These days there's new, greener nonstick cookware. It is being marketed because of concern that cooking at very high temperatures can break down the coating on typical nonstick pans, releasing a potentially harmful chemical into the air. Consumer Reports' tests haven't found a significant health risk.

Consumer Reports tested eight sets of "green pans" ranging in price from $100 to $500. In one test, each pan was oiled once and then four eggs were cooked back to back. Testers checked whether the egg stuck to the pan. Machines scrubbed the pans up to 2,000 times to see how well the nonstick surface holds up.

Another test measured how evenly a pan cooks. In that test, the Mercola Healthy Chef burned pancakes. The Mercola had another problem. The ceramic handle broke on both the frying pan and the saucepan during durability tests.

Some of the "green" pans actually did better overall than conventional nonstick pans. In the end, Consumer Reports named the Earth Pan set a Best Buy. For $190 you get 10 pieces, and they're dishwasher safe.

If you do a lot of braising and browning of foods, you need uncoated pans. Consumer Reports' tests found some good ones for under $200 for a 10-piece set. They're Emerilware Stainless and Kitchen-Aid Gourmet Essentials Brushed Stainless. Of course, they will be harder to clean than nonstick cookware.