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    Furthermore, the Dutch oven's versatility extends beyond the stovetop. Its ability to withstand high temperatures makes black cast iron dutch oven ideal for baking bread, creating crusty artisan loaves with a soft, airy interior. The enclosed environment of the Dutch oven traps steam, resulting in a perfectly crisp crust – a feat that is difficult to replicate with other baking vessels.

Best for: Delicate proteins like fish and seafood, melting sugar, making candy, and sauces.

The details: Copper frying pans are expensive, but they offer superb heat conductivity. That means they heat up quickly and cool down just as fast, giving you more control when you’re making something you have to monitor closely, like a caramel sauce. “They’re at the opposite end of the spectrum from cast iron,” Nitahara says. “Because it heats up and cools down quickly, you can bring a sauce right to the brink, then remove it from the heat before it breaks from the high heat.”