When you look at your pots and pans, do they all match? Most people, in fact, do not have a set of cookware that matches. Pots and pans that are too big or too small, missing lids, have broken handles, are rusted, or have been damaged are all common complaints from consumers. If you are fed-up with having a less than perfect collection of kitchen cookware, then it is time to consider purchasing some high-quality stainless steel pots and pans.
Stainless steel is an excellent choice for cookware, because it has special properties that other metals and substances just don’t have. It is highly resistant to corrosion, cannot be damaged by acidic or alkaline foods such as vinegar or baking soda, and is naturally scratch and damage resistant. In addition, stainless steel, treated properly, has a shiny, luxurious finish that can transform your ordinary kitchen into a culinary dream.
Stainless steel cookware’s quality can largely be determined by its ability to provide an excellent cooking experience. In order to achieve this, when selecting any stainless steel cookware, be sure to look for a disk of material which is heat-conducive, and is located on the bottom of the cookware. While stainless is an excellent choice for cookware; it needs to be combined with aluminium or copper. Of these choices, copper is a better conductor of heat.
Secondly, you will want to select the right non-stick coating. If you choose well, a non-stick coating will not only help you produce beautiful browned crusts and to ensure your food lifts out with ease, but will also extend the life of your cookware, since it provides an extra barrier against damage.
A good name in non-stick coating for cookware is Teflon. It is durable, inexpensive, and widely prevalent. If used and taken care of properly, Teflon is harmless and keeps food from sticking to your pans and helps them brown to perfection. A lesser-known but equally good alternative is a coating known as Silverstone. It is more hardy than Teflon and stands up to tougher scratching and scrubbing with sharp instruments, but it is of course more expensive and harder to locate in retail stores.
Finally, it is important to research prices, brands and reviews before purchasing stainless steel cookware. A good place to learn about the various brands of stainless steel cookware would be cooking and professional chef magazines. Online reviews can also offer some insight.
Stainless steel cookware may be the best choice in pots and pans for nearly any cook. It is durable and resists food acids and alkaline foods as well, and is also resistant to scratches. This cookware comes in assortments of sizes and shapes to meet every culinary need and a match set of shiny stainless looks great as well. Choose cookware that has a good heat conducting base for even cooking, usually a disc of aluminum or the preferred copper. Some will prefer the best non stick cookware which is stainless steel with a coating of Teflon or Silverstone to make browning, cleaning, and removing food easy.
- Robin Holland-Smith