How to Pick Pots & Pans
Choosing cookware can be an enjoyable experience. After all, with the right choice, you can use your pots and pans for years. Cookware comes in several shapes and sizes and can be made from many materials. Therefore, it is important to know what to look for in quality pieces. This article will present an overview of kitchen necessities and then explain the major differences in the available options. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Buy the essentials. To comfortably accomplish basic cooking, your kitchen should include the following: a 10 to 12 inch skillet, one or two saucepans of different sizes, a Dutch oven and a six to eight quart stockpot.
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Decide between non-stick or stainless steel. Non-stick is useful because the coating eliminates the need for much buttering or spraying. However, you cannot use metal utensils while cooking or you will scratch the surface. Non-stick pans cannot go above a certain temperature, and cannot sit alone on a hot stove or in a hot oven. Stainless steel cookware is durable, scratch resistant, highly resistant to heat and low maintenance. It is also dishwasher safe, while non-stick is usually not.
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Check the bottom for a copper or aluminum layer. Copper and aluminum are excellent heat conductors, but can be difficult to work with because they react with certain foods. As a result, they are often combined with more durable metals to ensure cooking ease. Look for clad cookware, a combination of metals that provides a layer of copper or aluminum bonded between layers of stainless steel. This type of pan provides good heating with a strong, easy-to-clean surface.
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Consider the handle. A good handle will fit securely in your hand and will be heatproof. A heatproof handle means the cookware can move from the stovetop to the oven easily.
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Tips & Warnings
If you choose to buy a cookware set, be on the lookout for promotions. Often, you can receive one or two bonus pans when you purchase a set.
Pots and pans with wood handles are not dishwasher-safe. If you choose stainless steel, do not use non-stick cooking sprays on the surface. The spray can create a film on the bottom of the pan and be very difficult to clean.
