Copper cookware needs to be lined with tin, Aluminum with teflon or covered with an anodized layer - especially if you are cooking with acidic substances. Iron needs to be seasoned regularly.

Comparatively, Stainless steel is much more low maintenance . It is not without its flaws (heat conductivity is not the greatest), but being corrosion resistant is a pretty cool superpower to have. This alloy was an accidental discovery and here’s how it happened: