> > I gave up on stainless pans years ago.
> > EVERYTHING burns onto them and they are a pain to clean.
> Nonsense.
> You just never learned how to cook with them properly.

Yes, I'd say that is fair comment. I am not expert enough. I do know that the burning means that the pan is getting too hot and that you can prevent burning by simply turning the heat down. But I cant gauge things like that so I thought I'd go for the various non-stick pans, which is what I am asking about here.

NOT whether I can do better by some other method, such as NOT using non-stick, eating out at friends/restaurants more etc. etc.

Unless what you are suggesting is that using non-stick constitutes 'not cooking properly'? Isn't that a bit of a 'professional' viewpoint? 'cos if so, you are right, there has to be a reason why professional chefs dont use non-stick much but that wasn't really within the terms of reference of the question.