Welcome to Ask Wirecutter, where deputy editor Annemarie Conte helps you figure out how to make the most of your stuff in real life. If you have a shopping conundrum for our advice columnist, submit it using this form. Dear Wirecutter:Why can’t I find a pan that is nonstick every time? In short: I have yet to find a coating that I am happy with. I’ve spent a lot of time developing the nonstick coating on our carbon steel pan, and things are still sticking. My wife’s patience is running out. My goal is to have a pan that is foolproof, that we can cook with and scrub without a litany of additional and constantly changing instructions.S.R.Dear S.R., It’s admirable that you’ve taken on this mission, and your hard work in the name of relationship harmony is duly noted. Most pans with nonstick coatings require a bit of TLC, and if we can beg a bit more patience from your wife, I know this problem is solvable. First, there are many kinds of nonstick pans, and the talented experts on our kitchen team have tried them all. Nothing is going to rise to the level of foolproof slickness that pans coated in polytetrafluoroethylene (or PTFE, often known under the brand name Teflon) do. I'm going to outline a few of the pan types and their pros and cons to help get you to a better place.