In the earliest days of the primitive human race, food was cooked over an open flame or placed on hot rocks which were heated in an open flame. As time progressed and civilization marched on, the invention of pots and pans came along. With the ability to boil water in a controlled environment, suddenly a multitude of new recipes and new methods of cooking became available to everyone. As time progressed, the simple concept of pots and pans has become a veritable forest of options and choices for the skilled cook, with no shortage of fancy pots and pans to choose from. With Teflon cookware coatings, nonstick surfaces and all manner of new improved cookware items, the pots and pans in the modern day are truly amazing and serve a variety of functions.