heavy bottom pan

[mcohen]

when a recipe says to use a heavy bottom pan, how heavy is that supposed to be- something as heavy as cast iron?

[JoshRountree]

What's the recipe?

And, I would imagine a heavy bottom pan to be a pan of decent quality, quality pans are usually heaver than cheaper/inferior ones.

[halogenic]

It doesn't have to be cast iron, just a pan that retains heat well. The bottom should be think and the pan should have some heft to it. I have some stainless ones that keep heat very well, but I'm still looking at some cast iron.