Silver vs. Cast Iron: The Physics Behind Why a $4,200 Pan Loses to a Cheap Aluminum One

Chris Young (Modernist Cuisine, ChefSteps) puts six metals head-to-head — stainless steel, carbon steel, cast iron, aluminum, copper, and sterling silver — using diffusivity, heat capacity, and infrared cameras to find the ideal everyday pan. He reveals why high-diffusivity metals like aluminum often outperform cast iron for searing, and exposes a near-universal mistake (burner-to-pan size mismatch) that quietly ruins performance regardless of what pan you own.