See a term you don’t know? We try to explain it inline, but there’s also a running glossary we’re building. Check the footer.
The goal isn’t to tell you what to buy. It’s to give you the ammo to make a decision you’ll be happy with for years. Skip around. Bookmark deep dives. Come back when you’re ready for your next purchase.
That’s it. Now go get lost in it.