If buying a new cookware set is in your near future, then chances are you are thinking about how you can know what is the best deal for all of the pieces and features that you want. Considering the price is always one of the biggest factors in choosing the right cookware. Other than the price though, picking out the perfect cookware set is a lot more involved than just making sure that they have the right color and cool glass lids that you can look through. If you are a serious cook, or simply want the best deal for the price, you will need to be more practical in making your decision.
One of the first major factors that goes into choosing the right cookware is the material that it is made from. Copper is very expensive, but conducts heat better than any other material. The better the conduction of your heat, the more even your food cooks. I am quite sure that you will find many different stainless steel cookware sets equipped with copper cladding on the bottom. Because the copper conducts heat so much better than the rest of the pan it causes a problem in the fact that it becomes difficult not to burn your food. Braising is out of the question in a stainless steel pan with a copper reinforced bottom.
Some cookware that distributes the heat evenly is what you are after. Chances are that you’ve had experience with pans with hot spots. Most pans and don’t distribute heat evenly throughout the pan develop these and they simply are hotter spots in the pan. If you are serious about cooking than even heat distribution is imperative. The problem with copper, cast iron, and aluminum cookware is that certain foods will absorb a metal taste and color from the pans, not to mention you will ingest some of the metal that is transferred to the food. Every cook needs to have a copper bowl for beating egg whites, but it does scratch and discolors easily. Whenever you use a copper bowl to beat your egg whites they whip up to their maximum volume.
Aluminum can be a pretty affordable type of cookware, but it can also be less than desirable in the way that it reacts with certain foods. Aluminum wears down quickly, although there are anodized pans that will cut down on reactivity and increase durability. Anodized aluminum cookware is the best choice if you must go with aluminum.
Cast iron is good for searing steaks and a few other specialized cooking tasks, but you must keep your cast iron cookware seasoned to avoid sticking and pitting of the pan.
The fact is that there is no perfect cookware. Each has its own benefits and drawbacks. One of the best compromises you can make though is probably Stainless steel cookware. Stainless steel pretty much rides the middle in both price and conductivity. Stainless steel it is incredibly durable, it doesn’t react with any type of food you cook, and it is somewhat easy to keep clean. One of the better choices in stainless steel is the type that has an inner layer of aluminum all the way up the sides of the pan.
In conclusion, the fact is that if you want to have quality cookware you’re going to have to spend some money, but you don’t necessarily need to choose the highest priced cookware set. A good stainless steel cookware set with a few special pieces such as a non-stick frying pan, a copper bowl, and any other extras you desire will be your best choice.
